Each of the major music cultures in West Asia--Turkey, Persia, and the Arab countries--has distinct rules of improvisation. Improvisation in each of these countries is described; a glossary is included; selected readings and recordings conclude the article. (KC)

This column has been a feature in this journal since April 1998 and several of the first pieces featured information on the basic navigation of the site. Contains updates on pages related to National Science Foundation (NSF) programs with the focus on programs and funding. (ASK)

This article presents the opposing opinions of Dean Shareski and Carol Ann K. Winkler regarding the collaborative, anonymous collections of online information, such as Wikipedia. Dean Shareski, an educational consultant with the Moose Jaw Public School Division (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada), contends that Wikipedia might be the best example of…

This article reports on the development of a framework for repurposing learning object components, more specifically components of slide presentations. Unlike the usual practice where learning object components are assembled manually, the framework enables on-the-fly access and repurposing of learning object components. In earlier work, we have…

We introduce resource graphs, a representation of linked ideas used when reasoning about specific contexts in physics. Our model is consistent with previous descriptions of coordination classes and resources. It represents mesoscopic scales that are neither knowledge-in-pieces nor large-scale concepts. We use resource graphs to describe several…

This study seeks to identify the needs of urban and rural science educators majoring in mathematics. In Malaysian secondary schools, due to a lack of qualified science teachers, the phenomenon of mathematics majors teaching science is common. Analysis of data revealed that the perceived needs with the highest overall rating were related to ICT…

Amid today's heightened attention on student achievement, school boards find their responsibilities intensified and transformed. In this age of accountability, all school boards need to consider how best to maintain a focus on student achievement and promote it through district and school policies. "The Essential School Board Book" answers this…

This study examines the impact of teacher decision making upon implementing an integrated arts curriculum. Qualitative research methods, including interviews, lesson plan document analysis, and teacher discussion of student artwork comprise the research data from eight elementary classroom teachers. This study is designed to add to the descriptive…

What is Response to Intervention (RTI) and how can it benefit your school? Find out in "RTI Success", an all-in-one resource that provides information on this innovative model as well as step-by-step administrator guidelines and practical teacher tools for implementation. Despite ongoing federal initiatives meant to increase the profile…

Congress, Black, and Strom-Gottfried cover the gamut of values and ethics issues affecting social work curricula at the BSW and MSW degree levels, as well as those complying with CSWE's 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. This book's course outlines, interactive learning techniques, technological resources, and extensive…

The components of a successful school are clear. Many educators can easily list them: high expectations for all students, a safe and orderly learning environment, strong instructional leadership, highly qualified teachers, data-driven decision making, etc. Then why don't more schools change the what they are doing to mirror them? Knowing the…

A survey given to Austin Independent School District teachers and campus administrators in spring 2009 showed several commonly requested training topics, such as motivating students; knowledge of technology, resources, and materials; differentiated instruction; and managing student behavior.

Few studies explore the specific sources of stress, and the coping strategies applied by teachers of children with special educational needs, particularly in small countries such as Greece. The present study investigated the specific work-related stressors affecting special educational needs teachers in Greece and the coping strategies applied by…