This task force report addresses three questions fundamental to the reform of teacher preparation: (1) what do teachers need to know? (2) what academic, professional, and practical experiences should be provided? and (3) what are the most efficacious relationships between a Faculty of Education, other faculties and schools in the University, other…

This paper argues that collaborative learning is possible within graduate education and examines the process whereby a classroom can develop into a unified learning community of shared experiences. Using excerpts of student writings and dialogue, three aspects surrounding the creation of a learning community are explored: (1) the risk of trust,…

This booklet contains nine 1-hour training sessions related to the components of family literacy programs. Each session may stand alone or be used in combination with any other. This provides trainers with the flexibility to base workshops on participants' needs and interests. Titles for the sessions include: (1) the process of literacy learning;…

This curriculum guide presents a model for instruction in drama and theater education that integrates dramatic art in the elementary curriculum and addresses the developmental needs of all students. Part I outlines curriculum goals related to skills, attitudes, and understanding. These goals are to: (1) create and evaluate drama and theater…

This booklet presents questions that can be used by a college or university task force looking at the freshman year experience and/or the broader undergraduate experience. It can also be utilized to aid the process of campus self-study or assessment. The questions are arranged under three major headings: (1) Campus Policies, Processes, and…

This kindergarten curriculum guide describes children's learning and development in a play-based environment and the creation of such an environment. The first part of the guide discusses child development. Physical development is considered in terms of sensory awareness, motor skills, creative movement, skilled actions with objects, and the…

At Northern Maine Technical College (NMTC), the mean age of students increased from 19.7 years in 1978 to 28.6 in 1991. In an effort to evaluate NMTC's nursing programs as perceived by traditional students (under 22 years of age) and nontraditional students (22 years of age or older), questionnaires were administered to 59 practical nursing…

Teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) may be regarded as developing through several major phases that require time and guided practice. This paper describes a graduate class titled "Learning and Development in Exceptional Individuals" in which teachers learn about pedagogy and tie it to content teaching as they work with…

A study investigated the nature, dynamics, and scope of the induction process for beginning vocational teachers. Ten purposefully selected groups of beginning vocational teachers from eight different states participated in nominal group technique sessions. Two groups were selected for intensive follow-up for case study. A mail survey of a…

A family-centered approach to improving the academic success of immigrant children is discussed and advocated, and illustrated with anecdotal statements of educators and parents. An educational agenda emphasizing parent involvement, support of literacy and other educational activities, intergenerational communication, and family strength and…

The productive involvement of students in curriculum development can lead to greater student interest in and satisfaction with learning. The dominant view in education today is that students are disruptive agents in the learning process, liable to interrupt teaching for their own purposes. This view results in a learning environment where the…

This self-instructional module, one of 16 on techniques for coordinating work experience programs, provides preservice and inservice educational materials for teacher-coordinators supervising on-the-job training. The four goals for this module are (1) to understand the background and concepts of cooperative vocational education, (2) to understand…

In recent education reform policies of different countries, scientific literacy was set as the national goal for science education. Understanding how science itself and scientists really work, in other words, understanding the nature of science is necessary to reach the desired scientific literacy level. Students also need to understand the…

While Online Learning Environments (OLEs) can potentially support learning that is more autonomous and authentic in nature than traditional instructional environments often allow, students do not always use OLEs in the ways expected or desired by their tutors. This paper examines the findings of a recent evaluation of an OLE designed for…

The proliferation of e-Learning programmes on offer within the UK raises critical issues that have yet to be fully addressed in terms of the nature of learning, effective pedagogy, learning expectations and student profile. The amalgamation and influence of these factors is also having an impact upon student retention. This paper examines student…