In Leslie Marmon Silko's 1977 novel "Ceremony" the "primacy of the geographical" has often been interpreted as a particularly holistic and healing sense of place--what the critic Robert M. Nelson has characterized as the "spirit of place." This heightened awareness of the spiritual and redemptive power of the natural and the imaginative in…

This paper studies the relationship between geographic remoteness and the quality of primary education in rural Northern India. It then discusses this relationship in the context of educational technology. There is a significant negative correlation between the quality of education and the distance of a school from the nearest urban centre. No…

Remoteness has generally been defined in terms of distance from major urban centers, but research suggests that the correlation between distance and remoteness is not necessarily linear. A more reliable determinant of degree of remoteness may involve the concept of resistance, namely the cost, time, and effort related to travel between centers,…

Data from interviews with Australian training providers, employers, community organizations, and trainees were analyzed thematically and assessed against quality assurance standards for apprentices/trainees ("vocational learning checkpoints"). Results reflect many of the problems addressed by the checkpoints in the areas of…

Vocational teachers in northern Canada are challenged to meet the unique needs of their students who are physically isolated; who must cope with harsh climate; who live in small communities; and who face an almost unbridgeable cultural gap. Teachers are challenged to prepare students for limited local employment or for life without a job. (JOW)

A study of rural adult learners in northern England found that 96% had not been involved in learning in the past 5 years; transportation and child care difficulties hinder participation; a stigma is attached to participation in literacy programs; and inability to pay is a significant barrier. (SK)

The curriculum continuity for students in isolated rural areas is affected due to the difficulty in getting teachers. Thus, there is a lack of cultural events such as musical performances that hinder students' horizons as a result of this geographical isolation.

Factors influencing career behavior of rural Australian secondary students from a regional center (n=218) and outer metropolitan school (n=89) were studied. College aspirations were similar. Parent encouragement, garde expectations, and relevance of college to employment were inhibitors or encouragers dependent on local culture. (Contains 47…

Data from 29 older adults in University of the Third Age Online in 1999 and 34 in 2001 indicated that women outnumbered men; more than 70% were from large urban areas; and 70% had professional, business, and managerial backgrounds. Many are unable to participate in mainstream adult education and derive purpose and enjoyment from virtual…

Describes the challenges and joys of teaching English at Oak Hill School in the remote rural community of Elmer, Louisiana. (SR)

Three leadership characteristics are experience, competencies, and spiritual awareness. Eighteen youths spent a week on the remote island of Mull (United Kingdom) to explore their own spirituality away from the noise of 20th-century living. Activities using music, discussion, art, poetry, and outdoor experience acted as catalysts for spiritual…

The eight early childhood educators who participated in this study were admitted into a 60-credit statewide distance-delivered Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program at the University of Alaska. All eight educators were women of Alaska Native ancestry who lived and worked in remote and rural Native communities. Seven of these teachers…

The present study examined the occupational aspirations and career development influences of children attending Years 6 and 7 at a sample of rural and remote primary schools in the central western region of Queensland. Data was collected by means of the "Revised Career Awareness Survey" (McMahon & Patton, 2001). Australian and New…

Case studies of rural teleworking in an Australian government department and a community organization found that a key constraint is lack of telecommunications and services infrastructure. Teleworkers had differing views of working in isolation, depending on the nature of work roles, attitudes toward technology, and personal life experiences.…

Australian nurses (n=202) participated in mental health continuing education delivered via distance methods and regional workshops in rural areas. The majority increased content knowledge and thought audio- and videotapes were effective despite technical difficulties; 90% felt the experiential learning workshops and distance modules integrated…