Bellwether Education Partners' report, "A New Agenda," calls for a "rational" and "rigorous" research agenda for teacher education. Although the report's rationale is not fully explicated, it asserts that programs are "blindly swinging from one popular reform to the next" and that decades of input- and…

This article provides the author's comments on the studies by Tom Russell, David Dillon, Shawn Bullock, Lynn Thomas, and Andrea Martin which are reported in this issue of "Studying Teacher Education." Here Stefinee Pinnegar reflects on the intractable conundrums of teacher education and teachers educators that she felt was her…

As an American-trained compositionist working in the Middle East, Amy Zenger questioned the ways she and others in her position conduct research and construct, revise, or administer composition programs outside of the U.S., particularly when these programs purport to adhere to American models of liberal arts education. Universities and programs…

In the past few years, four states have established programs that provide public financial support to students who choose to attend a private school. These programs--a tax-credit-funded scholarship initiative in Florida and voucher programs in Indiana, Louisiana, and Ohio--offer a glimpse of what expansive statewide choice might look like. What…

There is a pervasive and ongoing perception that leadership preparation is a problem. Important questions remain about the intentions, capacity, and impact of state departments of education engaged in leadership preparation program redesign. In this essay, I take up several issues concerning this state policy work, including whether a one size…

In order to help users make informed decisions when buying communications software, this article suggests that buyers consider communications software compatibility; software protocols for data transmission; software products offering compatibility with Telenet, Prestel, and Ethernet/XTEN; specific intended applications; and specialized features…

This article examines the various aims and methods of open universities and compares them with the system pioneered by Britain's Open University. He discusses the differences between open university systems, the place of the media, and the potential for conflict created by differing control systems. (CT)

A discussion of the role of university-based organized research units reviews the major issues that confront such centers, describes results of a survey of 18 of the fastest growing research universities, and makes recommendations concerning appropriate management and the role of the centers within the research university. (Author/MSE)

This report presents the findings at the Committee on the Undergraduate Program in Mathematics (CUPM) Panel on mathematics appreciation courses. A philosophy, things to stress and avoid, approaches to course organization, and examples of topics are all discussed. References are suggested that relate mathematics to science and society. (MP)

College employee assistance program designs demonstrate the varied needs of a workforce. Whatever the model, the helping approach remains to (1) identify problem employees through performance-related issues; (2) refer them to the assistance program for further intervention; and (3) follow up with employee and supervisor to ensure a successful…

The author shares his own experiences in the design of culturally appropriate human resources development programs in Asia. He discusses the differences in cognitive models of causation: Japanese cognition and western cognition. (CT)

Assesses the effectiveness of youth work experience programs currently being carried out in the United States. Emphasizes the importance of Dewey's principles of continuity and interaction in assuring that such programs provide youth with meaningful and lasting skills and knowledge. (GC)

The advantages and disadvantages of the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF) as investment vehicles for college faculty are examined, and guidelines for faculty to use in evaluating their investment options are offered. Some data on TIAA-CREF performance are included. (MSE)

Effective adventure programming is explained in terms of the "significant learning" experience, involving periods of tension, questioning, and transfer during personal and social learning. Adventure programming that is supportive, adaptive, and properly sequenced maximizes the potential of significant learning. Trust- and…

Foreign study can broaden the undergraduate experience for premedical students and help remedy the problem of on-campus tunnel vision, characterized by too little independent learning and critical thinking, premature specialization, avoidance of social sciences and humanities, and lack of appreciation of cultural heritage. (MSE)