The first chapter of a book dealing with higher education in the USSR examines Marxist-Leninist thought on education and provides an overview of the entire Soviet education system, including preschool, elementary and secondary, vocational and technical, secondary specialized, and higher education. (RM)

Zoltan Kodaly had a profound influence on the practice of music education in Hungary and subsequently on adaptations of those practices in the rest of the world. Kodaly's basic principles and goals are discussed, and how his philosophy can be applied in American preschool and K-12 public schools is examined. (RM)

Edwin Gordon took the sequential levels of learning outlined by Gagne and adapted them to audiation (the ability to hear music for which the sound is not physically present) and musical learning. His method of teaching music is discussed. (RM)

Since the early 1900s, the influence of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze has been felt worldwide in the field of music, as well as dance, theater, therapy, and education. To understand this influence, one needs to know something of his lifelong endeavors and dedication to improving the teaching of music. (RM)

The articles collected in this issue represent the range of work being done and the questions being addressed by education researchers in China. Articles are organized by the following categories: general principles of education, child development, teaching methodologies, and innovations in teaching basic skills. (RM)

Although committed to the core goals of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) advocates that flaws remain in the law and its implementation in the areas of: (1) Accountability, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Assessments; (2) Teacher Quality; (3) Paraprofessionals; (4) School Improvement and Public…

This booklet examines the methodology known as Communicative Language Teaching or CLT and explores the assumptions it is based on, its origins and evolution since it was first proposed in the 1970s, and how it has influenced approaches to language teaching today. It serves to review what has been learned from CLT and what its relevance is today. A…

This monograph proposes an approach to discipline that emphasizes school community building and offers examples from the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES) and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD), both in Washington, DC. Following discussion of the problem of violence in today's schools, the paper addresses the importance of…

This guidebook provides a rationale and guidelines for implementing a student-driven learning approach using enrichment clusters. Enrichment clusters allow students who share a common interest to meet each week to produce a product, performance, or targeted service based on that common interest. Chapter 1 discusses different models of learning.…

In October 1998, faculty and staff at Fox Valley Technical College (Wisconsin) were asked to complete a two-part evaluation of six values: integrity, collaborative partnerships, innovation, continuous improvement, customer focus, and diversity. Respondents were asked to give each a values rating--a rating on a 1-10 scale indicating the college's…

This digest contains four sections that discuss the following broad principles that offer a framework to teachers for thinking about how technology can support their instruction: (1) learning occurs in context, including ways that technology can facilitate learning by providing real world contexts that engage learners in solving complex problems,…

The Llano Grande Research Project in south Texas directs research methods and special projects classes that assist students in developing effective academic, research, and social skills. Students in these classes pursue a curriculum based on pedagogy of place principles and gain an understanding of their community's environment and culture. This…

The National Framework for the Recognition of Training (NFROT) is one of the key structures underpinning training reform in Australia. NFROT's basic principles and fundamental purposes are supported by almost everyone involved with the framework, and there is strong evidence that NFROT has provided considerable benefits to providers and learners…

Frequently, the expectations placed on education can lead to confusion over its mission. How one college president, at career end, views the purpose of education is presented in this address. The paper details how educators have tried to meet myriad demands in the face of eroding social support systems, claiming that educators must limit their…

In 1991, the New American Schools (NAS) Development Corporation was founded by a group of business and foundation leaders interested in investing in innovative designs for school transformation. This book describes the first 3 years of development and evaluation of 9 NAS whole-school restructuring designs. The designs were very diverse, as were…