Many continuing adult and professional education programs have heeded the call of what Packer and Greco-Brooks (1998) refer to as the "ontological work of school," or helping "change the kinds of person their students become" (p. 134). This new "ontological" work attempts to incorporate critical pedagogy to stimulate critical self-reflection and…

The educational challenges faced today are driving us toward a new step in the evolution of educational theory and practice. Educators are called to go beyond simply presenting alternatives, to integrating the best of mainstream and alternative approaches and taking them to the next level. "Integral Education" accomplishes this by…

During a fieldstudy of children's gardens in the United States in 2005, the author became aware that possibilities for providing learning experiences in children's gardens are bountiful and different styles are emerging. Anecdotally this appears to be a contested area with some within the discipline favoring a narrower definition of children's…

Discusses the lack of theoretical principles underpinning experiential education. Outlines a flow model of experiential learning applicable to adventure education, involving the learner, reality context, new and applied skills, responsibility, and critical reflection. Suggests that even small increases in theoretical understanding will help…

PROMIS (Problem Oriented/Medical Information System), a performance-based system of medical education, is described and suggestions for its application to other educational settings are discussed. PROMIS emphasizes the clarification of educational goals and the evaluation of students doing real work in real settings. (JMD)

Outlines the efforts of the Department of General Practice to develop a clear educational philosophy on which to build its curriculum. Also illustrates the application of this philosophy in developing a community-based early clinical contact course for first-year students. The philosophy was constructed from the basis of whole-person medicine and…

The present learning discourse and terms such as "learning in practice", "situated learning", "project and problem based learning" are like variations on a recurrent theme: learning by doing--the striking maxims of progressivism. The newest reforms confirm that the maxim is still alive as a standpoint with…

The work-education goals of the People's Republic of China, which are to expand educational opportunity, economic development, and value transformations, are presented first in a 1982 paper and then in a literature update of the paper. Since the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1976, educational policy has focused less on revolutionary committees and…

The goal of the Teacher Education Program Consortium is to develop a network of preservice and inservice teacher education programs that share an experiential/constructivist learning philosophy. A survey of 84 selected teacher education programs examined program scope, structure, and financial resources; educational philosophy; and program…

A definition of Citizenship (CE) should include: (1) a general statement which focuses on the CE domain, (2) a statement of underlying principles, (3) a list of included content areas, (4) specification of learner outcomes, (5) a list of instructional modes, and (6) a description of the kinds of institutions included in the CE movement.…

Argues for placing art education at the center of a radically reconstituted liberal arts curriculum. This curriculum would elevate aesthetic education (music, dance, art) to the same level as the more traditional subjects. Calls for a thorough integration of these subjects with an emphasis on experiential learning. (MJP)

In physical education, playful teaching practices are essential to relationship building and creating "connections" for successful group dynamics. Perhaps most importantly, playful teachers develop positive attitudes in their students and help students understand that learning can be fun and joyful. Playful teaching practices also greatly enhance…

A study examined experiential education programs in terms of how they developed participants' personal agency, sense of belonging, and levels of competence. Personal agency empowers students to become change agents in their lives and communities; sense of belonging enables participants to see themselves as members of a community with rights and…

Reviews the value of topic work with regard to the British National Curriculum guidelines on curriculum planning. After years of concentrating on issues of content in planning, consideration of basic aims and values in education is again urged. Topic work allows teachers to teach in depth areas of personal expertise and interest in a local…

This handbook provides an experience-based career education (EBCE) program director with guidelines and a structure for planning and conducting staff development activities with a minimum of assistance from outside the district. General principles are discussed to offer guidelines to present a staff development program to meet needs. A discussion…