Pursuing design and development through collegial partnerships will improve the quality of teaching and learning at a distance. This article argues that the concept of what excellence in teaching and learning is determines what should be done to achieve it and discusses how distance education practitioners can act as in-house change agents for…

Challenges vague, underconceptualized notions of teacher professional community. Findings from an exploration of two California middle-school teacher communities suggest that current models obscure significant differences in beliefs and practices. One community stresses teachers' individual rights and responsibilities; the other is driven by a…

A survey completed by 69 special educators examined their perceptions of the benefits of self-determination for individuals with disabilities, the characteristics associated with self-determination, and the strategies used to achieve it. Results indicated strong support for self-determination instruction. However, few teachers included…

Examined the balance between connectedness to, and independence from, mother, father, and best friend in 9- to 14-year olds. Found that children reporting a preoccupied or avoidant stance toward their mother displayed increased social impairment in the peer group over time. Stances toward mother, father, and best friend were related. Children…

Examined stability of first graders' conceptions of personal prerogative at home and school and their responses to regulations. Found that children identified areas of prerogative at school and considered school to be more restrictive than home; were willing to cede authority to teachers for many personal issues, but reserved rightful decision…

Attempts to understand the implications for education of an apparent paradox of the welfare state: a new culture of education has developed involving both individual autonomy and continuing attachment to public provision of education to ensure that autonomy. Compares England and Scotland to illustrate the complexity of the political debate. (DSK)

Examined whether parent-child conflict and cohesion during adolescence vary among families characterized as having different cultural traditions regarding parental authority and individual autonomy. Despite holding different beliefs about parental authority and individual autonomy, Mexican-, Chinese-, Filipino-, and European-American adolescents…

A study evaluated effects of a staff training package on the number of choice responses and performance responses made by adults with disabilities in a community purchasing activity. After training, all four staffers generalized offering choices and promoting performance across settings and adults with disabilities and maintained the skills.…

Discusses the traditional approach to understanding socialization, focusing on authoritarian and authoritative parenting. Explores authoritative parenting and its promotion of autonomy and authoritarian parenting, considering its effects among cultural groups. Presents data indicating that autonomy support is valued more than power assertion as a…

This qualitative study compared the instructional environments of a resource room and two regular classrooms for four intermediate grade students identified as severely learning disabled. Results suggested that regular classroom teachers need to provide students with LD with more explicit conceptual explanations of cognitive requirements of tasks…

The effectiveness of two decision-making training approaches in increasing independent decision-making skills of 36 women with mild mental retardation responding to hypothetical social interpersonal situations involving abuse was evaluated. The approaches addressed either cognitive and emotional aspects or only cognitive aspects of…

Examines children's participation in public life in relation to the tension between control and self-realization found in late modernity. Argues that social tension is created through the conflict between recognition of children as persons in their own right and public policy marked by intensification of control of children creating a view of…

Examined the influences of perceived dominance and ethnicity on women's safer sex behavior. Surveys of sexually active, heterosexual female college students indicated that perceived dominance significantly predicted personal empowerment regarding sexual decision making in their current relationship and safer sex behaviors. Differences emerged…

This study surveyed 160 preschool teachers in 4 countries regarding views of moral and social conflict resolution, autonomy and a group sense, and general aims of preschools. Findings revealed that all hold similar beliefs regarding intervention in children's conflicts and importance of autonomy in the classroom. Additionally, all viewed the…

Provides an overview of the independent-living movement, describes the structure and scope of services of Centers for Independent Living (CIL), discusses the definition of CILs in federal legislation, and explores the potential role of CILs in the provision of transition services for youth and young adults. (CR)