Selected excerpts from books and poetry portray life in rural communities, the role of country schools, and the demands of farm life. These excerpts depict a nostalgic view of rural life that does not account for the current decline of rural communities. A move away from this stereotypical view is necessary to adapt to social change and preserve…

A national survey of 130 single-campus, K-12 public schools enrolling fewer than 300 students revealed that half of the schools reported implementing some type of distance learning program, that satellite-based programs were the technology of choice, and that the mean dollars expended for distance learning ranged between $6,838 and $19,335. (LP)

Reviews a book that describes changes affecting rural America including the farm crisis, growing poverty, and in-migration of those who contribute little to the local economy. Addresses implications for rural service delivery and government policy. (LP)

Reviews a book that overviews the history of rural England and the factors that contributed to the decline of England's rural communities. One hundred years later in rural America, similar factors and pervasive cultural assumptions about rural ignorance are related to the shifting of political and economic power away from rural communities. (LP)

Looks at the crucial role of evaluation and assessment in developing a means to integrate environmental education into biology curricula. Focuses on the development of evaluation instruments that allow information to be collected on aspects of pupil behavior toward aspects of the environment. (LZ)

A research design for evaluation of environmental education centers by means of the case study method is explained. Validity, reliability, and some ethical principles when writing the report are also mentioned. An example is given of a pilot case study conducted by the author. (LZ/Author)

A quantitative and qualitative analyses of prescribed standard eight biology textbooks are discussed in relation to the teaching of ecology. Identifies problems related to relying on prescribed texts for instruction and considers some of the facets that need to be addressed in the compilation of texts. (LZ/Author)

Presents an alternative to the research-development-diffusion model of mathematics education based on an integration of curriculum research and design embedded in educational development. Explicates the characteristics of developmental research and discusses its methodological aspects. (53 references) (Author/MKR)

A study of (n=26) prospective elementary teachers' understanding of the area of a rectangular region as a multiplicative relationship between the lengths of the sides resulted in the development of a description of the quantitative reasoning involved. (23 references) (MKR)

Third- through sixth-grade mathematically talented students (n=306) enrolled in a flexibly paced university mathematics course far exceeded the normative achievement gains expected over a one-year period. Restricting such students to a rigid instructional pace may have a deleterious effect on motivation and achievement. (64 references) (MKR)

Types of strategies used by (n=36) fourth-, sixth-, and eighth-grade students solving comparison of area tasks were identified and classified. Most students used a direct comparison strategy to compare areas. Use of a part-whole strategy increased with the introduction of fractional terms and symbols. (23 references) (MKR)

Interviews with (n=21) fourth, sixth, and eighth graders, who were asked to construct their own notion of average and representativeness in open-ended problems, identified five basic constructions of average as mode, an algorithmic procedure, what is reasonable, midpoint, and a mathematical point of balance. (16 references) (MKR)

Interviews with (n=20) primary teachers, who had participated in inservice workshops on Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), revealed three patterns of CGI use--as mainstay, as supplement, and decreasingly--which seemed related to their beliefs about mathematics, learning, and CGI itself. (40 references) (MKR)

Presents a covariation approach to learning exponential and logarithmic functions based on a primitive multiplicative operation labeled splitting that is not repeated addition. Suggests that students need the opportunity to build a number system from splitting structures and their geometric forms. (30 references) (MKR)

Explains the basic constructs of the transtheoretical model, which offers an explanation of the structure of change that occurs when adults attempt to change behavior. The paper discusses application of strategies that physical educators in postsecondary and community settings may employ to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of physical…