First in a series, this article describes the rise and fall of John Adams High School, an experimental school in Portland (Oregon) that was recently closed after 12 years of operation. The experiences of those who tried to make the experiment work may help others interested in educational innovation. (WD)

This paper outlines two broad paradigms of action research referring to early education programs: (1) summative evaluation through quantitative group comparisons of intelligence and achievement, and (2) formative evaluation through process-oriented observational methods with an emphasis on qualitative information. (CM)

Presents the case for employing an action research framework for curriculum development in The Netherlands. Argues that this bottom-up strategy can be effective because many teachers are willing to refine and modify their practices. (DDR)

Describes action research that helped a school community recover from a music teacher's suicide. Summarizes an external counselor's advice to the principal and various stages of coping with trauma, dealing with loss, and negotiating a new stable state. Finds the principal central to the politics of grief. Explores an educative grief management…

Case studies of the University of Leeds' action research projects in the local community illustrate the use of mainstream and other sources of funding to fulfil a social purpose agenda. Recent funding changes may jeopardize community-based adult education, despite rhetoric about universities and their communities. (SK)

Reports on a one-year action research study at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) which explored processes by which a cohort of postgraduate teacher trainees learned personal information and communication technology (ICT) skills. Discusses learning strategies reported by students in interviews; considers previous experience and software…

Presents an action research project that explains the process creating a digital language experience (D-LEA) in Australian kindergarten and year 1 classrooms. Contends that D-LEA incorporates all the best aspects of the language experience approach, with the added advantage of teaching children to use digital literacies. (PM)

This study is an ex post facto story of critical decisions in which an instructor improved instructional practice and his students (n=104) gained confidence in their ability to make use of a powerful teaching strategy. This action research study concerned improving the quality of a secondary science teaching methods course. (Author/MVL)

Provides background information on the topic of service learning and discusses the two variations of service learning: (1) providing charitable services; and (2) engaging students in political organizing and social advocacy. Focuses on the Westside Outreach Center and the Urban Citizen Project at the University of Colorado (Denver). (CMK)

An informal survey of 71 teachers of the gifted participating in an in-service course on gifted education suggested that many teachers had goals and experiences related to multicultural curricula for gifted children. Through the survey, teachers also identified obstacles they encountered in implementing multicultural activities and benefits they…

Describes on Israeli English-as-a-Foreign-Language teacher's action research project that focused on how to teach reading comprehension in English to a class of ninth grade boys. Outlines the teacher's goals, implementation of the project, and thoughts on the outcomes. (Author/VWL)

Defines action research and presents case construction as one form of research well suited to classroom investigations. Cases developed by beginning teachers are introduced, and the context for development and discussion of cases is presented. Cases themselves are analyzed to expand the knowledge about the beginning teaching experience. (SM)

Rather than focusing on "proven" practices, Washington State University and the faculties of more than 50 schools have collaborated on Project LEARN (League of Educational Action Researchers in the Northwest) to enhance teachers' professional lives. Teams of teachers actively pursue the answers to their own teaching and learning…

The progress of action research (as an innovation) can be viewed productively from a socio-politico-cultural perspective. Utilizing this perspective, the institutional impact of action research is discussed. (IAH)

Presents observations concerning teachers as researchers organized around such issues as the roots of teacher research, the new interest in the topic, how teacher researchers are viewed by researchers, how they conduct research, what conditions support such research, and the value of such research. (RS)