Identifies recent research findings in disciplines related to business communication, such as reading instruction, composition research, linguistics, and educational psychology. Analyzes subject matter of seven leading business communication texts. Suggests that business communication courses and textbooks incorporate the results of research from…

The paper presents the position of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities regarding design and implementation of inservice programs for professionals serving learning disabled persons. Recommendations touch on needs assessment, competence of inservice leaders, models, multidisciplinary approaches, and administrative support. (CL)

Presents a case study of innovative program development in early childhood education at an American university. Program history, organizational structure, and goals are outlined as they relate to social and economic demands. (BJD)

Described is a newspaper project in which elementary students report life as it was in the Middle Ages. Students are involved in a variety of language-centered activities. For example, they gather and evaluate information about medieval times and write, edit, and proofread articles for the newspaper. (RM)

Two principles necessary for integrating the native language and second language approaches to language instruction are discussed: (1) that such an integration must be viewed as a meeting, not of subject areas but of professional competencies and (2) that languages must be considered not as separate systems but as a continuum. (MSE)

Differences of view and controversy about whether the disciplinary department is the best organizing principle for the university are discussed. The values of a metadepartmental structure can be obtained without losing the important values of disciplinary departments. (MLW)

Improvement of students' writing requires consistency of expectation among faculty in all departments and throughout the curriculum. This includes helping students see the purpose and benefits of clear writing, and establishing standards for evaluating written work. (MSE)

Reports on environmental studies/science at General Certificate of Examination (GCE) ordinary ("0") and advanced ("A") levels. Questionnaires were used to survey teachers (focusing on their professional training and why they teach environmental studies/science courses) and to determine the relationship between environmental…

Studying ethnic music promotes a deeper understanding and acceptance of other peoples and provides an opportunity to study musical concepts. How to choose music materials to enhance social studies is discussed. A brief annotated bibliography is included. (RM)

A survey of research administrators reports perceived factors enabling interdisciplinary research in agricultural experiment stations. Among the issues discussed are the need for such research and incentives to individual scientists, departments, and institutions to undertake research projects. (MSE)

Reviews documents from the ERIC junior colleges collection dealing with the predominant interdisciplinary teaching methods used in community colleges, and the application of interdisciplinary approaches to general, vocational, and developmental education. Suggests that interdisciplinary studies enhance the quality of community college education.…

Describes development of an interdisciplinary engineering course called "Social Aspects of the Technical Decision Process." Course content includes such interdisciplinary topics as alternative energy, ecology, and urban planning, which represent traditional engineering concepts. However, social and historical dimensions are built into topics.…