Student achievement does not depend solely on teacher competence. Students' own behavior, their motivation to achieve, and their attitudes toward others around them all contribute. These variables create conditions--an environment--that either favors or disfavors achievement. They can dictate the amount of time a teacher has to devote to…

The author proposes that today's existing, world-wide curriculum--based on offering roughly the same math, language arts, science, and social studies to all--is not what is required for the future, and is hurting rather than helping the world's students. Math, language arts, science, and social studies, he argues, are really "proxies"…

Instructional designers face tremendous pressure to abandon the essential characteristics of educational approaches, and settle instead for routine practices that do not preserve the level of quality those approaches originally expressed. Because this pressure can be strong enough to affect designers almost as gravity affects objects in the…

The controversy over standardized tests and falling scores does not address the real problem--what should be done about school learning to insure more effective in-life behaving? A basic philosophy for such a program is suggested. (Author/LS)

The author advocates the adaptation of Air Force vocational-technical training materials for civilian school curricula. (AA)

Some limitations of instructional development are delineated, as are some of its potential adverse consequences. Finally, some possible strategies are advanced for rectifying undesirable impacts. (Author)

While the open education movements and educational technology are often seen as mutually hostile, the challenge in education for the future is to find ways to develop the full range of each individual's capacities and of doing so while putting control of the learning process as much as possible in the learner's hands: for educational technology,…

Proposes a strategy for educational reform that provides a supportive state policy structure of sustained school-level reform. Three coordinated components are described: a unifying vision and goals; a coherent instructional guidance system including guidelines for curriculum frameworks, materials, professional development, and assessment; and a…

Presents a prototype workshop to help train teachers for new roles in a new educational system. The future educational system is analyzed; the teacher's status in it is discussed, including instructional and organizational roles; and the current system is analyzed, including the teacher's status. (Contains 45 references.) (LRW)

Describes a planning process necessary for the successful implementation of a school of choice option. Topics discussed include resistance to change; development of an Organizational Status Report (OSR); developing a mission statement, goals, and objectives; a Community Communications Document (CCD); monitoring ongoing progress; and evaluation…

Considers educational change, school restructuring, and the role of technology. Topics addressed include instructional technology and a history of educational reform, including competency-based education, teacher education, efficiency and effectiveness of teachers, the role of teachers, administrators, students, business, and government, and…