The inability of university professors to communicate about shared concepts and concerns--e.g., meaning, self, integrity, an ideal of truth--is related to the fragmented university, departmentalized and bureaucratized. The impact of this on the humanity of those involved is sketched, and suppositions are advanced about the nature of education.…

A refresher course on the needs of children with special abilities was organized for New Zealand primary teachers. The course covered identifying pupils' needs; organizing programs within the classroom, school, and community; understanding the child's social and emotional needs; and examining philosophical issues in providing for individual…

The paper reviews the complexity of the social and affective demands confronting children aged 4-10 and the advantages of preventive over remedial interventions. Components of classroom-based social problem-solving preventive interventions are described, along with practical issues in program implementation. (Author/JDD)

A holistic organizational structure that encourages faculty involvement in pursuit of excellence is critical to the future of higher education. At the same time, the mainstreaming of continuing professional education, while vital to institutional growth, must address the development of academic integrity in that field. (SK)

This study explores extent to which postgraduate students are able to learn from holist and serialist learning materials and extent to which such competence is predictable by questionnaires. Results indicate 2 of 26 students scored equally well on holist and serialist competence tests, and such competence is predictable from questionnaires. (MBR)

Futures researchers agree on the need to examine educational institutions and programs and to plan and implement change. However, a fundamental contradiction exists between the broad goals for education relected in teacher education programs and those held by futures researchers. (JMK)

Describes a week's inservice training for staff and parents at a reservation high school modeled after the Foxfire idea. (HOD)

This brief describes a new approach to teaching and learning that can help middle and secondary teachers more effectively accommodate different learning styles, including those of students with disabilities. This approach, referred to as "universal design," holds potential for easing the transition to middle school and helping all students achieve…

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the holistic approach, as compared to the segregated-skill approach, on the quantity and quality of EFL students' academic writing. The subjects for the study were 64 graduates enrolled in the Special Diploma in Education at the School of Education in Suez during the second semester…

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to gain an understanding of how senior school administrators define inspired public schools; and (2) to discern the characteristics of inspired schools to guide meaningful school improvement efforts. Twenty-nine senior leaders--school superintendents and assistant superintendents--from across New England…

This digest discusses two prominent definitions of learning styles, describes studies that have found differences between the learning styles of American Indian/Alaska Native students and students of other cultural groups, and presents instructional interventions stemming from learning styles research. The research literature on learning styles…

Citizen engagement is important for preserving a prosperous democracy and keeping elected officials accountable to their constituents. New issues affecting rural citizens are causing communities to reframe and ask new planning questions. Two approaches to citizen engagement are asset mapping, in which communities focus on their strengths and…

This practicum was designed to improve the speech reading skills of mainstreamed elementary students with hearing impairments in their school environments. A 3-month one-on-one comprehensive speech reading program utilized analytical, synthetic, and holistic approaches, incorporated communication and language instruction with videotaping and…

To decrease negative behaviors in American Indian/Alaska Native students, teachers should help children understand, care about, and act upon core virtues such as courage, generosity, humility, honesty, fortitude, and patience. Integrating core virtues throughout the curriculum through stories, class discussions, role-playing, and critical…

Based on a database of over 500 resources, this paper explores the educational alternatives that exist today between the cracks of mainstream education and culture. It presents information about the growing numbers of schools and education centers that call themselves learner-centered, progressive, and/or holistic. Sources of data for this summary…