This survey of 24 instructors of agricultural power and machinery attempted to determine (1) the status of agricultural mechanics programs for agricultural assistants in Nigerian schools of agriculture and (2) the possible future orientation of agricultural mechanics programs. (CH)

Reports on a survey of the undergraduate programs of 50 engineering schools which was designed to investigate the engineering curriculum with regard to core courses in statics and dynamics. Indicates that only about one-third of the schools require these courses. Argues for their return to the programs. (TW)

Included are two articles related to the use of computers. One activity is a computer exercise in chemical reaction engineering and applied kinetics for undergraduate college students. The second article shows how computer-assisted analysis can be used with reaction rate data. (RH)

A study revealing wide variation in the grading of electronics engineering test items by different evaluators has implications for evaluator and test item selection, analysis and manipulation of grades, and the use of numerical methods of assessment. (MSE)

A faculty committee at Michigan Technological University (MTU) developed a university-wide policy and procedure to encourage improvement of instruction and ensure that teaching effectiveness plays a significant role in personnel decisions. The experiences at MTU are described to help others seeking to establish similar policy on this sensitive…

Presents the salient characteristics of science and technology activities in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development area and indicates the main similarities and differences between member countries. Includes data on: trends in research and development (R & D) spending; university research; R & D in industry; and other…

Describes a senior-level course which teaches engineers to design and implement a large software project within a team structure. Management issues, technical issues, project phases, and examples of student projects are included. (JN)

Evaluated the use of computer assisted instruction in teaching Fortran 77 in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. Also investigated the effect of such factors as mathematics and computer programming background on student performance in an introductory programming course sequence. (JN)

The increased expansion of laser technology will create many new jobs and will require workers with many different skills. At the same time, some kinds of occupations will be adversely affected, due to increasing use of laser technology in a broad range of industries. (CT)

Computer software for process control has the primary function of communicating with and governing physical devices. The structure of such software, process-control systems, multitask systems, message passing, problems of deadlock, distributed computer systems, and protection against failure in process-control systems are among the areas examined.…

Examined the relation of self-efficacy beliefs to persistence and success in pursuing science and engineering college majors (N=42). Findings indicated that subjects reporting high self-efficacy for educational requirements generally achieved higher grades and persisted longer. Self-efficacy was also moderately correlated with objective predictors…

Examines major lines of thought leading to what is meant by plant biotechnology, namely, the application of existing techniques of plant organ, tissue, and cell culture, plant molecular biology, and genetic engineering to the improvement of plants and of plant productivity for the benefit of man. (JN)

Examines reasons why bonds between higher education and industry must be strengthened in Ireland, indicating that competitiveness and unemployment in Ireland require it, that research and development (R&D) resources of universities can be the lifeblood for many future developments for manufacturing companies, and that Ireland lags behind other…

Discusses (1) the development of engineering education in Greece; (2) industrial development in Greece; (3) relations between engineering education and industry (indicating that they are best characterized by mutual suspicion); and (4) recent developments and future trends in these relationships. (JN)

Discusses direct chemical information that can be obtained from modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods, concentrating on the types of problems that can be solved. Shows how selected methods provide information about polymers, bipolymers, biochemistry, small organic molecules, inorganic compounds, and compounds oriented in a magnetic…