Proposes a systematic and stepwise approach to the design of population information, education, and communication (IEC) strategies. Clarifies the role of IEC in population programs, details methodological steps to follow in IEC strategy development, and identifies types of research and sources of data needed. (MDH)

Like teachers, principals need support for building collegial networks and reducing professional isolation. Study groups provide an opportunity for principals to meet during the school year to study a topic of mutual interest. The experience can increase participants' confidence, teach new skills, strengthen their understanding of current…

Presents the concept of building an effectiveness pyramid to align and utilize all major aspects of a library's organization to support and improve the effectiveness of the library. Describes the three levels of the pyramid and how they relate to library effectiveness: the individual; enabling skills and tools; and organizational structure and…

Meaning events are in-therapy change episodes that occur when a patient seeks to understand the meaning of an emotional experience. A performance model of this task was developed in an earlier study. This study sought to determine which client performance components distinguish successful from unsuccessful creation of meaning episodes. Measures of…

All students, including struggling readers, need opportunities to make choices in their reading. Schools should shun round-robin oral reading and basal readers, prioritize reading time, allocate resources for varied reading materials keyed to student interests, and develop better reading teachers, not better reading programs. (Contains 20…

Discusses the trend in other nations of establishing a system of community colleges similar to those in the United States. Considers the economic benefits of these institutions to developing nations, as well as challenges in their establishment. Examples are from Africa, Mexico, India, the Caribbean, China, and Vietnam. (DB)

An interview with Arthur Levine, the president of Teachers College, Columbia University (New York), discusses diversity, school vouchers, recruiting new teachers, affirmative action, student attitudes about race, the need for advocacy groups to counter the conservative National Association of Scholars, and his latest book, "Diversity on…

Analyzes a traditional research model for its usefulness in writing research reports that are relevant to practitioners. Suggests that attention to research problems and conclusions helps in translating research and theory into practice. Proposes a system of research and development that can close the gap between research and practice. (SK)

Suggests that state standards-based reform is insufficient alone, examining long-standing school improvement processes in one Oregon school district, describing the use of standards-based reform and school improvement in the district, and exploring relations between the two efforts. This case shows congruence of approach between the district and…

Examined the influence of the National Literacy Strategy in the United Kingdom on literacy attainment. Tracked the "literacy hour" for 20 classrooms with children ages 7 through 11. Observed what occurred in two typical classrooms from the sample and identified areas and significance of change. (DLH)

Action research was used for a follow-up study of the implementation of a philosophy of health in nursing curricula. Health was interpreted both as health education and health promotion. Issues arose in terms of the gap between rhetoric and reality in action research and the expectations and needs of key partners. (SK)

Recent reports criticize today's glitzy, coffee-table textbooks as shallow, dumbed-down products that waste taxpayers' money and students' learning potential. Districts should encourage more textbook research, clarify expectations, have someone read texts under consideration, refuse to purchase inferior textbooks, and watch for online…

Describes a multiyear effort to restructure one teacher education program, highlighting constraints, barriers, and limitations such as turf protection, fear of risk taking, conflicting ideologies, and struggles for power and influence that emerged during the restructuring process. A prototypical model of how the psychological, social, and…

Considers five ways to overcome barriers teachers face when they attempt to create thinking classrooms: (1) acquisition of conscious commitment; (2) legitimization of students' experiences; (3) integration of visualizing into the curriculum; (4) use of reflective analysis; and (5) diversification of perspectives. (SR)

Reports on one school-university partnership that used S. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" as a framework for initiating and sustaining teacher-education reform in an elementary school. Discusses how the collaboration overcame a difficult start involving distrust of the university. Shows how the project illuminates three…