The traditional format of mathematics instruction has not succeeded in providing the skills students need to work cooperatively to solve problems in industry. New models of instruction have been proposed to resolve this deficiency. Schoenfeld has used a technique that incorporates coaching, modeling, and fading strategies with college-level…

Finding ways to improve the assessment of beginning teachers is part of an effort to assure that fully certified teachers possess the professional knowledge and skills necessary for competence in contemporary classrooms. Research done by the California New Teacher Project (CNTP) suggests that some knowledge and skills cannot be fully learned in…

Critical evaluation of instructional materials is an important but often neglected aspect of instructional preparation. This study proposes evaluation that is more theoretically grounded in sociocultural and context-sensitive bases than are many evaluation guides. A new instrument was developed and applied to materials for teacher education as…

Collaboration in the classroom is a major theme of educational reform today. Electronically-supported conversation (ESC) is one way of using technology to support collaboration in the classroom. ESC offers several instructional benefits over simple spoken discourse. We describe a simple model ("two cans and a string") for how ESC could…

The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) has been working with federal and state agencies to facilitate and enhance the collection and use of data on educational outcomes for students with disabilities. The purpose of this document is to present a model of: (1) early childhood outcomes at age 3, where outcomes are defined as the results…

As part of its response to the current emphasis on educational reform and accountability, the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) has been working with federal and state agencies to facilitate and enhance the collection and use of data on educational outcomes for students with disabilities. In doing so, it has taken an inclusive…

This guide is intended to help develop and implement an outcomes assessment program at the school, district, or state level. An introduction summarizes the purposes of this approach to assessment, which focuses on results rather than process. A four-step process is outlined. The first step is to establish a solid foundation for assessment efforts,…

Some reflections on the future of educational research are offered as responses to questions derived from an article by Ian Stronach ("Research Intelligence," n61 p3 1997). The first is the question of what the future holds for the philosophy and methodology of educational inquiry. A response to this question must recognize the importance of the…

This paper presents the argument that object oriented analysis (OOA) is rapidly becoming an important systems analysis methodology and that current systems analysis and design courses should present OOA. However, because of the embryonic nature and rapidly changing content of OOA, instructors are faced with special challenges when designing OOA…

A program review model that can be used at the system level in the Simcoe County in Ontario (Canada) schools is presented. Program review is a process of systematically marshalling information so as to enable individuals to critically debate a specific program and eventually make more informed decisions about the program. A variety of conceptual…

Intended for use by both teachers and teacher-librarians, this guide for teaching library and information skills presents a five-step model for the research process: (1) planning the research project; (2) searching for relevant information; (3) selecting and evaluating the information found as it relates to the project; (4) presenting the results;…

This package of materials is designed to provide schools with information, suggestions, and activities that can increase awareness of the nature of conflicts, conflict-resolution strategies, and the management of conflict and crisis situations. It focuses on developing a positive school climate that enhances intergroup relationships, encourages…

Teachers can help their students to integrate concepts from various disciplines and to develop an appreciation for the complexities of the environment through creative instructional strategies and imaginative uses of educational media. This involves teaching from an environmental perspective. This paper introduces an instructional model that uses…

This workbook explains how to define what various constituents connected with a public library want it to do and what doing these things well means in qualitative terms. The book aims to define effectiveness for the public library and to provide guidelines for assessing the library's effectiveness and communicating this to stakeholders. The eight…

Traditional methods of both first and second language teaching have commonly relied on simplification, restricting the range of language forms and functions to be learned and then practicing those forms to achieve mastery. These methods, however, fail to consider seriously the questions of how language develops in natural contexts, what language…