Examination of 10 small private successful liberal arts colleges identified the following key characteristics: clear and articulate leadership, strong management support, collegial atmosphere, well-focused institutional mission, and continuous innovation. Colleges were Bates (Maine), Beloit (Wisconsin), Berry (Georgia), Centre (Kentucky),…

Describes a course developed by a librarian and an economics teacher using active learning techniques to teach research skills and critical thinking. Topic include the course development, including course objectives and clarification of the librarians role; a search strategy; and revisions to methodology to achieve course objectives. (six…

Discusses positive online experiences of students at Our Lady of the Rosary School, in Dayton, Ohio. Describes "Fish Quest," an online competition between area Catholic schools designed to teach religious studies. Lists electronic mail and Web addresses for the "Plastic Bag Information Clearinghouse," an environmental education resource that…

Describes the New Frontiers for Catholic Schools program, established by Ohio's University of Dayton and the National Catholic Educational Association to facilitate the integration of technology across the curriculum. Provides narratives from four New Frontiers participants describing the challenges they faced in integrating technology into their…

This article posits a teacher change cycle based on an investigation of eight Hong Kong secondary teachers' adoption of innovative practice over a six-month period in which they received training and ongoing support to carry out three units of process writing lessons in one of their English classes. (JL)

A study investigated factors that facilitate innovation in intensive English programs at 43 universities, based on administrators' perceptions. Results indicate program aspects felt to influence innovation, successfully implemented innovations, and perceived qualities of innovative policies and practices. A complex set of variables emerged. (MSE)

Discusses a pilot project headquartered at an Ottawa (Canada) high school in which 2 Arctic explorers are connected by satellite to 300 elementary and secondary school sites around the world. Highlights include equipment description, fund raising, areas of curriculum development, the question answering system, uses for university researchers, and…

Presents key features of the Reggio Emilia approach and its adaptation to early childhood curriculum in the United States. Discusses using projects as a teaching strategy for diverse students to encourage language and conceptual development. Gives prominence to visual languages. Describes project activities involving student teachers and children.…

Proposes a form of discourse analysis to link theory and practice in an account of effective practice in physical education. The analysis is applied to two lessons by preservice students who introduce more "considered, sensitive teaching" and focuses on the interactive patterns between participants as indicators of a framework for…

Discusses the proper uses of new technologies for higher education. Topics include: the need to develop new educational strategies, adult learners and distance education, prior learning, understanding material and being able to apply it, reexamining teaching methods, the use of electronic mail and computer conferencing, and the need for…

Describes an innovative undergraduate course in information management developed at the University of Sheffield (England) that uses the Internet. The module, based on active learning principles, is facilitated through electronically mediated group project work. Results indicate students gain practical experience using communication technologies…

Presents the elementary-level formative evaluation method of functional diagnosis that gives students immediate feedback on completed assignments. Gives three examples of the method as observed in the classrooms of master teachers: putting red dots next to problems needing attention; paired learning, and student answer keys. (MDH)

Includes four articles: "Career Aspirations" (Field); "Making the Transition to a New Curriculum" (Baker, Householder); "How about a 'Work to School' Transition?" (Glasberg); and "Technological Improvisation: Bringing CNC to Woodworking" (Charles, McDuffie). (SK)

Presents a new image of education, called Learning Sphere 2000, which is emerging from the educational needs of an information society. Features of this paradigm are explained, including learning experiences, teacher roles, clusters of students and teachers as schools, learning centers, learning contracts, developmental levels, children with…

Early results from the Vermont Portfolio Project, which evaluated the progress of fourth and eighth graders in reading and mathematics using samples of student products, suggests that improvement is still needed in both subjects. Many factors will influence this pilot project's future direction, including availability of resources and development…