Education policy continues to press for increased use of research evidence in decision-making, yet decades of research point to weak links between research and practice. We see evidence-informed improvement not as a problem with schools, but with a larger evidence-use ecosystem. As a step toward building and strengthening multidirectional paths…

This research has two aims: (1) to bridge a gap in blended learning research--the lack of a systems approach to the understanding of blended learning research and practice, and (2) to promote a more comprehensive understanding of what has been achieved and what needs to be achieved in blended learning research and practice. To achieve these aims,…

Purpose: This article examines and evaluates the potential contributions from action learning and action research with stakeholders to higher education in agriculture and food systems. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research is based on our experiences over the past two decades of running PhD courses and an MSc degree programme in Agroecology in…

This paper sets out to develop a robust theory in a largely atheoretical field of study. The increasing importance of entrepreneurship in delivering the "Third Mission" calls for an enhanced understanding of the university entrepreneurship phenomenon, not solely as a subject of academic interest but also to guide the work of practitioners in the…

Purpose: This case study aims to demonstrate that lean principles and practices utilized in industry can be successfully applied to improve higher education administrative processes through an innovative and engaging learning experience involving undergraduate students. Design/methodology/approach: This is a first-hand account by the instructor of…

Research perspectives on teacher evaluation present evaluators with a set of possible acts. Local evaluation systems, on the other hand, specify a permissible set of acts from the total universe. The acts specified within a given locality act as conditions for teacher action. Using the sampling and analytical procedures of grounded theory, this…

Reviews key concepts and applications of chaos theory and the broader complex systems theory in the context of general systems theory and the search for a unified conceptual framework for social work. Concludes that chaos theory shows promise as a solution to many problems posed by the now dated general systems approach. (DB)

Describes a comprehensive model of communication that incorporates four sets of relationships within a two-dimensional matrix: systems perspective (input, integration, output, feedback); rhetoric (purpose and method in objective and subjective perspectives); transactional process (simultaneous and multiple interactions among elements); and…

Applauds Caple for his application of general systems theory to student development and student personnel, but cautions against the overgeneralization of applying paradigms from other fields to student development and psychology. Urges practitioners to be clear on the concepts before using them. (Author/ABB)

In Israel, the school principal role is still being professionalized. There are no licensing or formal, systematic selection procedures. The Jerusalem model is a master's level program that balances theoretical content with practical experience. Major components include academic knowledge bases, task-oriented studies, training in managerial…

A model of higher education learning and teaching based on systems theory, in which all parts of the teaching-learning context are seen as seeking equilibrium, is proposed. The task of the teacher is seen as achieving good teaching practices that are workable within the existing matrix of systems and subsystems. (Author/MSE)

Identifies gaps between what research reveals about how college students learn and current academic, pedagogical, and administrative practices and policies. Offers five explanations of why these gaps exist and suggests that change must be systemic, and will also require that people relearn their roles, systematic measurement of progress, and a…

The Galbraith article gives us the opportunity to think out loud about the purposes and practices of field activity, and in responding, this article argues that Galbraith is more concerned with the technical application of a method rather than investigating knowledge production. Using Bourdieu's theory of practice enables critical evaluation to be…

An exploratory study examined relationships between interpersonal communication theory and public relations from 1970 to 1990. One hundred thirty-six public relations campaign cases recognized for excellence by the Public Relations Society of America were analyzed for applicability of seven interpersonal theoretical perspectives. Information…

Carroll's (1963) model of school learning and Bloom's (1968) mastery learning both address theoretical and practical aspects of the time factor in school learning via an appeal to diagnostic-prescriptive teaching. The design of instructional environments and materials--particularly as advocated by Glaser (1976)--represents the mechanism to bring…