Darin Stockdill was a secondary school English and social studies teacher in Detroit. His early research with classroom instruction and professional development motivated him to begin doctoral study to explore how schools serving as research sites can become sites for professional development and collaboration. He finds an epistemic perspective on…

Unlike every other developed country, Canada has had no national or pan-Canadian agency that works to support and promote research in education, and especially to build connections between research, policy, and practice. Canada has a national granting council that funds academic research in all fields, including education (the Social Sciences and…

"Turnaround" has become the new buzzword in education. From states and districts paying for principals to be trained as turnaround specialists to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's call to turn around the country's 5,000 lowest-performing schools, the concept of rapid, large-scale reform in individual schools--not just incremental…

This article clearly defines the three crucial pre-implementation principles to maximize the success of Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) in large high schools. Establishing clear understanding for the need of the SLC initiative is the first of these principles. Long term commitment to a sustained plan for relevant SLC professional learning…

Elizabeth G. Sturtevant, a professor of education at George Mason University, holds a 33-year record of college-level teaching, scholarship, and service that centers on adolescent literacy. Her research helps clarify the pressures that affect teachers' literacy instruction, the role of secondary school literacy coaches, and adolescent…

This article reports on a symposium commemorating Lillien Martin's dissertation, "Analysis of Difference Sensations," by published in 1899. The symposium marked the centenary celebration in acknowledgement of Martin's pioneer efforts for women in the field of psychology. Psychophysics was concerned with the quantitative assessment of…

Defining and redefining the notion of scholarship in student affairs continues to engage faculty, staff, and students in the profession. This article encourages practitioners to reconsider the very questions being debated. Specifically, how might considering the possibilities for scholarship (as opposed to current constraints and traditions) lead…

Discusses various aspects of faculty productivity. The article examines reasons why some faculty don't publish: opposition to the publish-or-perish pressure, commitment to teaching, insufficient time, and inadequate incentives. The author then describes characteristics of productive faculty and presents a model for professional development. (CT)

U.S. business and industry must follow Xerox's training, staff development, and research and development example to leapfrog ahead of foreign competitors. The business community launched the New American Schools Development Corporation to carry out the America 2000 plan to transform U.S. schooling. So far, America 2000 communities are focusing on…

In this article, the author argues for a central and critical role for "reflexivity in research" with the aim of developing and strengthening not only everyone's understanding of what everyone does in environmental education research, but also how, and why everyone does it. In a narrative account of methodological issues that occurred…

Motivation for personnel in research and development in industry is discussed. Seven precepts of motivation, interaction of satisfaction with motivation, influence of academic conditioning, the industrial environment, predictable and unpredictable motivators, and three motivational steps are described. (MLW)

Consulting by faculty members is seen as highly beneficial to the organization and the university, as well as to the consultant. Not only does consulting benefit faculty incomes, but it also aids in (1) technological currency, (2) technology transfer, and (3) research inspiration. (MLW)

The need for accountability in school psychological services is receiving increased attention. School psychologists are now being asked to demonstrate the effectiveness of their services. Data collection procedures can improve services to clients and systems, enhance the delivery system's psychological services program, validate the need for…

Describes how general systems theory was used to develop a system for infusing computer technology into teacher education at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (TX). Topics include strategic alignment; curriculum development; distance learning programs using the Internet; assessment of preservice and inservice teacher performance; and an…

This introductory article notes the special issue's purpose of highlighting ways to close gaps between research and practice in special education from the perspective of teacher preparation, inservice training, professional development, and collaborations between researchers and teachers in local schools. (DB)