As a result of hostile climates for homosexual/bisexual students, dropout rates, substance abuse, homelessness, isolation, and identity problems are growing rapidly. Recent court decisions hold educators and schools responsible for the safety and education of these youth. However, there is no consensus on how to teach such controversial issues to…

Public deliberation, sometimes called deliberative democracy, offers alternatives to what are often adversarial governmental debates and hearings. This paper provides a case example of applying the deliberative democracy process to development issues and an analysis of data comparing the effectiveness of the process for creating a consensus for…

This book proposes the possibility of "extraordinary change" in individuals and organizations and suggests a source of "boundless energy" for bringing those changes into being. That source is freed by removing internal barriers to change within oneself. It provides personal experiences of transformational learning to introduce…

The effectiveness of diversity training in eliminating racial stereotypes in the workplace and modifying employees' negative attitudes toward diversity was examined in a study conducted at a private nonprofit college in the San Francisco Bay area. The study sample consisted of 80 nontraditional students from 4 sections of a course titled Managing…

Staff members working in early childhood services have enormous potential to influence young children's developing attitudes toward cultural diversity and gender equity. This issue of the Australian Early Childhood Association Research in Practice Series focuses on how early childhood staff can work productively through the challenges of achieving…

This paper reports on the development, design, and initial field testing of a narrative simulation, "'This Just Is!' Jeff's Story," that focused on homophobia and adolescent suicide. The initial field test was conducted with two user groups--a graduate class of professionals in the field of higher education student development, and a…

Despite gains in many areas, minorities remain underrepresented as scientists and science students. On of the reasons for this absence may be the presence of a common stereotype of scientists as white males. This paper argues that recent research in cognitive and social psychology shows that stereotypic processes are not automatic and that…

This book, which is addressed to workers who are uncertain about their future in increasingly high-tech workplaces, outlines a framework for taking action to overcome high-tech anxiety and to thrive in this new world of work. Chapter 1 discusses why so many people experience anxiety over the new information and communication technologies that now…

A study explored the language use patterns, motivations and attitudes toward Americans or the British in the formal English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classroom, changes in orientations and motivations, and instructional preferences of limited-English-proficient Korean high school students. Subjects were 40 male and 40 female students randomly…

Presents two scales constructed to measure farmers' attitudinal changes toward improved agricultural practices and toward adult literacy as a result of their participation in the Farmers' Functional Literacy Programme in India. (MF)

Discusses the Close Up Foundation's sponsorship of social studies students' trips to Washington, D.C. Describes one school's experience of planning and financing the trip, as well as its public forums and club for students to gain experience in politics and citizenship. Reports a study of Close Up participants, their political attitude…

This pretest/posttest study measured the change in computer literacy and attitudes toward computers among 36 preservice teachers enrolled in an introductory computer training course that was focused on developing programing skills. Independent variables included age, gender, locus of control, final grade in the course, and prior experience in word…

Increasing teachers' senses of efficacy toward educating minority, poor, and low achieving students is an important element of school restructuring. Changing societal values toward individual differences and misconceptions about students' abilities to learn is essential. Teacher behaviors that are effective with low achievers are effective for all…

A 3-year study in 8 middle schools tested a program to improve adolescent conduct. The program attempted to improve clarity and enforcement of rules, classroom organization, school-home communication, and increase reinforcement of positive behavior. Where it was well-implemented, student conduct improved significantly. (SLD)

This paper describes the evaluation of three curriculum models to teach technology. The three modules present technology as a design process involving problem identification and analysis; generation and evaluation of alternative solutions; planning and construction of models; and trialing, modification and evaluation. Participating pupil's…