This paper examines the academic task model used in the Managing Academic Tasks study as a potentially useful approach to some enduring problems or themes of research in science education: (1) effects of questioning and presentation strategies; (2) testing; (3) the role of laboratory activities; and (4) curriculum implementation and evaluation.…

Teachers in low socioeconomic status minority schools face some special problems in establishing productive learning climates within their classrooms. The beginning of the school year can be crucial to teaching success in these schools. Case studies are presented of three different teachers teaching in a single low socioeconomic, minority junior…

This paper describes some practical lessons derived from the Managing Academic Tasks studies conducted at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education at the University of Texas at Austin. The research included case studies of academic work conducted in 10 junior and senior high school science, mathematics, social studies, and English…

The Junior High School Management Improvement Study (JMIS) was a field experiment conducted to verify and extend findings of previous research in English and mathematics classes. Using student behaviors (on task, off task, and disruptive behavior) as criteria of management effectiveness, this study investigated classroom management practices in 26…

A development and field-testing effort explored ways of helping preservice teachers learn classroom management knowledge and skills during field-based preservice courses. An observation guide, "Learning the Classroom Environment, An Observer's Guide to Classroom Management" (Sanford & Emmer, 1985), has four general areas: the classroom setting;…

Descriptions are given of recent dissemination and collaboration efforts of the Classroom Organization and Effective Teaching (COET) Project, which is a program of the University of Texas (Austin) Research and Development Center for Teacher Education. A brief review of COET research findings is provided, and materials and activities that can be…

This study examined the conduct of academic tasks in six secondary classrooms, focusing specifically on assigments requiring some higher level cognitive operations, with attention to how management strategies and classroom conditions associated with these assignments affect their cognitive demands on students. Analysis of tasks in these six…

The relationship between classroom work and student understanding of genetics content is examined in this descriptive study of an introductory high school biology class. Classroom observations and examnations of student assignments related to a genetics unit were made. Factors affecting the teacher's management of the work system and the apparent…

This report summarizes and discusses findings about classroom management from two studies, the Junior High Management Improvement Study (JMIS) and the earlier Junior High Classroom Organization Study (JHCOS). These two studies involved long-term observation in more than 160 classes in a variety of subject areas. Results of the two studies are…