This guide to rural learning is intended to help those developing learning opportunities in the United Kingdom countryside--teachers, program organizers, project and development workers, and health and housing workers. Section 1 supplies up-to-date facts and figures and useful information about living in the rural context. It highlights issues…

In order to examine and understand power relations between international students who speak English as a second language and American students in online discussions in adult and higher education settings, 1002 postings related to discussion topics in two doctoral-level adult education online classes with 45 students 6 of whom were international…

The progression of qualified surgical nurses toward capable proficiency was examined in an ethnographic study during which 25 nurses, including 4 who transferred to other wards, were observed to determine whether social mediation affects the process of proficiency development. The nurses were observed for 18 months. Data were also gathered through…

Stressing that children's development in diverse cultures follows different paths, this book describes children's development in its cultural context. The book illustrates that the everyday work, school, and play activities provided for children vary from one culture to another depending on the social and economic structure of the cultures and…

This digest discusses the contextual factors that affect students' learning of a second language. These individual, social, and societal factors can be considered from the perspective of the language, the learner, and the learning process. These perspectives are discussed as they relate to learning any second language, with a particular focus on…

Investigated the effects of various types of negotiation on learners' output. The study focused on three groups of child learners of Dutch who were asked to orally describe a series of pictures to a partner in a communicative context. Results indicated how and to what extent participants interactionally modified their output. (Author/CK) (59…

Observations of and interviews with urban high school teachers and students examined situational and personal contextual factors that enhanced or minimized student engagement in physical education. Results indicated that, in contexts promoting engagement, teachers treated students humanely and equitably, expressed concern and interest in them, and…

Explores the background of Australia's shift from its National Policy on Languages (NPL) to the Australian Language and Literacy Policy (ALLP). Findings are that the ALLP's virtual reality serves the ideologies of a power elite; and the NPL's understandings are necessary to avoid the consequences of alienation and racism. (50 references) (CK)

Presents a concise and interesting overview of U.S. attitudes towards nature, conservation, and environmental issues. Traces the constantly shifting relationship between these issues and social and commercial interests. Follows this relationship from the early colonists to the current environmental movement. (MJP)

Overviews work in genre theory and its application to first and second language instruction and differentiates three traditions in genre theory: English for specific purposes, North American New Rhetoric studies, and Australian systemic functional linguistics. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of genre theory for English…

Analyzes interview data collected from English-as-a-Second-Language students regarding their writing experience in English for academic purposes (EAP) and other courses. Characterizes students' reactions to three types of writing contexts and argues that EAP courses requiring students to write from general knowledge or personal experience limit…

Argues that teachers of English as a Second Language should be cautious in using critical thinking pedagogies in the classroom. Notes that critical thinking is a social practice attracting criticism for being exclusive and that skills related to critical thinking are culturally based and do not seem to transfer beyond a narrow instructional…

Examines the "Handbook of Research on Social Studies Teaching and Learning's" section on context effect. Reviews influences that shape social studies, including research, student groups, family environment, mass media (especially television), testing, curriculum mandates, and local-to-national community pressures. (CH)

Investigated associations among involvement in political violence, family relations, and adolescent social and psychological functioning in Palestinian families in Israel. Found that childhood "Intifada" experience predicted increased antisocial behavior for adolescent males and females and depression for females 1 to 2 years after the…

One of the most critical challenges facing institutions of higher education in the twenty-first century is the need to be more accountable for producing equitable educational outcomes for students of color. Although access to higher education has increased significantly over the past two decades, it has not translated into equitable educational…