This book, written by authors representing 12 countries and five continents, is a collection of international perspectives on distance learning and distance learning implementations in higher education. The perspectives are presented in the form of practical case studies of distance learning implementations, research studies on teaching and…

To explore the principal's role as instructional leader in school improvement strategies, this research brief focuses on characteristics of effective schools, a profile of effective principals, and a discussion with Dr. Steven Bossert, Associate Laboratory Director for Research and Development at Far West Laboratory in San Francisco, California,…

Describes a study of student performance on national exams conducted in Nebraska by a consortium of nine school districts. Includes three tables. (MD)

This book provides information for researchers and practitioners on the current issues and best practices associated with electronic learning communities. Fourteen contributed chapters include: "Interactive Online Educational Experiences: E-volution of Graded Projects" (James Benjamin); "Hybrid Courses as Learning Communities"…

Through observation of fifth-grade mathematics and social studies classes, this study reveals that subject matter, a variable often overlooked in recent research, has a profound effect on instructional practice. The study analyzes the interrelations among forms of instruction, levels of student involvement, and subject matter. The analysis…

Describes the research objectives, rationale, methodology, and findings of a model program developed at the Northwestern University Library, which examined whether online catalogs require instruction and, if so, how that instruction would be best delivered. (CLB)

The components of existing district instructional information systems are identified and illustrated by examples from field studies and descriptions of work with two districts in defining their instructional information systems and assigning costs. Instructional information systems are loosely organized methods of providing past and present…

Reported is a profile of nonmajor instruction determined through a nationwide survey of college and university professors who teach introductory courses to non-science majors. The purpose of the survey was to identify the critical issues and problems that exist related to this population of students. (KR)

Principals can influence teachers and instructional behavior by working through linkage mechanisms within the organizational structure of the school. Two types of linkages are identified: bureaucratic and cultural. Principals have access to linkages of both kinds; using linkages effectively, they can generate a common purpose in their schools. (MD)

The purpose of this report is to identify changes that need to be made in the Saskatchewan mathematics curriculum and to provide the curriculum writers and advisory committee with sufficient background information to develop a revised program and to evaluate teaching materials currently available. The purpose of Part 1 of the guide is to examine…

Describes interactive educational technology and discusses its use in the classroom. Asserts that research about the effectiveness of interactive technology ignores links to curriculum goals and educational objectives. Asserts that a human tutor may still be needed to extend the thinking of a group. (CFR)

Contends that curriculum theorists often distinguish between the formal or official curriculum from the actual or hidden curriculum. Argues that the hidden curriculum always has a normative, or moral, component and that educators have a responsibility to make the hidden curriculum as explicit as possible. (CFR)

The U.S. public high school should return to a core curriculum which is defined as a broad consensus on the basic information and skills to which most young students should have been exposed by the time they graduate from high school. The duty of educators is to teach the skills and general information that enable educated persons to continue…

This document reports the highlights from a study of effective and ineffective principal behaviors associated with effective schools and briefly summarizes the methodology of the study. The term effectiveness is defined as high academic achievement, low rates of vandalism and absenteeism, a sense of community, and a stable staff. The researchers…

This handbook offers a teach-yourself guide for teachers, administrators, and researchers on the management of educational media and materials. Management of instructional media is often complicated by overlapping functions and responsibilities of various government levels and administrative positions. The guide contains one learning module, which…