Education & Pedagogy

This paper reviews literature related to competencies and the role of school library media specialists. Highlights include the instructional or curricular role; interpersonal and communication skills; leadership and change agents; continuing education and professional development; and future possibilities for school library media education programs. (Contains 71 references.) (LRW)

A survey of 26 secondary school special educational needs coordinators found that 21 felt that instead of writing Individual Education Plans (IEPs), it would be more efficient to describe flexible systems that were in place. Twenty-four believed time spent writing and administering the IEP would be better spent on direct pupil support. (Contains five references.) (CR)

This article describes steps taken by the faculty in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire to develop, implement, and make programmatic decisions based on the results of performance-based assessments. It illustrates these steps with the example of the educational goal of having students understand the importance of collaborative partnerships. (Contains six references.) (DB)

This article describes Project Inclusion, a state-funded project at Southeastern Louisiana University, which provided financial support for general educators to take university courses to develop their knowledge and skills concerning students with disabilities. The courses emphasized collaboration techniques, curricular modifications, and behavior management strategies. Evaluation indicated increased knowledge and greater acceptance of inclusion and collaboration. (Contains references.) (DB)

Based on the preliminary results of research conducted by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education and Stanford's Bridge Project, authors suggest several ways that K-12 schools and postsecondary education could integrate policies and data to improve student academic opportunities and success from kindergarten to college graduate 16 years later. (PKP)

Investigates what language minority and language majority high school students believe about various issues related to bilingual education programs. Data from student surveys and narratives indicate that bilingual education programs appear to be effective, with many language minority students learning to speak English, though some students found that bilingual education classes added to their difficulty in learning English. (SM)

This article gives an overview of special education legislation in India and focuses on the success of one school in meeting the needs of students with moderate to profound mental retardation through an integrated approach. The school has created two cooperative business enterprises with donations and parent involvement. (Contains 8 references.) (CR)

This article describes the Addams/California State University (Fresno) Educational Partnership Project, a model teacher education program designed to provide student teachers with an opportunity to be trained to work with at-risk students. Evaluation by both the student teachers and participating master teachers was overwhelming positive. Implications for pre- and inservice teacher education are drawn. (Contains references.) (DB)

Compares the structure of education enterprises and workplace practices with those in other enterprises in the public and private sectors. Finds that labor-related and control-related factors in education differ substantially from enterprises in the public and private sectors. (Contains 60 references.) (PKP)

Focus groups were used to explore emergent issues for men in early childhood education. Preservice teachers, classroom teachers, and male professors identified six categories of issues, including low salaries, family and other influences on entering the field, teaching beyond the basics, improvement of preservice education, recruitment of males, and advantages and disadvantages of males in the field. (Author/KB)

Presents a history of federal government involvement in public education. Discusses programs for the deaf and blind, land grant colleges, and rural schools; and technology-related programs, including the E-rate program, children's television programs, and the Star School Program. Emphasizes the government role needed to ensure access to the Internet for educational purposes. (LRW)

Discussion of distance education for nontraditional students in higher education via the World Wide Web focuses on student attrition rates and how to increase persistence. Highlights include a profile of distance learners; theories of persistence; and persistence and retention strategies, including technical resources, pretests, human resources, faculty training, and communication. (LRW)

Study sought to explain determinants of public higher education enrollment across states at public colleges and universities. A policy simulation, based on empirical results, suggests that if tuition continues to rise, states are faced with reducing supply through lower state appropriations, or attempting to maintain current supply by increasing the amount of regulation in higher education. (Contains 21 references.) (Authors/PKP)

Comparison of students in vocational education programs (n=31) versus postsecondary preparation programs (n=28) in three Australian high schools (all-boys, all-girls, co-ed) showed that low achievers in vocational education had greater increases in self-concept, regardless of school type. Co-ed students had greater increases in total self-concept. (Contains 36 references.) (SK)

Investigated the effect of one multicultural education course on preservice teachers' attitudes toward diversity issues. Data from pre- and post-course surveys indicated that students' attitudes toward and awareness of diversity issues improved, particularly regarding classroom teaching practice. However, the course did not significantly alter their beliefs about societal conditions contributing to underachievement. (SM)