Examination of 99 mathematics teachers' ratings of item difficulty indicated that the ratings were influenced by the teachers' attitudes and characteristics and their interpretation of the skills measured by the items. Teachers who rated items as relatively easy tended to favor tougher standards, grade students in relation to other students, and…

This study of school characteristics associated with four cognitive achievement measures for students during the last two years of high school found that gains were greater in those schools where a large percentage of students were enrolled in the academic curriculum and in the schools which offered a large number of additional courses beyond the…

Examination of the accuracy of principals' judgments of teacher performance as predictors of teacher effectiveness revealed positive correlations in three teacher roles and students' gains in arithmetic and reading. (Author/CB)

Investigation of the work behavior of elementary school teachers indicated that the teachers spent more that 40 hours a week at school and an additional two hours per day at home on school work. Elementary school teachers had less private time than high school teachers and spent more time on direct instruction. (Author/CB)

Reports results of an experimental study of the impact of instrumental enrichment (IE) on Piagetian operations and a measure of information processing. Instrumental enrichment addresses process deficits which are presumed to underly inadequate skill development in slow learners. Concludes the positive results found on fluid intelligence indicate…

Argues that verbal and non-verbal cues initiated by science teachers affect students' willingness to explore their own ideas. States that changes in such teacher behaviors are necessary before the conceptual changes sought in science education can occur. (AEM)

Describes the findings of a study on the unemployment of newly trained teachers who had graduated in 1979/1980 and had not found teaching jobs by 1982. Concentrates on their job search methods and investigates the relevance of their teaching subject, region of residence, commitment to teaching, and type of school sought. (Author/AEM)

Examines the demand for special education in Southampton, England. Shows that the number of children requiring special education in a particular area depends on the characteristics of the area concerned. Provides a forecast of future demand for special education and compares data with 1984 figures to assess the influence of educational policies.…

Outlines and discusses the implications of student reaction to different teaching methods in British colleges. Presents student evaluations, organized into sections on subjects, courses, and teaching techniques. Discusses the great emphasis on lecture based teaching. Suggests the need for new teaching approaches. (Author/AEM)

Gives a critique of the taxonomy of action research presented by Wilf Carr. Locates this critique in a broader debate about dialectical and propositional logic and suggests a method of collaborative theory development that could enhance educational practices. (Author/AEM)

Discusses current issues in teacher research in terms of the distinct but related fields of action research and case study. Considers the common aspiration to shift educational research closer to the concerns of practitioners and the different processes of each in attempting to locate teacher research as a vital element in applied educational…

Forty-two student teachers were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of teachers based upon statements of authoritarian or nonauthoritarian teaching philosophy, both before and after their student teaching experience. Results were compared to see if attitudinal changes had occurred. Findings are discussed in light of previous research. (Author/MT)

This study investigated the relationships among scholastic aptitude, achievement, and performance on a state-mandated teacher competency test for secondary school teachers. The sample consisted of 215 secondary teacher candidates who had completed the Oklahoma Curriculum Proficiency Examination between 1982 and 1985. Results are discussed.…

Sixty-eight learning disabled and reading disabled junior high school students took part in one of two experiments, both using spatially organized and randomized illustrations in an effort to measure effects of the type of illustration on recall of verbally presented prose passages. Results are discussed in terms of instructional variables for…

This study examined the influence of supervisory training on the cooperating teacher's role as an instructional supervisor. Eleven cooperating teachers who had completed a 3-hour graduate course on the supervision of preservice teachers and 25 untrained teachers who had no supervisory training participated. A discussion regarding implications of…