This study investigates the fate of claims made by middle school science students working in collaborative groups in a multicultural urban classroom and the concomitant effects on engagement and understanding. Given problems of a complex and open-ended nature in a learning community setting, students were challenged to establish group positions…

An examination of measures currently used to assess degree of bilingualism in individuals looks at the problems inherent in them, ideal measures, and how to use available measures. It is suggested that definition of bilinguality is a central cause for measurement problems, since a bilingual is assumed to be the sum of two monolinguals, without…

This book contains 11 essays that offer in-depth accounts of qualitative research in developing countries. Each chapter focuses upon a specific method and considers related theoretical and practical issues with reference to recent experiences in selected developing countries. Key issues addressed include: (1) the identification of appropriate…

The purpose of this review of literature was to synthesize a wide range of both quantitative and qualitative studies of teacher implementation of computer-assisted writing curriculum methods. Studies on the effect of computer-assisted learning, the relationship of computers and children's writing, and assessment methods for traditional and…

Children in a first grade classroom (n=17) participated in a program to develop listening and speaking skills in the elementary school classroom. The importance of listening and speaking to social, academic, and developmental needs is discussed. Various programs that produced increases in these skills were evaluated and integrated in a new…

This second in a series of qualitative studies examined the classroom experiences and impressions of first-time freshmen at Boise State University (BSU, Idaho). Twenty-five freshmen completed weekly open-ended telephone interviews, kept journals, and participated in an end-of-term group meeting during the fall term of 1996. The results indicated…

A case study approach was used to examine how six service providers constructed the meaning of family-centered services in programs providing early intervention services to the families of young children with disabilities. Six professionals from a pool of over 40 service providers were identified as providing highly family-centered services.…

This collection examines many influences of biographical inquiry in education and discusses methodological issues from the perspectives of veteran and novice biographers. The section on qualitative research and educational biography contains the following chapters: "Musings on Life Writing: Biography and Case Studies in Teacher Education" (Robert…

The purpose of this study was to explore faculty attitudes about the use of technology in the metropolitan university classroom. Researchers conducted four "electronic" focus group sessions with faculty at a metropolitan university via networked computers housed in a decision-support center on campus. The focus group sessions,…

In U.S. middle school social studies and history classrooms the prevalent modes of instruction continue to be the traditional large group, teacher dominated and controlled recitation and lecture based primarily on the textbook. Many researchers, however, criticize the reliance on textbook-based teaching in classrooms, since they consider social…

Noting that the increasing concern about violence in schools and society in general is evident in recent initiatives undertaken by the government in Victoria, Australia, this study explored students' conflicts in a Victorian primary school, focusing on the role of the teacher in student conflict. Participating in the exploratory study were 6…

A reflective thinking model has been developed by reading/language arts faculty at Northwest Missouri State University to provide opportunity for elementary education majors to think reflectively about their teaching and to determine ways to improve their instructional practices. During a 7-week reading/language arts practicum experience,…

This thesis investigated the effects of adding the learning of American Sign Language (ASL) signs (as part of the Applied Behavior Analysis) on the negative behaviors of seven developmentally disabled children (aged 8-13 years). The children were measured on the following: overall disruptive behavior; aggressive behavior; tantrums; and the use of…

The U.S. Congress passed the Arctic Research and Policy Act in 1984 and designated the National Science Foundation (NSF) the lead agency in implementing arctic research policy. In 1989, the parameters of arctic social science research were outlined, emphasizing three themes: human-environment interactions, community viability, and rapid social…

This report presents the fourth study conducted by the Massachusetts Early Childhood Advisory Council since its inception in 1985, an investigation focusing on how interagency collaboration occurs in local early childhood programs in Massachusetts and whether mandating interagency councils is effective in promoting collaboration. The report also…