To increase understanding of learning style preferences, a study was conducted in which the learning style preferences of students majoring in secondary education enrolled in two alternative field-based programs were compared to the learning style preferences of students enrolled in the traditional program. Three styles (independent,…

Theories concerning the reasons teachers do or do not adopt recommended teaching practices are discussed. Recent classroom-based experiments are examined, and suggestions are made for additional research into the process of teacher behavior change in the classroom and for the promotion of teacher adoption of change proposals. (JN)

Wheaton College, a small liberal arts college for women, has begun integrating women's experiences into the mainstream of learning, to bring a gender-balanced perspective to the traditional liberal arts. A project funded by a grant from the Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education is described. (MLW)

The School of New Resources, run by the College of New Rochelle, is a nontraditional degree program for adults in the liberal arts. The School, which has been the model for other institutions, is described including: development of term courses, life experience credits, curriculum development, and student population. (MLW)

Explains declining academic standards as at least partially the result of two decades of innovative teaching. Describes the predicament of high school graduates who cannot read. Explains the hazards of affective, innovative teaching, and the anticipated benefits of returning to traditional education mixed with limited and proven innovative…

This essay is the third in a series on innovators in the teaching of elementary-school science. Palmer's ideas and work on nature study and their relevance to children's education are described. His resume and a list of his publications are also included. (HM)

Controversies and problems plaguing Nova University and especially its off-campus colleges, which grant diplomas in 23 states, are examined. Criticisms include claims that masters and doctoral degrees are handed out too readily, admission policies are ill defined, and instructors are not qualified. Nova's severe financial difficulty is also…

Discusses the impact national goals, federal legislation, and local reform practices will have on future reform efforts for students with learning disabilities. Twenty-first century predictions are made and indicate the need for effective collaboration processes, with participants making an effort to understand, accept, and/or value different…

Traces the recent growth of technology in society and education, raising concerns stemming from viewing technology as inherently good. Discusses the importance of interrogating technology for long-term ethical, economic, and pedagogical deficits and for ways that change, growth, and competition ultimately favor privileged society and overlook the…

Describes Partnering for Elementary Environmental Science, a collaborative project between Ohio State University at Mansfield, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Science and Mathematics Network of Central Ohio, designed to provide professional development opportunities for elementary teachers, improve science education in rural…

Describes new college teaching techniques using the brain-compatible teaching and learning model. Demonstrates that learning is based on the process of detecting and making patterns. Suggests maximizing use of local memory function to reduce dependency on rote learning and varying methods of classroom presentation to target different learning…

Outlines a science curriculum reform effort aimed at enabling students to collect original data concerning an environmental parameter such as water quality on a yearly basis. Students track the overall health of the stream by analyzing both biotic and abiotic factors. (DDR)

Describes a class where students learn microeconomics from the perspective of a new business owner. This approach requires reordering the typical sequence of material and introducing a market simulation exercise. Includes a sample business plan, course outline, and data tables. (MJP)

Examines critical issues in distance education. Discusses three stages in the retraining of students; retraining of faculty, including establishing and maintaining effective interaction, motivating students, adapting the syllabus, and using technology to teach; and redesign of course content. (AEF)

Describes an undergraduate teaching assistant (TA) program in which the undergraduates engage in the complementary activities of course preparation, course instruction, and one-on-one tutorial assistance. Both students enrolled in an introductory methodology course and the undergraduates serving as TAs indicated that they viewed the experience…