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Four levels of systems inquiry are projected on an abstract-concrete continuum. Most abstract is exposition of general theories of systems, and most concrete is use of specific technical tools. Specific models of systems approaches to instructional development are examined, and a systems-models approach is outlined. (Author)

Proposes a mechanism for monitoring the operation of an information system so that information needs are met or are identified and communicated to information producers in a systematic manner. (Author)

A look at the Center for Cooperative Research with Schools (CReWS), which attempts to spread systems approaches to teaching throughout Pennsylvania. (HB)

Returns from the Survey of Testing questionnaire, which was mailed to each testing director in the Great Cities Program, are summarized. The Survey includes: 1) information concerning test standardization; 2) information concerning the use of test results; 3) all tests currently used in the Great City Schools. (MS)

THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, IN A JOINT RESEARCH PROJECT, INVESTIGATED AN AUDIOLINGUAL METHOD TO TEACH SPANISH TO FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS. RESULTS AT THE FIFTH-GRADE LEVEL SUGGESTED THAT ELECTRONIC AIDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH FEEDBACK (THAT IS, WHERE THE CHILD RECORDS AND LISTENS TO HIS OWN VOICE), ARE A DESIRABLE ADDITION TO THE CLASSROOM SPANISH PROGRAM. AN EXCEPTION TO THIS OCCURS, FOR REASONS SO FAR UNEXPLAINED, AMONG CHILDREN FROM HOMES WHERE SPANISH IS SPOKEN NATIVELY. THESE CHILDREN ARE VERY FEW IN NUMBER, HOWEVER, SO THAT THE ELECTRONIC AIDS APPEAR POTENTIALLY HELPFUL TO THE GREAT MAJORITY OF FIFTH-GRADE PUPILS. THE SIXTH-GRADE RESULTS CONFIRMED A PREVIOUSLY STATED HYPOTHESIS THAT A COMBINATION OF AUTOMATED AND TEACHER-DIRECTED READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION WOULD BE SUPERIOR TO EITHER METHOD ALONE. THE COMBINATION PRODUCED SIGNIFICANTLY SUPERIOR RESULTS ON BOTH LISTENING COMPREHENSION AND READING AND WRITING TESTS. SPEAKING TEST RESULTS SHOWED THE COMBINATION SLIGHTLY LESS FAVORABLE, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF LESS FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT BETWEEN PUPIL AND TEACHER WHEN AUTOMATED INSTRUCTION IS USED. IT APPEARS, HOWEVER, THAT THIS DEFICIENCY CAN BE OVERCOME THROUGH USE OF ELECTRONIC AIDS OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR SPANISH INSTRUCTION PERIOD. OTHER REPORTS IN THIS SERIES ARE ED 003 244 AND ED 003 245. (LP)

A NUMBER OF STUDIES RELATING TO WAYS IN WHICH INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION CAN BEST FIT INTO THE TOTAL TEACHING SITUATION HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE IN THIS STUDY TO LEARN WHETHER DIRECT PARENT PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION LESSONS CAN INCREASE THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING. THE ACTIVITIES ON THE PART OF THE PARENTS WERE--(1) TO WATCH A 15-MINUTE TELEVISED SPANISH LESSON IN THE EVENING WITH THEIR CHILD (THE CHILD HAD ALSO SEEN THE PROGRAM IN CLASS), (2) TO FOLLOW A SPECIAL INSTRUCTION GUIDE INVOLVING THE USE OF A PHONOGRAPH RECORD, AND (3) TO PREPARE A DATA SHEET INDICATING PROGRAMS WATCHED AND AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT PRACTICING WITH THEIR CHILD. THE PTA COORDINATED THE WORK WITH PARENTS. THE PARENTS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT WERE NOT TYPICAL OF THE TOTAL PARENT POPULATION IN DENVER. THEY TENDED TO BE IN HIGHER STATUS OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, AND THEIR CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC CHARACTERISTICS WERE RELATIVELY HIGH. THE RESULTS OF A 50-QUESTION ACHIEVEMENT TEST, AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING POTENTIAL, DEMONSTRATED THAT PARENT HELP SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED LEARNING. RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THAT THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT PARENT PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION BE EXTENSIVELY INVESTIGATED. FURTHER REPORTS ARE LISTED UNDER ACCESSION NUMBERS ED 003 245 AND ED 003 246. (JC)

MEMORANDUMS ARE PROVIDED ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF THE JOINT PROJECT OF THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY, TITLED "FOUR YEARS OF RESEARCH ON THE CONTEXT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION." THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO LEARN HOW INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION COULD BEST FIT INTO THE TOTAL TEACHING SITUATION, NOT TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL TV. THE TEACHING FIELD SELECTED FOR EXPERIMENTATION WAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPANISH FOR FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS. A FINAL REPORT PRESENTED THE GENERAL FINDINGS OF THE OVERALL PROJECT. THE PRESENT REPORT WAS PREPARED NOT TO DUPLICATE AND SUMMARIZE THE FINAL DOCUMENT BUT TO PROVIDE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE GROUPS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE TEXT ON--(1) HOW THE PROJECT WAS PLANNED AND INSTITUTED, (2) HOW IT ACTUALLY OPERATED, (3) WHAT PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED AND HOW THEY WERE OVERCOME, (4) WHAT EFFECT IT HAD ON THE TEACHING CORPS, PRINCIPALS, AND PARENTS, AND (5) WHAT THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS ARE. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ARE THUS REPORTED THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE INCLUDED ELSEWHERE. THE "WHY" AND "WITH WHAT RESULTS" ARE COVERED EXTENSIVELY IN MORE TECHNICAL REPORTS WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM EITHER THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION OR THE INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY. (JH)

This article attempted to define the systems approach and discussed how it might be applied in education. (Author/RK)

A look at computer assisted instruction at Penn State University. (HB)

Improvement in education clearly depends on improved management practice, which, in turn, depends on more effective information systems. The kind of management information systems needed in education in the seventies is referred to in the literature as a "fourth generation" system, one that focuses on the decision process and is developed in terms of maximum usefulness in management decision and control. (Author)

Background Charles Darwin (CD), “father of modern biology,” suffered from multisystem illness from early adulthood. The most disabling manifestation was cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). This study aims at finding the possible cause of CVS in CD. Methods A literature search using the PubMed database was carried out, and CD’s complaints, as reported in his personal writings and those of his relatives, friends, colleagues, biographers, were compared with various manifestations of mitochondrial disorders (MIDs), known to cause CVS, described in the literature. Results Organ tissues involved in CD’s disease were brain, nerves, muscles, vestibular apparatus, heart, gut, and skin. Cerebral manifestations included episodic headache, visual disturbance, episodic memory loss, periodic paralysis, hysterical crying, panic attacks, and episodes of depression. Manifestations of polyneuropathy included numbness, paresthesias, increased sweating, temperature sensitivity, and arterial hypotension. Muscular manifestations included periods of exhaustion, easy fatigability, myalgia, and muscle twitching. Cardiac manifestations included episodes of palpitations and chest pain. Gastrointestinal manifestations were CVS, dental problems, abnormal seasickness, eructation, belching, and flatulence. Dermatological manifestations included painful lips, dermatitis, eczema, and facial edema. Treatments with beneficial effects to his complaints were rest, relaxation, heat, and hydrotherapy. Conclusion CVS in CD was most likely due to a multisystem, nonsyndromic MID. This diagnosis is based upon the multisystem nature of his disease, the fact that CVS is most frequently the manifestation of a MID, the family history, the variable phenotypic expression between affected family members, the fact that symptoms were triggered by stress, and that only few symptoms could not be explained by a MID.