The purpose of this short article is to offer a critical perspective on Larsen and Harrington's ambitious and stimulating review article. It does so by drawing a distinction between teaching and learning and discussing how progression metaphors for describing the latter can distort the moral purpose of the former. My response to the provocation…

A certain conception of the relevance of virtue epistemology to the philosophy of education is set out. On this conception, while the epistemic goal of education might initially be promoting the pupil's cognitive success, it should ultimately move on to the development of the pupil's cognitive agency. A continuum of cognitive agency is described,…

The author of this article writes about how this moment of technological explosion raises a host of important questions for education leaders that speak directly to the way people think about the potentials of technology in school.The author asserts that if technology is seen simply as additive, the questions will be about the technology: Should…

Black, Wilson, and Yao (this issue) lay out a comprehensive vision for the way that learning progressions (or other "road maps") might be used to inform and coordinate formative and summative purposes of assessment. As Black, Wilson, and others have been arguing for over a decade, the effective use of formative assessment has great potential to…

In this paper I argue that there is a need to reconnect with the question of purpose in education, particularly in the light of a recent tendency to focus discussions about education almost exclusively on the measurement and comparison of educational outcomes. I first discuss why the question of purpose should always have a place in our…

There is little question that the fundamental purpose of education--what the ancient Greeks referred to as the "telos"--is to promote student learning. For decades, both experts and the general public have agreed that any effort to improve the education system must focus squarely on optimizing student learning, motivating students to achieve, and…

One goal of education should be to sensitize students to the meaning of what is said and the way valid knowledge is established. (JD)

Discusses the role of career education in the total educational process. Indicates the value of career education in preparing students to be productive members of society. (JOW)

The author presents a major goal for education and then proceeds through a curriculum model of theory into the application of theories appropriate for the goal, the learners, and the content area. Includes the theories of individual differences, involvement in the learning process, and multisensory learning. (CT)

Distinguishes two types of learning processes: (1) learning from regularity--a linear model of problem, process, and product; and (2) learning from irregularity--adaptation to changing circumstances. Argues that these approaches lack an ethical or political dimension and advocates learning from responsibility or social commitment. (SK)

Integrates the theoretical foundations of distance education programs with the selection of appropriate media. The principles of learning that take place in traditional instruction are discussed; instructional objectives and methods are described; matching objectives, methods, and media is considered; and types of communication are discussed. (10…

An integrated approach to developing incidental trainers and teachers teaches learning-centered decision making for planning training and setting objectives. The learning model used for instructional design has five steps: be introduced to topic/skill, get to know it, try it, get feedback, apply it. (SK)

Educating for understanding means that students have a sufficient grasp of concepts, skills, or principles to bring them to bear on new situations. Researchers at Harvard University's Project Zero are figuring out what to teach, how to teach it, and how to assess what students have learned using the approach of teaching for understanding. (MLF)

The idea that post-school education has been influenced by a "therapeutic turn" in recent years has been subjected to critical scrutiny by a number of commentators. Learning initiatives which are dominated by objectives linked to personal and social skills, emotional intelligence and boosting self-esteem and confidence have been labelled as…

Several educational philosopers address concepts of educational adequacy that extend far beyond objective measurements of achievement or competencies. The author of this essay contrasts the European concept of education as an initiation into a world of understanding and imagination with the American tradition of education as serving social and…