Education & Pedagogy

Informs teachers about using concept maps as a learning tool and alternative assessment tools in education. Presents research results of how students might use concept maps to communicate their cognitive structure. (Author/KHR)

Discussion of online learning and distance education focuses on continuing education possibilities for librarians. Highlights include how online courses work; overcoming feelings of isolation; the use of technology; the effectiveness of online learning; future trends and challenges; considerations before signing up; and finding online professional development opportunities. (LRW)

The Inmate Placement Program of the Federal Bureau of Prisons focuses on job skills to aid their readjustment to the community after release. The program includes a mock job fair and has served 7,000 inmates. (Contains 10 references.) (JOW)

Examines the impact of Japanese nationalistic thought on the administrative systems and structures of colonial and modern higher education in Korea and analyzes Japanese educational policy in Korea in the colonial period (1910-1945). Identifies beneficial and negative impacts of the Japanese colonial education system. (SLD)

Provides a national profile of the status of arts education in U.S. public schools, including data on the availability of arts instruction, staffing, funding, supplemental programs and activities, and administrative support. Data are from surveys from the Fast Response Survey System. (SLD)

Examines the importance of a national cultural policy for Namibia. Describes how the policy was developed and addresses the draft policy. Discusses the purpose of a cultural policy and the concerns and recommendations for the implementation of the policy. (CMK)

Discusses areas of agreement among science education reformers and addresses fundamental problems if real reform is to emerge. Suggests the science-technology-society (STS) approach for improving the teaching and learning of science. (KHR)

This critique of social sciences, education, and adult education literature examines the historically changing nature of Whiteness and white privilege. The author calls on adult educators to develop concrete ways to challenge and transform invisible norms and seek a more progressive racial identity. (Contains 65 references.) (SK)

States that the current dual system of vocational education and apprenticeships in Germany is too rigid and recommends a change from cooperation between schools and companies to regional networked learning. Presents a reflection-step approach to creating regional vocational and innovation networking. (JOW)

Discusses the use of apprenticeships in music education focusing on the benefits of this approach for the students. Describes the Apprentice Adjudicator Project (AAP) that enables undergraduate music education majors to observe experienced music teachers during a festival. Includes apprentice and adjudicator survey forms. (CMK)

Describes the establishment of Green Schools, facilitated environmental education (EE) in primary and middle schools in China, with different detailed criteria among the provinces. Suggests that the transformation from examination-based to quality-oriented education will provide greater opportunity for EE. Recommends strategies to foster Green Schools. (Contains 12 references.) (Author/YDS)

Highlights work done in a variety of preservice and in-service mathematics teacher education courses to help teachers use commonly available spreadsheets as an interactive exploratory learning tool. Discuses several examples of teachers' subsequent use of spreadsheets in their own teaching. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/ASK)

To better understand the world of adult learners, we must remove ourselves from our ivory towers, classrooms, and offices and engage in the practice of adult education programs in urban settings.

Employing a critical-empirical approach to the study of college access, the author explores the role of policy researchers in seeking educational equity. (Contains 2 tables.)

Discussions held at a November 10, 2008 gathering at the American Enterprise Institute provide us some high octane food for thought and scholarly research. Comments and replies will be published in future editions of this journal.