This paper explores the concept of critical thinking as it applies to school administrators and offers ideas for incorporating it into their operative skills. Following a review of pertinent literature, recommendations are made to: (1) develop an assessment process in educational administration programs to ensure that future school leaders have a…

This article discusses a primary level mathematics research program, Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), which investigates the impact of providing primary teachers with access to a structured, coherent body of knowledge about children's thinking in mathematics on teachers' knowledge and beliefs, their instruction, and their students' learning.…

The case study method has received increased attention at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in a number of public relations programs. Unlike the Harvard managerial-oriented case studies, the approach useful in large, introductory public relations courses stems from a simplified team approach to classroom projects, case studies in the…

This book provides new tools for thinking about and designing the education system. Four sections, each with its own introduction, follow Charles M. Reigeluth's introductory chapter, "Introduction: The Imperative for Systemic Change." Section 1 describes some theoretical frameworks for understanding the "big ideas" of system…

This publication contains four chapters that examine the reform of administrator preparation programs. In "The Reform Paradigm: Exploring the Fuzzy Logic of Educational Administration," William Ammentorp and Thomas Morgan develop a model based on linguistic algorithms to understand qualitative policy formation and decision making. In "Student…

This booklet contains four selected conference papers on educational reform and restructuring. In "Can Rational Organization Models Really Reform Anything? A Case Study of Reform in Chicago," Fenwick English describes reform efforts in the Chicago Public Schools and examines the political, social, organizational, and bureaucratic factors that have…

Pressed by the vise created by the "era of accountability" and evolving theory which emphasizes constructing meaning and problem solving, educators have become more articulate about defending the classroom impact of new theory. Assessment in the classroom is following contemporary descriptions of learning, thinking, and language use as…

Arranged chronologically, the essays in this book trace the attempts of one writing teacher (Patricia Bizzell) to understand theoretically--and to respond pedagogically--to what happens when students from diverse backgrounds learn to use language in college. Over the 10-year period chronicled in the essays that make up the book, the teacher sees…

A case study examined implementation of a critical literacy perspective (in both course content and course processes) in a Master's level course in the supervision of reading. Subjects were 10 married, white, female teachers. The course engaged in the interrogation of the teachers' literacy beliefs, teaching approaches, and schools' curricula in…

This paper links areas of research with implications for community prevention strategies aimed at high-risk children. Collaborative efforts to reduce the number of at-risk children in rural communities can be advanced by merging knowledge from the following areas: (1) the causal pathways leading to substance abuse and identification of risk…

A field-tested "worktext," this book applies current theory to classroom practice by providing, in each chapter, a brief explanation of major concepts followed by guided practical experience in administering, scoring, and interpreting reading assessment techniques. The book emphasizes the use of assessment and diagnosis for instructional…

The existing body of learning style (LS) research was reviewed from the standpoint of its applicability to adult populations. It was discovered that most existing LS research has been conducted on populations of school- and college-age students in classroom settings and does not consider self-directed, informal, or incidental learning. The…

Numerous reviews of the experimental research conclude that phonics is indispensable in word recognition instruction. However, there have been numerous objections to phonics teaching over the years. Some of the intolerance of phonics teaching reflects a lack of knowledge about the subject. Critics suggest that phonics hinders children's learning…

Guidelines are presented for the development of computer-based instructional materials. Steps in courseware development defined by M. D. Roblyer (1988) include: (1) instructional design; (2) preprograming development; and (3) programing. The emphasis is on instructional design, the most time-consuming part of the task. Preprograming development…

In continuing and building upon past efforts, the National Center for the Study of Writing and Literacy, in collaboration with researchers and practitioners around the world, is forging new theoretical and pedagogical directions in writing and literacy. The Center's research projects and activities aim to respond boldly and straightforwardly to…