The most important components of an academic institution are the educational programs it offers. California Education Code and accreditation standards emphasize the essential nature of a college's educational programs to that college's existence, and often a college's programs reflect the individual personality of the college and the uniqueness of…

Higher education institutions play a vital role in their surrounding communities. Besides providing a space for enhanced learning opportunities, universities can utilize their resources for social and economic interests. The "Handbook of Research on Science Education and University Outreach as a Tool for Regional Development" is a…

People in society have managed to survive and, often, thrive in a world characterized by ever-increasing technological change. Yet technological transience causes or at least exacerbates challenges faced by teachers and teacher education programs when using technology for educational purposes. This article presents frameworks used to assist in the…

"The Wiley International Handbook of Educational Foundations" features international scholars uniquely qualified to examine issues specific to their regions of the world. The Handbook provides readers with an alternative to the traditional texts in the foundations of education by taking aim at the status quo, and by offering frameworks…

This is the first report on the evaluation of the Inquiry Based Science and Technology Education Program (IN-STEP), an innovative and ambitious science education initiative for lower secondary schools being undertaken by a public-private partnership in Thailand funded by MSD-Thailand, an affiliate of Merck & Co. IN-STEP is a public-private…

This issue celebrates Southwest Educational Development Laboratory's (SEDL's) history and touches upon new work. This issue includes an article on the need for educators to have access to relevant, high-quality research findings and to be able to apply those findings to their local settings. It also discusses briefly the three randomized…

This skills packet is part of the North Carolina Helping Education in Low-Performing Schools effort. This initiative helps educators establish ties with technical-assistance partners who can facilitate school-improvement efforts. The skills packet, which was designed to be delivered by a skilled trainer, focuses on partnerships in education. It…

Describes one department's experience with curriculum development through the formulation of a departmental mission statement reflecting the shared sociological goals of faculty and students. Discusses the process of achieving consensus, the actual mission statement, and the curricular and program implications of such a process. (KO)

This skills packet is part of the North Carolina Helping Education in Low-Performing Schools program. This initiative helps educators establish ties with technical-assistance partners who can facilitate school-improvement efforts. The skills packet, which was designed to be delivered by a skilled trainer, focuses on leadership development. Its…

This discussion document provides detailed guidance on the resources needed to provide high quality learning opportunities for adults who want to improve basic communication skills. Background material is provided on the size of the literacy problem, the response of educators, the level of resources allocated for adult literacy and basic skills,…

Focusing on the school district's written expectations for students, this document examines curriculum improvement in four sections, each accompanied by a list of related references. The first section explores the organizational and substantive planning needed to structure any curriculum improvement project effectively and includes information on…

The development of videodiscs for science instruction in public schools requires a recognition of the unique characteristics of the public school environment and sensitivity to the persistent problems associated with science content instruction. This report discusses the conceptualization, development, and formative evaluation of a series of…

This four volume set in the series is designed especially for all members of the primary and secondary educational community, with chapter authors focusing on the pedagogical challenges in their various situations and writing about how computer-mediated communication (CMC) is used to address them. This series focuses on teaching and learning,…

Community and culture significantly influence value orientation, perceived needs, and motivation as well as provide the ground for creating shared understanding. All disciplines have their own cultures, and all cultures evolve through cross-cultural exchanges. The computing community has created and documented a sound body of knowledge of…

Presents ideas for promoting elementary school music and establishing professional relationships with other elementary school music educators. Recommends promoting a large festival where local choirs perform. Suggests activities for these events such as having each director conduct a few numbers with a different choir. (MJP)