This paper explores the links between socio-economic disadvantage, non-completion in higher education and preparation initiatives. It does this through investigating the effectiveness of the Top-Up Programme, a preparation course for 17 and 18 year olds from schools that have low participation rates in higher education. The University of Glasgow,…

This study addressed special education teachers? perspectives of secondary special education for students with mild mental impairment and learning disabilities. Secondary special education teachers responded to a survey regarding teacher preparation and teacher satisfaction. Results from the study suggested that changes need to be made to…

Educational reform over the past two decades has focused primarily on schools as the critical units of change, often ignoring the role of districts and their effect on schools' performance. Although national reform efforts such as the recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the No Child Left Behind Act), are directed…

This article describes a project designed to ensure that class participation in a large introductory commercial law course is assessed fairly and reliably. The subjectivity often associated with this type of assessment is minimized by involving students in the specification of clear criteria and the assessment process as they were asked to assess…

Recent mathematics assessments have indicated that students in several Asian countries have tended to score above international averages. Research findings indicate that there are cultural differences in expectations for student achievement in mathematics and in classroom practices and instructional strategies. The importance of the motivational…

In this article, the authors introduce the Improving Science Together (IST) project (2000-2002), funded by the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust. The project was a partnership between 20 primary and 4 secondary schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, LEA advisory staff, BAE Systems, and the primary science team at Bath Spa University…

This article discusses the role of professional mentoring in the training of teachers in post-compulsory education in the context of national initiatives to train and professionalise all teachers in the sector. The article draws on the author's experience as course leader for a full-time programme of initial teacher training for post-compulsory…

The student-centred education project is an action research project conducted by lecturers at an institution of higher education and university researchers over a 2-year period. Valuable experience has been gained about working with lecturers on projects that affect their beliefs about learning and instruction in practice. This article focuses on…

Funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund, the North East Worcestershire (NEW) Women project, based at the Multi-Resource Centre in Bromsgrove, offers family learning--in its broadest sense--for young mothers. It has in place all the requirements of good practice for providing learning opportunities to young mothers,…

The present study investigated the prevalence of a primary reflex (the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex) in children attending ordinary primary school and how this related to attainments in a number of academic areas. The effectiveness of a specific movement intervention programme in reducing primary reflex persistence and improving academic…

This article describes a project in which researchers at VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization, attempted to determine the value of embedded arts education (sometimes called "arts integration") for students with disabilities. As part of the mandate of VSA arts to encourage the use of the arts in teaching students with…

As an increasing number of U.S. corporations position themselves for international competition, the demand for cross-culturally competent employees is expected to rise. However, reports suggest that graduates of U.S. business schools lack cross-cultural skills, prompting employers to recruit international students. The authors designed a study…

Multi-sensory stimulation provided in a Snoezelen room is being used increasingly for individuals with mental retardation and mental illness to facilitate relaxation, provide enjoyment, and inhibit behavioral challenges. We observed aggressive and self-injurious behavior in three groups of 15 individuals with severe or profound mental retardation…

This paper introduces a study aimed at ascertaining students' beliefs about mathematics and mathematical learning, as well as developing those beliefs and related variables by changing the classroom learning environment. Eighty-six fifth graders were involved, divided in two groups: one in the innovative learning environment (N=46) and the other…

The study analyses the effects of training primary school children in the use of a linguistic tool called "Exploratory Talk" (ET) on their capacity for argumentation. ET allows for reasoned confrontation and negotiation of points of view, making the reasoning visible in the talk. Eighty-eight Mexican children from the 5th and 6th grades…