A study was conducted to determine if actual California Achievement Test subtest scores were significantly different than expected in a large, urban school district that had just implemented its first component--staff development--based on the Effective School Model (ESM). Subjects consisted of 1,591 fourth through sixth graders and 1,557 sixth…

The National Institute of Education (NIE) initiated this first national study of the means by which school districts actually choose principals. NIE specified two main research goals for this study: (1) describe and characterize common practices in principal selection; and (2) describe and characterize promising alternatives for the improvement of…

To discover how one student learned to produce writing in different academic contexts, a study documented a Loyola College (Maryland) student's experiences with writing for a poetry class and a biology class during his sophomore year. The subject was interviewed several times, observed, and his voice taped during "writing aloud" sessions…

Three research questions are addressed in this paper: (1) What does school improvement mean in relation to the context of a research project? (2) Given particular developments in European society and the nature of primary research data, what should schools be like in the year 2001? (3) What steps are being taken in research and development to…

To test a situational leadership model, this study sought to determine (1) whether, among a population of educational administrators in East Tennessee, individuals possessing high flexibility/high effectiveness leadership characteristics can be identified and (2) whether those leaders consciously apply Hersey and Blanchard's concept of maturity…

Ten essays on the use of ethnography in educational assessment are presented. Overview essays include: (1) "Beyond the Status Quo in Ethnographic Educational Evaluation" (David M. Fetterman) and (2) "The Ethnographic Evaluator" (David M. Fetterman). Theoretical papers include: (3) "Theory in Education Evaluation: Or,…

Developments within the area of new technology for disability and special educational needs have often been fragmented. The demands on innovators to exploit the new technology for specific and specialized applications have given them little opportunity to develop strategic plans in association with other innovators. Issues to be dealt with include…

This collection of conference presentations focuses on the twin themes of restructuring and technology in rural schools. Rural America's increasingly polarized demographics, political leadership voids, teacher training, renewal strategies, and ever-shrinking budgets are discussed, along with ongoing media criticism, which is a reality for all…

Taking the premise that curriculum design embraces the historical introduction of "order" into schooling, this paper considers theories of curriculum order since the 16th century. Calvinist social discipline brought a curriculum of schooling to be followed and to be completed as well. Peter Ramus, a 16th century professor, reshaped…

A project of the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (ERIC/SMEAC) has focused on the synthesis of information dealing with its specific areas of concern. Recent developments in the science and social studies educational communities have led to an increasing emphasis on the educational implications of the…

Research and practice have shown that staff development is the key to the successful implementation of any effective schools project. Staff development is defined as the ongoing, job-related, research-based activity provided for employees to maintain and improve their competencies. Part 1 of this paper outlines components (such as district-level…

Presented in seven parts, titles in part 1 of these conference papers are: "The Uses of Educational History" (Eisele); "The Modern Assault on Public Schools" (Romanish); and "Human Rights and Education" (Padavil). In part 2, the paper titles are: "Jane Addams' Hull-House" (Colky); "Educational Policy…

The design of computer-­based learning environments has undergone a paradigm shift; moving students away from instruction that was considered to promote technical rationality grounded in objectivism, to the application of computers to create cognitive tools utilized in constructivist environments. The goal of the resulting computer-­based learning…

Notes the problem of teaching reading and writing in a way that is not racially or culturally biased. Offers teaching strategies for combating this, including using a wide variety of works from other races and cultures that provide a range of minority perspectives in a nonstereotypical fashion. (JC)

Considers: (1) research by George Hillocks using meta-analysis to examine four modes of composition instruction; (2) role playing in classroom to improve student writing of persuasive letters or opinion essays; (3) process approach to English instruction, which allows for complex nature of individual learning styles; and (4) resource for promising…