Education & Pedagogy

Gateway to Higher Education program provides selected minority students from New York City public high schools with rigorous preparation for college and careers in medicine, science, engineering, technology. The program is described and students' graduation rates, career plans, other program outcomes are discussed. A correlation has been established between participants' ninth-grade standardized math test and college entrance examination scores. (Author/MSE)

Examines the debate over "key skills" in the United Kingdom's higher education curriculum, intended to compensate for early specialization in school and make education more relevant to work. Suggests that a more fundamental curriculum reform is needed, because key skills focus narrowly on"practical" outcomes and because the concepts underlying them are not well thought out. (Author/MSE)

Ag-Ed, an agricultural education project for upper elementary students, was held in conjunction with the Toowoomba Show in Queensland, Australia. Agriculture industry representatives provided 20 interactive agricultural presentations for class groups, which were supplemented with a teacher resource-package containing a directory and 13 sections of related classroom materials to be used across the curriculum. (TD)

Annotates selected ERIC documents and journal articles discussing issues related to developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). Topics include DAP in early childhood and elementary settings and regular and special education, the current debate regarding DAP and multicultural education, student evaluation, teachers' and parents' beliefs regarding DAP, and the relationship to whole-language orientation. Lists resources on World Wide Web. (KB)

Examines federal legislation related to education over recent years, highlighting the 104th and 105th Congress and discussing bills to make English the official United States language and to deny public education to children of undocumented aliens. Also discusses funding allotted to various educational endeavors, including foreign-language study, and addresses budget cuts and reform efforts. (SM)

The effectiveness of small group condom motivation education in reducing new and reinfection rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among urban female teenagers was evaluated. Teens (N=205) were followed for six months. Findings are presented and health education opportunities are discussed. (Author/EMK)

Discusses two projects that examined school-based initial teacher education in England and Wales in light of new Department of Education regulations about the role of "others" in teacher development, suggesting that student teachers constitute a distinctive category of others, and higher education can help teachers and students recognize each other as mutually enhancing role-partners. (Author/SM)

The National PTA conducted focus groups, surveys, and interviews with PTA members and the general public to gauge opinion about public education. Respondents felt that public education has worsened recently. Most did not believe media portrayal of public schooling. Violence was a major concern. Respondents wanted to see more family involvement and good public funding of education. (SM)

Analyzes recent occupational data and suggests that postsecondary educational credentials have varied effects on early-labor-force outcomes. Some credentials have greater value in the labor force than does an associate's degree, and their effects often differ for young men and for young women. Argues that this important data has often been overlooked. (MJP)

Explores conclusions from a series of seminars and open meetings to review the future of science education. Addresses successes and failures of science education, science-education needs of students for lifelong learning in the next century, possible form and structure of a suitable model for a science curriculum, and problems with implementation of such a curriculum. (PVD)

Considers South African curriculum reforms borrowed from New Zealand--outcomes-based education and a national qualifications framework--in terms of development of self-regulated learners and the kinds of teachers needed for such learners. Analyzes the implicit pedagogical logic of performance and competence models of pedagogy, and concludes that South Africa's reforms embody incompatible logics. Contains 36 references. (Author/SV)

Reports a random-digit-dialed telephone survey in a conservative southern state that examined the level of support for sexuality education in public schools. Surveys of 534 registered voters indicated that most supported sexuality education, instruction on many sexuality education topics, and instruction at all grade levels. The paper presents characteristics of opponents to and supporters of sexuality education. (SM)

Provides a seven-step procedural guide for developing integrated art-social studies lessons using the discipline-based art education model. Explains each of the steps and includes helpful tips. Asserts that following the seven steps of the model assures meaningful teaching and learning of both art and social studies. (DSK)

A study at the University of Oregon examined distance education, looking at the demographics of the distance-education market, the types of courses best suited to it, and student performance as it related to demographic group. The study found that although certain students do well, it questioned whether there were sufficient numbers of students to sustain the market. (CH)

Preservice teachers' (N=200) ideas about links between vehicle emissions and global environmental issues were studied using a graphic questionnaire. Results indicated that most students understood that cars contributed to global warming, though many had misconceptions about certain specifics. It is recommended that environmental education be given some priority in teacher education. (SM)