Examines the relationship between teaching content or knowledge, and teaching the skills of critical thinking and problem solving. Presents key strategies to help students understand and develop critical thinking skills. Recommends use of the developmental lesson and provides several model lessons. (LS)

A study of deans' characteristics looks at demographic variables, career paths and aspirations, hours spent in various activities, difficulties in making decisions and working with groups and individuals, perceived satisfaction with their positions, and how they rate the importance of their many roles and functions. (Author/MSE)

The history and strategy behind the Muskingum College (Ohio) decision to reduce tuition by one-third are explained. The policy was adopted as part of a strategic plan to increase enrollment, improve entering students' test scores, boost student diversity, and slow the increase in the percentage of institutional budget earmarked for student…

A study investigated the relative importance of refereed and nonrefereed publications in faculty tenure and promotion decisions at 26 English-speaking Canadian graduate colleges, faculties, and schools of education. Results show publication in refereed journals as significantly more important than in nonrefereed serials. (MSE)

Maintains that instruction in economics education is not yet fully established in schools. Presents three generalizations about teaching and learning economics and the implications for curriculum development and instruction. (CFR)

A University of British Columbia course in health care ethics, open to students from all health-care fields, encourages students to participate in interdisciplinary health-care decisionmaking in their future practice by providing an opportunity to study ethics together during professional training. The course objectives, organization, content, and…

Describes, from the points of view of a principal and a 2nd-grade teacher, the process of creating an integrated unit on Alaska and Hawaii that began in an integrated learning workshop taught by the district administrators as part of the transformation of literacy practices in a small K-8 school district. (SR)

Overviews the role of school councils in each of the 12 Canadian provinces as part of a trend toward site-based management that empowers local communities with decision making and encourages significant input from those responsible for implementing decisions. Suggests that school councils allow parents decision-making power in the policy areas of…

Examines the potential for site-based management and shared decision making to impact the curriculum, particularly in science and mathematics teaching and learning. Information comes from studies in two school districts that had experimented with both strategies over the years. In both districts, the strategies significantly impacted curriculum…

Examines reactions of three types of stakeholder groups (administrators/policymakers, early interventionists/teachers, and parents) to the National Center on Educational Outcomes' early childhood outcomes models. Group members represented either a general early childhood perspective or an early childhood special education perspective. Presents…

Addresses one way in which spending less on public schools might actually improve school performance. The article focuses on bringing together those who have the greatest stake in school performance (the parents and the community) as planners and caretakers of their children's education. Such collaboration is viewed as strengthening understanding…

Two university educators use reflective dialogue to discuss processes they went through in understanding the political nature and assumptions of their own pedagogical practices as they searched for methods which would promote teacher empowerment and actively involve students in shaping course curriculum for a language arts class they team taught.…

Describes the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), a comprehensive, classroom-based observation system for assessing teaching and learning, as well as interactive, psychosocial, and physical elements of the learning environment. The paper presents results of initial validity and reliability studies supporting the system.…

Explores the idea of school-community councils as a way of establishing a social compact between schools and the community. Specific suggestions are given for establishing councils and keeping them functioning smoothly. Literature and community resources that can help are suggested and listed. (SLD)

This article explores the future of special education within four contexts: service delivery systems, personnel qualifications, emerging technologies, and policy developments. The paper argues for participation by all educators in active efforts to promote "best" policies and practices for the education of all children with special needs.…