Proactive Outreach to Adult Students: A Department and Library Collaborative Effort

The number of adult learners in institutions of higher education is increasing, and these students' reasons for attending, ways of learning, challenges, and methods for overcoming challenges often differ from those of traditional-age students. Faculty and library personnel can support these students in their research efforts using several collaborative endeavors. One department and university library recognized the struggles of many of their adult students as they sought to conduct research for coursework, as well as theses or dissertations. Collaborative activities proved effective in reducing students’ anxieties and frustrations with using the library and its resources.     

Where Theory and Law Meet: Trends in establishment clause jurisprudence in the US federal courts and implications for science education

In this study, federal court opinions and writings of legal scholars, spanning 63 years of establishment clause jurisprudence in the US federal courts were analysed in an effort to determine dominant trends in judicial philosophy that are of significance to science educators. The study's findings suggest that the dominant legal theory underpinning the adjudication of establishment clause cases on the US Supreme Court has undergone a shift from one that emphasizes separation of church and state to one that favours integration of religion in the public sphere. This development poses significant challenges to science educators who are charged with the task of teaching in accordance with state science standards that emphasize topics that are considered controversial (e.g. evolution and global climate change) by many in the faith-based community. These findings constitute a basis for forecasting future actions in US courts regarding the role of government in establishing religious practices in the public sphere—particularly where such actions intersect with the roles of teachers in the nation's public K-12 science classrooms. Finally, we argue that scientists and science educators must adopt an assertive stance in defining science in curricular frameworks, providing something for the courts to draw upon in future decisions.     

A Helping Relationship Experience in Teacher Education,

The helping relationship experience was explored as a means of insuring greater rapport with children. A sample of 82 junior and senior education students participated for a minimum of two hours/week for approximately eight weeks. Of this group, some were involved with white children; another group with Negro children and a third group served as control. Groups were pre- and post-tested on selected personality variables felt to be necessary for the establishment of good rapport. A complex analysis of variance design was used in analyzing the data. Females and “liberals” scored significantly higher on the MTAI than males or “traditionalists.” Failure to find other evidence of a significant effect on the experimental groups was attributed to insufficient duration and/or intensity of the treatment.     

American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century

Modern Literature for Oral Interpretation: a practice book for Vocal Expression. 418 pp. Gertrude; E. Johnson. The Century Co., 1920.

Public Speaking. By Clarence Stratton, Ph.D. New York, 1920. Henry Holt and Company. Pp. 342. $1.48.

A Manual of Debate and Oral Discussion. By James Milton O'Neill. Published by the Century Company. 303 pages.

Sources of Effectiveness in Public Speaking. Psychological Principles Practically Used in Developing Ability to Speak. By C. Edmund Neil, Professor of Public Speaking in Boston University and Newton Theological Institution. Hinds, Hayden &; Eldredge, Inc., 1920; 590 pages.

University Debaters’ Annual. Phelps, 1919–1920. The H. W. Wilson Co., New York.     

Geoscience education: an overview

Geoscience educational publications are reviewed in seven areas to identify future directions for curriculum development, professional development and research. The review shows that: effective teaching methods encompassing broad geoscience study still need extensive research; whilst some valuable materials have been developed for the teaching of systems approaches to geoscience, these need to be evaluated in different curriculum contexts; different methodologies for teaching spatial awareness in geoscience need to be more widely applied and researched; approaches for the effective teaching of geological time should be further developed and tested; there is much scope for the development and evaluation of approaches to geoscience fieldwork; geoscience misconceptions are widespread and need further identification and review; and studies of the effectiveness of professional development in geoscience education should be implemented more widely, including their impact in the classroom. The review indicates that geoscience education will progress most effectively through: extending geoscience learning to all children; educating teachers in effective implementation of new curriculum initiatives; evaluating the progress of the initiatives and using the results to refine them; and researching the whole process to demonstrate its effectiveness and to ensure wide dissemination on the basis of well‐founded research findings.     

THE DEVELOPMENTAL COMPATIBILITY OF YOUNG WOMEN IN SERVICE TO AGED WOMEN

Reciprocity between young women and aged women is a powerful inducement in encouraging young women to consider work with elderly adults. Research shows that strict skills training and productivity models of care can drain the emotional resources of young women and devalue the personal virtues of the aged who are served. A sample survey supports the idea that young women need positive experiences with aged women to consider working with them. Using developmental models of Erikson, Erikson and Kivnick (1986), Gilligan (1982), Kegan (1982) and others, a concept of intimacy (McAdams, 1986) in the service environment can instill hope and integrity in young and aged women. Intimate encounters with aged women, promoted by training in developmental awareness and communications, can be the motivation a young woman needs to consider or continue service work with an expanding aged population.     

Creativity workshops in the regular classroom

Facebook is a frequently accessed social networking site with more than one billion active users worldwide. Although there are numerous studies on its impact on teenagers, none have investigated its impact on gifted and talented girls. This study’s aim was to understand the social media experiences of talented female student leaders. A qualitative approach, underpinned by the principles of phenomenology, was used. Individual semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with five participants. A modified method for phenomenological analysis was then used to distill the key essence of their experiences. This New Zealand study describes the complex challenges the participants face as users of Facebook and also argues for the value of the phenomenological method as a powerful research tool in such a study.     

A survey of practices of teachers of the gifted

The purpose of this study was to examine the self‐concepts, locus of control, and machi‐avellianism of 169 ethnically diverse middle grade students identified as gifted. Subjects consisted of 90 African‐American (31 boys, 18 girls). Self‐concept, locus of control, and machiavellianism were assessed by Me: A Self‐Concept Scale for Gifted Children (Feldhusen &; Kolloff, 1981), the Nowicki‐Strickland Locus of Control Scale (Nowicki &; Strickland, 1973), and Mach IV Scale (Christie &; Geis, 1970) respectively. A three‐way analysis of variance (group × Gender × Grade) on subjects’ scores revealed significant group differences in self‐concept. No significant gender or grade differences were found in self‐concept. No significant group, gender, or grade differences were found in locus of control and machiavellianism. Self‐concept was significantly and positively correlated with internal locus of control and with low machiavellianism. Mean scores indicated that ethnically diverse students who are gifted had positive self‐concepts, internal locus of control, and were low machiavellians.