Describes competency-based education, discusses the alleged strenghts and weaknesses as presented by its supporters and critics, and points up the impact of competency-based education on the home economist, particularly the home economics educator. (TA)

The advantages and disadvantages of block scheduling are considered in 24 articles. The editors provide an overview for each section and a conclusion for the anthology. The first section includes articles which examine issues, concepts, and cases: (1) "All around the Block" (Michael D. Rettig and Robert Lynn Canady); (2) "Block Scheduling: A Means…

This booklet is designed to sensitize and inform the scuba diving instructor on appropriate attitudes and successful methods for teaching scuba diving to persons with physical disability. It addresses misconceptions about people with disabilities and the importance of effective two-way communication and mutual respect between instructors and…

This paper reviews a model of using teaching faculty as academic advisors during freshman orientation at the University of Florida. This way of hiring and training faculty members provides: student-faculty contact; accurate information and scheduling; fairness and accessibility of course seats; and the ability to manage academic advising during…

This project focused on the collection and analysis of longitudinal student data generated by six high schools from a large urban school system in the Midwest. Two of the schools recently converted to a 4 X 4 scheduling structure, while 3 additional schools have used a block-8 scheduling structure for a number of years. One school maintains a…

There has been a significant increase in new foreign language programs at the elementary school level in recent years. Many of these programs, often referred to as foreign language in the elementary school or FLES programs, have been implemented to comply with state mandates, while others have been developed in response to parental pressure for…

Studies have documented that schedules and routines influence children's emotional, cognitive, and social development. Predictable and consistent schedules in preschool classrooms help children feel secure and comfortable. Also, schedules and routines help children understand the expectations of the environment and reduce the frequency of behavior…

This paper describes how Central Missouri State University converted to block scheduling to provide higher quality field experiences for education majors. The university changed its 50-minute Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes to 75-minute Monday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday classes, with Wednesdays off for field experiences. This paper explains the…

The need to explore the extent to which student evaluation of teachers is subject to instructor manipulation is suggested. Comment is made concerning possible impact on teacher ratings of sections sizes, scheduling of classes during odd hours, the type of material taught, and whether or not the course is required. (SM)

Describes a typical day in an open school in Oxfordshire, England with particular reference to use of the various learning centers. Gives a detailed description of the teacher's actual role in interacting with children. (CS)

Second of three articles stemming from a research project in which the objective is to obtain and validate data to be used in developing a core curriculum for agriculture on all levels of education. (SB)

Article describes one group of teachers and their efforts to work together during the first three semesters of the West Philadelphia Community Free School. (Authors)