Education & Pedagogy

A technical assistance project was designed to help special educators in Beijing (China) use computer technology with their students with visual impairments, hearing impairments, and mental retardation. Computers were donated to special education centers; software was gathered from American vendors and evaluated; and software applications were introduced to Chinese special educators. (Author/JDD)

In contrast to their U.S. counterparts, Canadian students exhibited greater exposure to continuing education (CE) concepts and a more positive attitude as they progressed through the pharmacy curriculum. Journals and schools were perceived by U.S. students as top providers of CE, whereas Canadians ranked associations and schools as the two top sources. (Includes the attitude survey instrument.) (JOW)

Presents the National Council for the Social Studies' (NCSS) outlook and goals for early childhood and elementary social studies education in the next century. Discusses basic research for elementary social studies, looks at the current status of social studies in the elementary school, and reviews preservice and inservice teacher training. (LS)

Describes the environments existing in Southwestern schools having a majority of Native American students. Concludes that the schools have a potential to promote Native American participation in science and mathematics, but they have high teacher turnover and limited amounts of professional contact and communication. (YP)

Describes the development and implementation of National Science Foundation (NSF) funded workshops for inservice secondary school biology teachers. Suggests a format for inservice teacher education projects generalized from the experience of teacher activities with respect to human genetics and bioethical decision-making. (YP)

Recently increased public concern for educational quality and America's international competitiveness has produced a more favorable climate for improving K-12 science education. Two principal federal agencies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Education (ED), have differing "investment portfolios." ED provides block grants for instructional improvement, and NSF is best suited to lead national improvement efforts. (MLH)

A former Secretary of Education recommends that the new secretary present a larger focus for education and a sharply focused program to back it up, considering increased funding and new initiatives for disadvantaged children, facilities improvement, increased support and recognition for teachers at all levels, and better research funding. (MSE)

Special and regular education elementary school teachers (n=100) who use microcomputers were queried on: experience with microcomputers, computer access, instructional uses, and perceptions of microcomputer effectiveness. Teachers had academic, rather than social or motivational, goals for computer use, but felt that computers' positive effects were in the motivational, not academic, realm. (JDD)

A survey of 388 Indiana secondary vocational educators concerned vocational education programs and practices for handicapped learners. Among the results, it was found that 38 percent of educators had not received special training for instructing handicapped learners, and primary modifications made for handicapped learners entailed extra assistance rather than instructional modification. (Author/JDD)

Education reform is taking a silent toll on school boards, says the president of the American Federation of Teachers. Cites laws in a number of states that weaken school boards' authority. Advocates a national debate about problems with school boards before changing the organizational structure. (MLF)

Describes the organization of this series of articles around the following themes: (1) contemporary indicators of inequity; (2) impact of inequity; (3) responses to the problem; (4) needs; and (5) tasks. Briefly discusses these four articles as alternative conceptualizations of equity-based education. (FMW)

Eleven papers on developments in middle school education (grades seven through nine) in England, West Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium are presented. Topics include comprehensive education for 11 to 16 year olds, mathematics, political issues, accessibility, curricula, school evaluation, and the view of the United States. (TJH)

A survey of medical school deans and faculty obtained information on 1984-85 courses designed to improve students' ability to examine their values in relation to those of patients, communicate effectively with patients, or think critically about cultural, social, and ethical issues arising in medical care. (MSE)

Recommendations made in "A Nation at Risk," were mainly geared toward college-bound students and ignored the needs of students with handicaps. A career education curriculum focusing on daily living skills, personal-social skills, and occupational guidance and preparation addresses the needs of all students in the educational system. (CB)

Responses to a questionnaire revealed that regular education student teachers (N=155) and special education student teachers (N=51) perceived a need for additional training in several similar areas concerned with mainstreaming, including communication, classroom management, evaluation, and professional knowledge needs also identified in the research on practicing teachers. (Author/CB)