The logic behind "continuous improvement" sounds simple--but it takes a skillful leader to make the process pay off. While the logic behind the popular "continuous improvement" process seems simple, the authors' study of schools using approaches based on continuous improvement revealed that skilled leadership is as important as…

Since 2002, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills has been the leading advocacy organization in the United States focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. Its "Framework for 21st Century Learning," the result of a consensus among hundreds of stakeholders, describes the skills, knowledge, and expertise students need to…

The undergraduate curriculum in colleges and universities in the United States can be viewed in three large and distinct periods. Knowing these periods, one can determine the interaction between education and society, can suggest what will come next, and can help make one comfortable with a patchwork curriculum. (Author/MLF)

Educators and governments are paying increasing attention to international comparisons as they seek to develop effective policies to improve the performance of their education systems. Data from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are useful in revealing best practices across the world. Current data show that the United…

Briefly discusses Phillip Schlechty's view on teacher career development with university cooperation, needs for systematic faculty development, appropriate administrator roles, encouragement of professionalism, the use of differentiated staffing patterns, and appropriate attitudes toward reform. (PGD)

Facing a new state mandate, Maryland teacher educators established a pilot professional development school (PDS) and achieved positive results with preservice teachers. The PDS internship was more effective than the regular program in preparing teacher candidates to maintain classroom discipline, use technology effectively for instruction, and…

A fuller development of imagination can bring the curriculum into a coherent, cohesive whole. (Author/MLF)

A set of ten value concepts for a democratic political community that schools should seek to exemplify are divided into those that primarily promote desirable cohesive and unifying elements and those that primarily promote desirable pluralistic and individualistic elements. (Author/MLF)

Fifty-six elementary school teachers list the planning decisions they make as they prepare a lesson, class period, unit, or course. More than half the respondents used a planning model that differed in some degree from the model used and taught in the college methods classes. (Author/MLF)

Energy education is being added to the curriculum in many schools. Although not well defined, it is a growing and important area, and good materials are available. (Author/JM)

Describes characteristics of successful problem solvers and reports programs at all educational levels designed to help students improve their skills. (Author/MLF)

A curriculum is proposed that presents all subjects as a stage in humanity's historical development. The philosophies of science, history, language, and religion would be taught, and there would be strong emphasis on classical forms of artistic expression. (Author/MLF)

Profiles two educators with new books about challenge of teaching. Philip W. Jackson, philosopher/professor of education, muses about teaching and quests for knowledge in "Untaught Lessons." In "You Can't Say You Can't Play," kindergarten teacher Vivian Gussin Paley advocates storytelling as way to build more moral world in the…

Outlines the services provided to schools by The Wisconsin School Evaluation Consortium. It exists to provide evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programs to its members. Includes references. (MD)