This 2-year longitudinal study is being conducted better to understand the lives of secondary school students as they move from one social setting to another and to draw implications for learning as teachers are provided with a more holistic picture. The study describes students' interrelationships with family, school, and peers; perceptions of…

Cognitively-based writing instruction for educationally disadvantaged students is examined, focusing on epistemic writing. The object of epistemic writing is to inquire into a particular topic and to familiarize/persuade the reader with the fruits of the investigation. In reviewing the distinctions between novice and expert writers, two models of…

This study examined whether an expert system approach involving intelligent selection of items (EXSPRT-I) is as efficient as item response theory (IRT) based three-parameter adaptive mastery testing (AMT) when there are enough subjects to estimate the three IRT item parameters for all items in the test and when subjects in the item parameter…

This compilation presents background information and a resource directory concerning the growing dilemma of crack-exposed infants. Information on the incidence of crack use among women of child-bearing age is reviewed. The effects of crack on young children are outlined, and ways in which parents, educators, and other professionals can help these…

The use of log-linear models for investigating differential item functioning (DIF) associated with examinee/respondent background characteristics was examined. The Likert-type items used in this study were drawn from a 36-item self-report measure--the Suicide Probability Scale. Specifically, log-linear models were used to investigate whether…

This report presents the findings of a Harris survey of high school students' attitudes on human rights and racial relations, with special emphasis on minority group athletes. The following findings are included: (1) a majority have seen or heard about violent racial confrontations; (2) 30 percent would intervene to stop or condemn the incident;…

This audiovisual instructional package is designed for use with special needs students enrolled in vocational office education courses. Discussed first are steps that teachers should take first to prepare to teach the package and then actually to present the materials provided in it. The next few sections of the guide consist of lists of student…

Given the importance of technology in our society today, it would seem that the hope for a future in which people are in control of their environment lies in universal technological literacy or, in other words, in the ability to do and use technology instead of just being aware of it. The earliest form of collective arguments for technological…

This paper describes a successful facilitator training model, developed as part of an Adult Basic/Continuing Education (AB/CE) staff development program in Minnesota. The following topics are included: (1) the new basics and what is taught in the Minnesota AB/CE programs; (2) how these new basics are taught, emphasizing Malcolm Knowles' model of…

To provide the most effective instruction, materials, and support for beginning readers, teachers need to know if young children are more likely to process from print to meaning-- bottom-up or text-driven processing--or to interpret print to follow meaning--top-down or concept-driven processing. While some studies reveal a correlation between…

A model which secondary school administrators, teachers, and students can use for school activities programs is provided in this publication. Thirteen attributes of a successful program are described along with the roles which student leaders, superintendents, boards of education, principals, school activity advisors, and coordinators ought to…

A professional development model is proposed that is based on learning outcomes derived from Bloom's Taxonomy of Intellectual Inquiry. Professional development is depicted as a sequence of learning components: (1) broadened knowledge and comprehension; (2) improved application of that knowledge; and (3) an analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of…

To provide assistance to experienced and prospective vocational educators serving limited English-proficient out-of-school youth and adults, performance and final evaluation reports are provided to develop a model for preparing bilingual vocational instructors and to incorporate it into the regular professional vocational instructor preparation.…

A plan is proposed for the revision of the National Teacher Examinations. The plan is based on measuring what is taught in teacher education curricula. Preservice pedagogical education consists of two types of studies: academic pedagogy and clinical pedagogy. Academic pedagogy consists of concepts and principles pertaining to the making of…

A model for on-bus instruction during travel time from high schools to area vocational centers was developed, tested, revised, implemented, and evaluated. Two units of study adapted from existing material used for teaching occupational survival skills were included in the model. Audiotapes, handouts, worksheets, attitudes, and cognitive tests were…