Of the currently available programs for microcomputers, only a few are applicable for reading instruction, and those being used are most frequently drill and practice. These programs focus on reading skills such as letter recognition, word alphabetization, and sight words. Very few programs are concerned with comprehension. Consequently, a team at…

Parents of fifth and sixth grade pupils from a suburban St. Louis (Missouri) community were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions concerning the importance of elementary social studies and how it should be taught. More specifically, the investigation determined if parents' perceptions were consistent with the revised National Council for the…

A conceptual framework and practical approach are presented focusing on the possibility of making an evaluation of tertiary educational institutions by means of different levels, categories, and criteria of analysis. The paper is a preliminary reference design of evaluation whose theoretical approach is summarized with a more extensive…

"Illuminative evaluation," as defined by Parlett and Hamilton, "is not a standard methodological package but a general strategy. It aims to be both adaptable and eclectic. The choice of research tactics follows not from research doctrine, but from decisions in each case as to the best available techniques; the problem defines the…

This paper discusses those generic features of school districts as complex organizations which inhibit district coordination of testing, evaluation and instruction. It is based on a selective literature review and four theoretical papers covering (1) school district decision making, (2) the institutional structure of school districts, (3) role…

Social hypothesis testing is the process by which individuals make judgments about what other people do, think, or say. In an attempt to replicate Snyder and Swann's (1978) research and to examine the relationship of certain personality traits to different hypothesis testing strategies, 86 college students made selections from a list of questions…

Writers' comments on writing can help teachers incorporate within their classrooms the idea that writing is a process of discovery. They can remind students and teachers how important enthusiasm, motivation, and reinforcement are. Even though such comments are not saying anything new, saying the same thing in new terminology can lead to new…

Long term studies of advance organizers (AO) were analyzed with Glass's meta-analysis technique. AO's were defined as bridges from reader's previous knowledge to what is to be learned. The results were compared with predictions from Ausubel's model of assimilative learning. The results of the study indicated that advance organizers were associated…

This paper explores the background to and process of quality circles as well as the implications of circles for training. In the first section, the emergence and growth of quality circles in Japan and the United States are traced. Next, the theoretical and conceptual bases of quality circles are examined, while section 3 looks at implementation in…

Using a definition of metacognition that distinguishes between knowledge about cognition and regulation of cognition, this paper discusses the role of metacognition in the identification and categorizing of students with learning problems. Following this discussion, the paper describes three types of cognitive skills training studies--blind,…

Focusing on the teacher's role in helping students to be creative in writing while expressing themselves more clearly, concisely, and accurately, the first four chapters of this guide offer a simple three-step process with strategies for teachers to follow when teaching writing. First, the guide discusses how the teacher can more thoroughly…

Defining regularity in the English language is not a straightforward matter because of the complex relations between sound and spelling. Predictable patterns are those spellings that can be readily predicted from pronunciation. Rare and unpredictable spellings are found only in a small set of words--probably 10% or less of the vocabulary in…

Current trends and practices in staff development for principals are illustrated in this directory of representative inservice training programs operating in the 1981-82 school year. The programs included in the list are ongoing, have operated at least 1 year, and are for the most part directed specifically at principals. The information on each…

A model for describing and assessing the effectiveness of student affairs programs is outlined in this paper as it was presented to the California Community College Student Affairs Association. First, the goals of student affairs programs (i.e., enrichment, involvement, and retention) and the impact of budget constraints on the achievement of…

Intended to give Parent Advisory Council (PAC) members exposure to their roles and responsibilities, the guide, written in Spanish and English, provides information on how to train PAC members on parliamentary procedures (Roberts Rules) and the importance of agendas and agenda construction. The guide's eight sections cover the rules/regulations,…