This paper discusses the impact of computers on student learning as reported by teachers participating in a study of a computer-based language arts instructional program for the early elementary grades--the Apple Learning Series: Early Language (ALS-EL). Although they found the program difficult to evaluate, some teachers stated that the ALS-EL…

Innovation Profiles, detailed descriptions of what a teacher is actually doing as effective classroom practices are implemented, offer a logical and systematic way of making innovations work. The first section of this book identifies core decisions required in implementing and evaluating curriculum and instructional innovations in sections…

In July of 1985, Edward Koch, the Mayor of the City of New York, appointed a Commission to develop recommendations for beginning the phased implementation of universally-available preschool education for 4-year-olds beginning in September, 1986. This report constitutes the Commission's reply to the Mayor's request. Chapter 1 presents 10…

One of a series, this booklet and related programs have been developed to help primary school teachers in England introduce problem solving and investigatory activities to their pupils. The theory of problem solving which underlies the views in this booklet is that of Professor Keith Jackson, director of the Bulmershe-Comino Problem Solving…

The recent conservative trend in educational policy is addressed in this paper which begins with a description of 10 specific types of threats to the instructional development movement that can evolve from an excessively conservative environment. These threats are named as follows: (1) scapegoat; (2) baby-with-the-bathwater; (3) chronological…

The Change Facilitator Stages of Concern Questionnaire (CFSoCQ) as a procedure for studying the concerns of change facilitators is presented. It is based on the work of Francis Fuller, the concept of Stages of Concern, and the Concerns Based Adoption Model which deal with change facilitators' concerns regarding implementation of an innovative…

When different individuals operating in different contexts implement similar innovations, they approach the various parts of the innovation in different ways. When assessed according to the research procedures used to study innovation implementation at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education at the University of Texas at Austin,…

The status of women's studies courses in teacher education was studied through the survey responses of 111 coordinators and directors of women's studies programs at colleges and universities. The findings were that 47 of the institutions offered women's studies courses in teacher education and that few teacher education programs had attempted to…

Described here is a rating scale to provide feedback about the success of training and of program implementation when a new program is being adopted. It allows project personnel to determine whether trainees possess the knowledge and skills necessary to implement a new program for which they are being trained. It also informs project personnel of…

The open school concept used as an alternative to more traditional forms of schooling in selected elementary and secondary schools in Austin, Texas, includes seven major dimensions: individualized instruction, continuous progress of students, team teaching, multiage and multigrade grouping, differentiated staffing, open space classrooms and…

Multiple data sources are used in this study of educational change in the United States and Australia. The author considers political issues that may affect the implementation of educational reform efforts at the federal level, such as homogeneity versus heterogeneity, centralization versus decentralization, constitutional responsibility for…

This paper was presented as part of a symposium exploring different philosophical and technical perspectives and implications of implementation research. Some basic differences between the structured and unstructured approach to implementation as portrayed in the literature are described. Next, the assumptions and assessment techniques of the…

Besides identifying current problems in educational change research, this document describes the inadequate paradigm on which past research has been based and outlines a currently emerging paradigm of educational innovation. The author asserts that previous research findings have been inconsistent and not comparable. Basic to the research problems…

To understand better the role a principal plays in the success or failure of a federal program, this study was conducted of the role of principals in Teacher Corps projects. An introductory chapter discusses the changing role of the principal in general and the role of the principal in change efforts and then more specifically discusses the…

This document describes a practical method for implementing individualized instruction in the secondary school. The first section of the document distinguishes between mistaken notions and fears concerning individualized instruction and the characteristics of a true individualized instruction program. Part 2 describes the author's experience with…