This survey of 510 special education teachers found that most teachers collect, record, and use data on student performance to determine instructional effectiveness, appropriate time to move students to the next skill, and which objectives have been met. Only one-third of teachers used graphs for displaying and interpreting data. (Author/JDD)

Presents a worksheet on graph paper that allows students to determine the perpendicular bisectors of given segments by folding the paper. Students then determine the slopes of the perpendicular bisectors and use inductive thinking to discover the relationship between the slopes of perpendicular lines. (MDH)

The 1987-89 survey represents the Modern Language Association's first effort to collect information from the stratified random sample of foreign language programs established in 1988. Topics include requirements, faculty characteristics, language coordinator functions, faculty role in governance, curricula, course offerings, enrollment, numbers of…

Illustrates the comprehension-monitoring process used by first (L1) and second (L2) language readers of English as they read expository prose and compares the comprehension-monitoring strategies of L1 and L2 readers with respect to two problems: locating a referent and defining a vocabulary item. (59 references) (GLR)

Birth and death certificates were correlated with information in the state Child Abuse and Neglect Registry on 104 abuse-related fatalities. Significant findings included young age of parents at first pregnancy; high rate of single parenthood; and lower educational achievement among mothers. A model for data collection is discussed. (Author/BRM)

Because of the lack of empirical findings about inclusion of students with emotional/behavioral disorders in regular education settings, this study obtained initial data including district level data regarding student placement; service provisions; personnel needs; impact on general education teachers; and student outcome data for one cohort of…

Describes the use of a student-designed questionnaire to generate data for teaching statistical procedures and concepts. Maintains that students learn firsthand that data analysis is an integral part of the research process. Concludes that students find real data more interesting. (CFR)

Reports on a study that examined changes, measured by pre- and postconcept maps, in preservice teachers' conceptions of teacher planning associated with a year-long general methods course. Conceptions on premaps differed by certification level. Conceptions on postmaps differed by course instructor. Qualitative shifts in responses are also noted.…

Presents a hands-on activity in which students try to identify 15 unknowns using only their sense of touch. This method reinforces the science process skills of observing, collecting and recording data, and analyzing data tables while requiring few reading skills. (MDH)

Although the Great Flood of 1993 has dramatically reminded us never to take rivers for granted, it has also underlined the need to learn more about rivers and the environment in general. Rivers Project, an interdisciplinary high school curriculum, allows science, social studies, and English teachers to integrate curriculum in a way that encourages…

Argues that institutional effectiveness issues in community colleges are situation-specific and demand flexibility in assessment model design. Briefly describes 20 community colleges using exemplary assessment practices and models. Diagrams a comprehensive assessment model using internal and external effectiveness measures and offers eight…

Discussion of science and math instruction for elementary and secondary students highlights the use of microcomputer-based laboratories (MBL). Data collection, storage, and display are discussed, the use of databases to organize and manage information is described, and the exchange of ideas with other students through telecommunications is…

Practices in needs assessment are reviewed since 1981, the year the federal government changed the role it plays in promoting needs assessment in the public sector. The review is based on reports published to 1993 and indicates that needs assessment is flourishing in a variety of settings. (SLD)

Describes an activity in which students examine hypothetical exposure to toxins by being showered by different colored pieces of confetti over several visits to exposure sites. Students record quantities of confetti that stick to packing tape. Colors correspond to different toxins posing different health problems. Students process their findings…

Describes activities using sensors connected to a computer via a data-logger. Elementary students investigated several scientific questions of sound, light, and temperature sensors including: What is the effect of putting a coat on a snowman? How can you make a hot drink cool down quickly? Do sound, light, and temperature vary in different…