Using journals with third year classes

Sorry about the writing—I was in a rush to let you know love Rosie
Third year groups (pupils of 13–14) have always presented me with the most difficult problems of management in the mixed-ability classroom. Each year as August ends, I convince myself of the need to radically rethink this area of the curriculum. Each September, as the term swings into full action, I find my intentions swept away by what appear to be the more pressing requirements of other groups. Third years appear to occupy an educational no-man's land in the middle reaches of secondary schooling. Old enough to have lost the spontaneity and enthusiasm that makes the junior forms so rewarding, they have yet to complete the metamorphosis which makes fourth years co-operative and self-motivating. Third years have frequently been the irritant in an otherwise pleasant, smooth running day.     

User interactions with the PDQ cancer information system.

Searches by end users and intermediaries on the online PDQ (Physician Data Query) cancer information system were observed. With the National Library of Medicine (NLM) menu-based interface, end users (physicians) averaged fewer steps per question, while with the BRS command-drive interface, intermediaries appeared to be more efficient. Cancer Information Service (CIS) searchers, who have more PDQ experience than end users or intermediaries, made greater use of command stacking to anticipate menu selections. Retrieval was more complete in the NLM system, where both the menus and predefined print formats assisted the searchers.