Describes the teaching approach and materials in "Origins," a book about word origins and how to teach them to elementary students. Notes that this book includes step-by-step activities, a brief history of the English language, relevant poetry examples, and several writing ideas. (MM)

Presents a brief theoretical and methodological statement of developmental communication. Reviews developmental work in the general discipline of communication. Reviews several of the major research traditions within instructional communication and proposes how these traditions can be positively influenced by the developmental point of view. (SR)

Deals with the text patterns commonly found in social studies books. Explores the expository text pattern and offers a teaching pattern to help guide students through the transition from narrative to content area texts in the upper elementary grades. (MG)

A rationale is presented for infusing computer strategies into the social studies curricula of learning-disabled students. Guidelines are provided to assist in choosing such computer tools as tutorials, simulations, word processors, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics. Suggestions for developing appropriate teaching strategies are also offered.…

Promotes the use of ethnographic techniques in planning field trips for British students to visit France, focusing on how to offer insight into and positive attitudes towards cultural differences the students may perceive and misinterpret while abroad. (CB)

Describes a teacher education course which focused on study of critical incidents to analyze teachers' decision-making practices. A film which portrayed a teacher in decision-making crisis was viewed and later discussed in small groups. Teachers were asked to relate the film to personal experiences and to keep a journal during the course to…

Summarizes research on inquiry and investigative strategies for teaching laboratory science. Concludes that meaningful laboratory instruction is distinguished by: student engagement in science inquiry processes, student manipulation of experimental materials, and the experiential teaching of specific scientific concepts. (RT)

Describes exercises in which tabs from aluminum beverage cans are used to introduce principles of classification, biostratigraphy, and evolution. Provides diagrams which represent dorsal and ventral views of species and a table which graphs units of time in relation to species duration. (RT)

Describes the contribution made to the quality of human life by the study of genetics. Presents a description of the current status of genetics education. Suggests changes in genetics education necessary to keep up with new developments. (39 references) (CW)

Described is a laboratory study designed to demonstrate loss of vegetation, alterations in the species composition of a community, and the impoverishment of a community with respect to desirable food plant species when herbivore feeding exceeds the rate of vegetation regrowth. The laboratory uses a classroom aquarium. (CW)

This article suggests several lessons, exercises, and class projects that utilize the Iran-Contra affair as a theme. Designed to aid the development of abilities necessary for civic virtue, the activities focus on fact gathering, validating claims, reflecting on the source of opinions, and learning to ask questions. (IAH)

This instructional module presents and illustrates rules for designing performance assessments in a step-by-step strategy through: (1) reason for the assessment; (2) type of performance evaluated; (3) exercises to elicit performance; and (4) systematic rating procedures. Guidelines for maximizing reliability, validity, and economy are presented.…

Proposes new method for calculating probability that student meets eligibility criteria for special education which avoids the distortion of dichotomous classification, uses multiple sources and measurement error in a meaningful manner, and promotes the accurate use of test data in eligibility decisions. (Author/NB)

Traces the history of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. Includes copies of the U.S. Supreme Court mandate to the Louisiana Supreme Court denying Plessy's request to overturn the Jim Crow law and ordering him to bear the court costs. Provides teaching suggestions for interpreting the document and highlights related topics and questions for research and…

Evaluation research is discussed as an applied social science that uses quantitative-comparative techniques to assess the effects of planned intervention. Focus is on the generally insufficient validity of treatment effectiveness research, and the relationship between research constructs and theory and their operationalization. (TJH)