This document contains four papers from a symposium on contextual learning issues. In "Creating Mosaics: The Interrelationships between Knowledge and Context" (Barbara J. Daley), nurses report using information from training programs to create a knowledge base for professional practice. "Analysis of Action Learning Experiences…

Distance education occurs when distance and/or time prevents the learner and instructor from meeting face to face. Ways of providing distance learning opportunities include traditional materials by mail (print materials, audio and video support materials, audio and video lectures) and electronic materials (faxed information, telephone, electronic…

This second edition focuses on helping the preservice teacher become an "Influential Reading Teacher," one whom students remember years later as a special teacher and person. The ideas and teaching strategies in the book actively involve preservice teachers in understanding and thinking about children's reading and writing development. New to this…

Collaboration between schools and institutions of higher education (IHE) is usually effective only when values are shared and mutual dependencies are recognized. These conditions are uncommon. The foundation upon which such collaboration could be developed requires several building blocks: (1) developing shared goals regarding teacher learning;…

Intended for parents and community members, this pamphlet summarizes provisions of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (KERA), outlines specific school improvement developments to watch for during 1991-92, and provides concrete suggestions for facilitating the process and obtaining further information. The updates are grouped according to…

The first of two articles in this issue of Policy Briefs focuses on the potential of modern technology to transform education in terms of what is taught, how it is taught, and how the educational enterprise is managed. Judson Hixson and Debra Beauprez center their discussion around five categories of issues that have emerged from this increased…

This monograph presents results and recommendations from a project designed as a collaborative effort to prepare graduate students in the humanities for careers as scholar-teachers within institutions committed to liberal education. The project's two principle activities are discussed under the following headings: (1) Encountering Campus Cultures:…

In spring 1986, Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) initiated a program to provide part-time, off-campus instructors with the professional support required to improve teaching effectiveness. The plan involved training 14 "master teachers" to function as evaluators of part-time, off-campus instructors. Master teachers have a minimum of 5 years of…

Models for preparing teachers to work knowledgeably and effectively with diverse populations are needed. The primary purpose of the Learning to Teach Diverse Populations project (Houston, Texas) is to reduce the drop-out rate of new teachers assigned to inner-city schools by training student teachers in a supportive inner-city school environment.…

Higher education's priorities during the next decade for the improvement of secondary and higher vocational education programs were identified. The Delphi technique analyzed a national sample of six vocational education leaders. The respondents, former American Vocational Association presidents, identified 38 priorities higher education should set…

Ways to motivate and manage teachers and staff are presented in this guidebook. Chapter 1 describes ways to staff a school and get it right the first time. Checklists for recruiting, screening, and hiring are included. Chapter 2 offers suggestions for operating successful teacher induction, professional development,and motivation programs to…

This review of the literature examines five issues affecting college faculties in the 1990s and identifies various views on these issues while providing a general overview. A section on multiculturalism identifies it as one of the leading issues facing faculty. This section looks at views on the challenges of racial diversity; racial tension; and…

The construct validity of the Attitudes of Professional Autonomy (APA) as a proxy measure of professional orientation was studied. The sample consisted of all teachers in 94 schools in 6 districts in Louisiana, closely representing the statewide distribution of all schools by level and socioeconomic status. Usable data were received from 1,921…

This document presents a work plan for developing distance education programs delivered by telecommunications and other media to citizens of the state of Washington. It is intended to provide direction for future postsecondary education programs delivered in whole or in part by telecommunications and for a study on how to accomplish this. The plan…

This paper describes the design and implementation of a staff-development program at Vivian Field Junior High School in Carrollton, Texas. The school is a member of the Texas Partnership School Initiative, which was created to give schools latitude in raising student achievement. The goal of the staff-development program was to identify gains in…