Education & Pedagogy

This is the second part of an article that explores key questions about the role of technology in early childhood training, continuing education, and professional development, and identifies issues and challenges of teaching online. This part focuses on specific strategies and effective practices faculty and trainers can use to create a community of learners online. (TJQ)

Explored the experiences of five visible minority immigrant women as they went through the teacher certification process in Ontario, Canada. All had teaching experience and certification in their native countries. Data from observations and interviews indicated that these women faced great obstacles (systematic, social, and general) in attempting to become teachers in North America which served to dramatically alter their dreams. (SM)

Outlines recent efforts to analyze, document, or enhance the impact of collegiate teacher preparation on teaching, learning, and practice. Includes examples from empirical studies or reviews, national initiatives to make teacher preparation more assessment based and evidence driven, and regional efforts to assess the impact of naturally occurring variations among program components, structures, and arrangements to influence local program decisions and larger policy controversies. (SM)

Describes an innovative outreach program integrated with a university curriculum in which a group of pre-service teachers taking mathematics education as a major were involved in teaching mathematics to girls at Tennyson House. Reflects on what was experienced and learned from the intervention in terms of three aspects: (1) learning about learners; (2) learning about teaching (mathematics); and (3) learning about relationships. (Author/KHR)

Discusses teacher education reform from the context of critical pedagogy and global capitalism, maintaining that it remains largely in the thrall of postmodern theory and politics and presents fundamental perspectives for creating a revolutionary pedagogy designed to encourage the development of critical consciousness among students and teachers in the interests of building working-class solidarity and opposition to global capitalism. (SM)

Describes the development of a community of inquiry within an elementary teacher education program, examining conceptual tensions arising from the various understandings participants had of community and inquiry. Instructors viewed inquiry as the central purpose of community. Some students considered mutual support paramount, and others believed they had entered a credentialing community. Each understanding resulted in different kinds of participation. (SM)

Analyzes a data set of music education in the maintained schools of England to (1) establish an authoritative national picture and (2) determine effective school-specific strategies that could be replicated. Focuses on music participation from age 14, when music is no longer part of the National Curriculum. (CMK)

A study examined rural service patterns and teacher preparation related to students who had experienced traumatic brain injury. Survey findings from 188 general and special education professionals in rural Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi suggest a lack of meaningful preparation for working with this population. Educational and competency needs were identified. (Contains 31 references and the survey questionnaire.) (Author/TD)

Describes a method used to provide mathematics students in Japanese colleges of engineering with supplementary exercises to aid their learning. Outlines the online operation of individualized exercises that help the students to understand mathematical methods used to solve problems and also mathematical ideas or concepts upon which methods are based. (KS)

Provides an update on, and preliminary research agenda for, best evidence medical education (BEME). Describes the Campbell Collaboration and the Cochrane Collaboration's Effective Practice and Organization of Care review group. Provides, based on discussion by the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education, a list of topics and priorities to systematically review for evidence of effectiveness. (EV)

A study investigated the perceptions, levels of satisfaction, and concerns of 8 Korean parents of children with disabilities in regard to U.S. special education services. Participants expressed their satisfaction with certain aspects of the special education system, agreed they had been sent too many written materials, and used mediators. (Contains references.) (CR)

Documents the learning constructed by two preservice teachers. One illustrates how preservice teachers interpret children's literature to help them understand and apply academic theory. The other highlights how preservice teachers generate their own theories about the nature of teaching, learning, and classrooms while interpreting children's novels. Both cases emphasize the importance of providing students multiple opportunities to articulate and revise their interpretations of children's literature in the education classroom. (SM)

Discusses four fields of education in Chinese culture during the time of Confucius: (1) morals, (2) law, (3) politics, and (4) music. Identifies three traditional Chinese music types: (1) refined, (2) popular, and (3) foreign. States music was used to promote social harmony, reinforce nationalist views and actions, and shape attitudes and beliefs of the Chinese people. (KDR)

Reviews studies examining effects of professional education on ethical development. Argues that most studies limit assessment to measuring moral judgment. Validates assessment methods for sensitivity, reasoning, role concept, and ethical implementation that could be adapted to provide individuals with a more complete picture of abilities needed for real-life professional practice. (CAJ)

Interprets international influences in Greek education policy with special reference to the technological sector of higher education related to Greece's semi-periphery in the world. Points out that higher technological education was upgraded to promote modernization and economic development; however, these reforms were incompatible with the nature of the Greek state. (CAJ)