During college and after one year of teaching, elementary educators completed surveys regarding their expected computer use in teaching, noting personal variables that might predict computer use. Though 97% predicted computer use, only 61% actually used computers. Self-competence and perceived relevance predicted computer use initially, though not…

This lecture discusses the creative ability of young children, asserting that educators must cultivate children's creative potential so that these abilities can develop and expand. Early childhood education also needs to take into account children's natural need for rules. (MDM)

Maintains that assessment in the arts often is avoided in the early childhood years because it appears to be incompatible with a child-centered philosophy. Asserts that reflective assessment procedures can inform early childhood teachers about instruction in arts education. (CFR)

Asserts that, given proper preparation at the elementary and middle school levels, high school students can learn to improvise stylistically appropriate harmony, rhythm, and melody. Provides suggestions for teaching choral improvisation. Maintains that improvisation success must build on what students always know--melody. (CFR)

Ninety-three students in a high school alternative learning center for disruptive, disaffected youth were assessed on potential giftedness and talent. Based on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, the IBRIC Biographical Inventory, and nominations by teachers and peers, eight students (8 percent) were identified as potentially gifted and talented.…

Three studies involving a total of 918 students of above average ability in grades 3 through 8 confirm the importance of self-efficacy in students' decisions to initiate creative productivity and reinforce the value of performance accomplishments for increasing self-efficacy and creative productivity. (SLD)

Describes a study of state employees that was conducted to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the use of teleconferencing to increase creativity among workers. A model of creativity is explained, the pretest/posttest used to assess teleconferencing effectiveness is presented, and implications for teleconferencing are discussed. (eight…

Results of an 18-year longitudinal study of 48 Israeli high school students who were seniors at the study's start suggest that measures of creative thinking and creative leisure activities were more important than school-oriented predictors of intelligence and school grades in predicting creative attainments in adults. (DB)

Middle school students (n=267) were designated as gifted, honors, or average; divided into problem-solving treatment or comparison groups; and assessed on creative problem-solving ability and potential giftedness. Treatment students showed significant gains in problem-solving ability compared with comparison groups, with no significant differences…

Describes how art history and art criticism in the art curriculum benefit Trainable Mentally Retarded (TMR) students. Shows how these students enjoy looking at and talking about art and maintains that the experience will be successful if the requirements are kept basic. Outlines objectives that incorporate art history and criticism into the TMR…

Describes art education in elementary schools in Japan and the content of their art textbooks. Maintains that the challenges of developing skills, making choices, and learning about the artistic heritage that are offered to Japanese children also should be offered to U.S. children. (KM)

Argues that advocates of content-based art education and other art educators attempting to move art to a central place in the school curriculum are struggling against unrecognized social realities. Concludes that competing value structures of creativity versus acquiescence and originality versus conformity are responsible. (CFR)

Describes a middle school program that focuses on creating educational experiences that foster life-long learning for all students. The Discovery Program provides a range of differentiated teaching/learning activities, including research competitions, language-arts studies, social-action projects, art exhibitions, mathematics projects, and…

Investigating the effects of computer paint programs, the authors observed two groups of first and fourth graders--one using crayons and word processors, the other using a paint program and word processors. Discusses student collaboration, visual/verbal literacy, creativity, advantages and disadvantages, and paint programs in the classroom. A…

A study examined differences between teacher ratings of 87 Anglo-American and 63 Hispanic fifth-grade students based on the students' ethnic status and acculturation level. Anglo-American students were rated higher on characteristics relating to learning, motivation, creativity, and leadership. Highly acculturated Hispanic students received higher…