Universities have a long history of change in learning and teaching to suit various government initiatives and institutional priorities. Academic developers now are frequently required to address strategic learning and teaching priorities. This paper asks how, in such a context, academic developers can ensure that work they do in relation to one…

Adolescents learn best when actively engaged with the content; yet, many teachers rely on passive learning strategies in their classrooms. This study investigated teacher (n = 6) use and adoption of an active learning instructional strategy (Role, Audience, Format, Topic). The study purposes were to: (a) determine how and to what extent teachers…

Job embedded professional development in the K-12 education setting has long been discussed and debated. This study builds on standards of critical reflection and thinking using the National Institute for Excellence in Education's Teacher Advancement Program's master teacher model as a conduit between theory and practice. A study of professional…

Danish upper-secondary school is currently undergoing remarkable changes. Comprehensive reforms and restructuring have transformed teacher roles and school organization. However, not all upper-secondary teachers welcome reform: on the one hand, they have to adopt norms, standards and values determined by colleagues, if they want to "fit…

The 2008 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages focused on learning about the diverse backgrounds and needs of today's students. The 2009 Conference continued that focus and added diversity by instructors in using a variety of teaching methods, strategies, themes, technologies, and assessments. Presenters from all 17 states…

Describes how environmental education can help achieve the goals of public education reform. Focuses on reform in curriculum, instruction, and assessment and considers school reform in various types of school settings. (DDR)

This book tells the story of how three disparate schools handle the many challenges of integrating technology into their classrooms. Teachers and administrators alike will share familiar feelings as they watch the professional learning communities progress toward the change that makes an enormous difference in how they teach and learn from each…

Argues that the world of technical education suffers from contradictions caused by the necessity to divide teaching efforts between groups of subjects consisting of classical theories, numerical methods, and practical skills and knowledge. Considers different aspects of these contradictions and proposes some recommendations to minimize the…

Argues for the inclusion of ideas specific to urban environments in education reform efforts. Discusses issues such as equality, social and environmental justice, and civil rights. (DDR)

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine to what extent high school teachers' purported beliefs in contemporary science education goals are embedded in routine classroom practice. The context of this study is a learning community-based high school that belongs to the Coalition of Essential Schools and is sensitive to reform issues. The…

Draws on research/development projects aimed at raising achievement through teaching thinking to explore core concepts of thinking skills and learning. Argues that educators need to move from the idea of developing the thinking child to creating powerful learning environments, thinking classroom, schools, and communities. Discusses approaches to…

It is argued that the current agenda for improving teacher education only seeks to improve the present system. A new, radically restructured approach would train teachers to learn from their experiences, communicate clearly, know their subject matter, integrate ideas into practice, apply learning theory and child development principles, and…

While reminiscing over wine and granola bars, some elementary teacher-survivors from the sixties pondered timeless teaching truths newly "discovered" by education reformers, including authentic assessment, cooperative learning, a national curriculum, and brain-compatible learning. Reformers are insensitive to realistic classroom contexts when…

Educational research has been criticised by governments and practitioners. For some politicians and policy makers, there is a tendency to look for direct links between research and successful, effective and efficient practice. Research is needed to inform their evidence-based practice as policy makers, and to provide the kind of research teachers…

Discussion of the delivery of multimedia using streaming technology focuses on its use in engineering education. Highlights include engineering education and instructional technology, including learning approaches based on cognitive development; differences between local and distance education; economic factors; and roles of Web-based streaming,…