The instructional schedule does affect student grades on the four AP Examinations in this study after they have been adjusted for group differences in student ability. The results from this study generally suggest that students, on average, obtain higher AP grades when instruction is given over an entire year rather than in a semesterized block…

Examined effects of teaching method (self-directed, group-directed, teacher-directed), academic ability, student assessment of treatment, and allowed time on achievement in three Individualized Science Instructional System (ISIS) biology minicourses. Results, among others, indicated that individualized instruction favored high-ability students and…

Evidence suggests that teacher burnout has significant impact on the quality of education and on teacher job satisfaction. Its causes include job stress and organizational structures or professional relationships. Reduction of burnout may come from such strategies as increased teacher role differentiation, greater teacher support, and improved…

Develops criteria to establish whether a second language (L2) speaker has achieved native-like proficiency. The study compares the performance of near-native speakers of English, non-native speakers, and controls on two tasks designed to tap aspects of Universal Grammar claimed to be subject to critical period effects. Findings reveal that…

A study of middle school mathematics students concluded that classrooms using technology had less whole-class instruction and more independent work, and that students in classrooms using technology were on task more often than students who were not, supporting previous research that suggests technology use may change teaching from a…

This meta-analysis examines the effects of adventure programs on diverse outcomes such as self-concept, locus of control, and leadership. Analysis of 1,728 effect sizes from 96 studies shows that effect sizes varied substantially and improved as the length of the program and ages of the participants increased. (SLD)

Analyzes interview data collected from English-as-a-Second-Language students regarding their writing experience in English for academic purposes (EAP) and other courses. Characterizes students' reactions to three types of writing contexts and argues that EAP courses requiring students to write from general knowledge or personal experience limit…

Examined the academic success of children from farm and non-farm families in the rural midwest United States, with a focus on community integration as an important factor for academic achievement. Found that children from farm families showed the highest levels of academic performance, owing largely to the high levels of parental involvement and…

Asserts that using children's literature to present life stories can reinforce young children's understanding of life span and help them better understand how goals formed in childhood may help determine an individual's future. Briefly reviews and recommends 15 children's books focused on life stories and decision making. (MJP)

Eight papers are presented that describe the daily experience of White American children in grades 5 through 9. Each paper examines a segment of daily activity (e.g., schoolwork, talking, sports) and the associated affective states for 401 participants to provide a picture of the life space of early adolescence. (SLD)

Reports on a study investigating the importance of audio and textual redundancy in a computer-based, multimedia training program with identical content that undergraduate students used under one of the following conditions: full-text and totally redundant audio delivery; partial-text with full audio delivery; or graphics only with full audio…

Discussion of computer literacy, database technology, and higher-order thinking skills focuses on a study that compared the problem-solving performance of fourth-grade students receiving search strategy training during computer-assisted instruction with students who did not receive training. Time spent on problems and the number of correct answers…

Ways in which undergraduate education is changing in terms of student diversity, financing, and time required for graduation are discussed, and ways these changes affect academic advising are considered. It is suggested that colleges provide faculty advisors with specific training and make advising an official and evaluated aspect of faculty…

Data from an auditory lexical decision experiment with English-Dutch bilinguals are compared with data from a similar experiment using visual lexical decision to determine the effect of language proficiency, mode of presentation, and cognateness of lexical items on lexical processing. The results indicate significant within and between-language…

In 1990, Congress charged OERI with evaluating the nation's school-reform efforts. Representative planners subsequently called for research proposals in systemic reform, school-based management, uses of time, student assessment, curriculum reform, educator professionalism, school-to-work transition, early childhood education, parent and community…