A discussion of the state of second language education and English teaching in Britain focuses on the role of applied linguistics in the field. Four major points are made: that (1) books on language are not common in the syllabi of language teacher education; (2) current philosophies on language teaching appear to be either reactionary or romantic…

This chapter on collaborating with families is taken from a guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter provides information abut values-based, family-centered programs that will involve all families and improve education programs and student outcomes. The tone is meant to…

Integration of environmental education and second language instruction is discussed, with two purposes: to describe educators' efforts to protect the planet's deteriorating environment, and to explore what destructive attitudes and actions that have led to environmental devastation have their counterparts in language education methods. The…

Student teachers' thoughts about teaching can shape, foster, or impede their growth toward expert pedagogy. This study examined the thoughts about teaching of two groups of student teachers--45 graduate and 63 undergraduate students. The professional coursework of both groups was very similar, with one exception--graduate students had no practica…

In an effort to improve the long-term transfer and retention of ethnically diverse students in education, Southwestern College (SWC) embarked on a cooperative project with San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California, San Diego UCSD), to address the needs of ethnically diverse students who express the goal of becoming…

This participant's manual provides local educational agency/district teams of instructional leaders a way of examining their personal beliefs and values, developing a more inclusionary perspective, and gaining skills for creating schools that work for all students including those with severe disabilities. Team participation is emphasized as…

This manual is designed to train an in-house steering committee to design and implement a comprehensive, ongoing, worker-driven, workplace learning program. The seven chapters take the projected committee through a full-cycle design process. Each chapter includes an overview, a list of objectives, and a series of action steps to follow, and a…

Distance-education delivery through interactive television (ITV) is an effective means of providing instruction to learners. There are many advantages, such as the ability to provide immediate feedback and personal participation. To be effective, however, ITV requires structured planning and development, making the use of instructional design…

This report discusses "multimedia" instruction as it applies to successful learning environments at Bank Street College of Education (New York), ranging from pre-electronic to electronic. In four of the interviews detailed, a Bank Street College professor, researcher, and two Bank Street School for Children teachers offer different perspectives…

A project developed a computerized data file of essential vocabulary, signs, and illustrations to be used to train deaf or hearing-impaired adults. Project activities included the following: designing a data entry and retrieval system for the project; identifying the interactive vocabulary most needed by deaf employees and their co-workers;…

State testing programs often attempt to provide annual information for use in student guidance and qualification, school and program evaluation, and broad policy decisions. With the development of a new type of assessment instrument, the "duplex design," the several functions of state testing programs can be served in a single test…

In August 1990, a statewide inservice training project for two-year college home economics instructors was initiated by the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges. The project's three main objectives were to: (1) identify inservice priority needs through a review of existing data from previous home economics projects; (2) plan,…

School architecture should be redesigned to match the vision for overall school restructuring. After explaining the need for improving educational facilities, this document describes the role of environmental variables in motivating and assessing improved student performance. The relationships between the environment and social attitudes and…

A study evaluated the relative pedagogical and cost effectiveness of training programs for international teaching assistants (ITAs) that are conducted before and within the academic year. Both program types were established at the University of Illinois during the academic year 1989-90, with similar content, the same number of contact hours, the…

The Finnish Foreign Language Diploma for Professional Purposes, which tests English language skills, is described. The examination is intended for both individuals desiring certification of their knowledge and ability to use English in a professional context and for employers wanting independent evaluation for selection purposes. It measures…