Education & Pedagogy

School environmental conditions can impact learning in physical educational classes. It is important for schools to control environmental health hazards, not only to promote a conducive school learning environment, but to also reduce associated health risks. To help physical education leaders determine the quality of physical education facilities in schools, the Physical Education Environmental Survey was developed. The Physical Education Environmental Survey was initially designed by conducting a thorough review of literature associated with school environmental factors. This article describes the benefits of using this survey and suggests several recommendations on how schools can conduct this survey. (Contains 1 figure.)

This article recommends raising the bar in elementary physical education by using Laban's movement framework to develop curriculum content in the areas of games, gymnastics, and dance (with physical fitness concepts blended in) in order to help students achieve the NASPE content standards. The movement framework can permeate and unify an elementary physical education curriculum and instruction plan through aspects such as the program's purposes, learning experiences and their organization, content areas, instruction, and assessment. The article also examines how activity-based programs fail to help students learn and how movement-framework-based instruction and assessment can improve children's movement performance in elementary physical education. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article examines two basic questions: first, what constitutes a gifted person, and secondly, is there justification in making special educational provision for gifted children, where special provision involves spending more on their education than on the education of "normal" children? I consider a hypothetical case for allocating extra resources for the gifted, and argue that gifted children are generally denied educational justice if they fail to receive an education that adequately challenges them. I further argue that an adequately challenging education is essential to human flourishing, but that most children can be adequately challenged in schools in ways that promote flourishing without doing so at the expense of other children. (Contains 19 notes.)

To what extent is American business education "hegemonic" in the Arab world? To answer this, the authors examine whether Lebanese people exposed to American-style business education share the values implicit in their textbooks and teaching resources. Finding evidence for such values among Lebanese business students and working people alike, they argue that American business education is not only externally dominant; it is also internally hegemonic in its influences on local Arab values. The authors examine the problems American hegemony causes in Arab classrooms and discuss how problem-based learning provides an alternative and more relevant learning experience for Arab students. (Contains 4 tables and 3 notes.)

Colleges and universities that provide both further and higher education are a key component of government policies to expand participation in English undergraduate education. The opportunities for access and progression made available by these organisations are regarded as central. At the same time, the division of further and higher education into sectors has implications for how "dual-sector" education is conceived and developed. Drawing on early evidence from policy interviews and fieldwork studies in four case study institutions, the influence of this division on national policy formation, organisational change and the student experience is discussed. (Contains 1 note.)

This article deals with central issues in the field of sociology and politics of education after the publication of the outcomes of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) study for Germany. These outcomes serve to remind us of the old debate on politics of education in the 1960s. The main topic since then remains the reproduction of social inequality via education. Critical educational theory shows an alternative in conceptualizing education for all and in overcoming the three-tier system in Germany. This is necessary in the interest of a real democracy based on the abilities and competencies of an educated society. (Contains 20 notes.)

This paper communicates the generative potential of classroom skits as curricular openings in teacher education. Although assorted incidences of the use of skits in classrooms have been documented, literature on the use of skits as a learning tool is very limited. I suggest that skits allow for the generally absent observation component during early stages of the teacher education program. I present a case incorporating skits with preservice elementary teachers in a mathematics content/methods course. This case helps to raise insights and questions regarding preservice teachers' use of language about teaching and learning in connection with their instructional practices.

Includes "Introduction" (McCaffery, Edmond-Smith); "Celebrating Achievements" (Hancock); "Building for Future" (Coleman); "Women in Community" (Patel); "Education/Training for Older Women" (Cooper, Kennedy); "Women with Disabilities" (Goddard); "Open/Distance Learning" (Sargant); "Open College Networks" (Mager); "Staff Development Initiatives" (Lloyd-Jones); "Women in Management" (Hammond); "Women as Lobbyists" (Woodman); "Further/Higher Education Act" (Risman); "Women and Environment" (Towner); "Women and Europe" (de Jonge). (SK)

Online instruction is a growing method of delivering course content in higher education. However, little research has been conducted regarding the effectiveness of such instruction for pre-service teachers, in both general education and special education, who will teach students with disabilities. In this chapter we briefly review the literature regarding online instruction as it relates to pre-service special education. Then we describe our involvement with the Brigham Young University PT3 grant, our personal development in using technology in our courses, the development and refining of an Introduction to Special Education course, and contributions made by our students. Recommendations for future study and practice are provided.

This article presents descriptive, quantitative data from 737 school personnel and parents who support the education of students with a full range of disabilities in general education classes. The study addresses (a) how special education teachers and paraprofessionals spend their time, (b) perspectives of paraprofessionals about certain paraprofessional practices, and (c) perspectives of professionals and parents about schoolwide practices associated with inclusive special education that may contribute to reducing inappropriate utilization of special education paraprofessionals. The findings highlight concerns and suggest that focusing change efforts on paraprofessional issues without corresponding attention to general and special education issues is akin to addressing the symptoms of a problem rather than its roots.

The lack of qualified special education teachers threatens the quality of education that students with disabilities receive. Attrition plays a part in the teacher shortage problem, and efforts to improve retention must be informed by an understanding of the factors that contribute to attrition. Specifically, the author provides a thematic analysis of studies investigating factors that contribute to special education teacher attrition and retention. She addresses four major themes: teacher characteristics and personal factors, teacher qualifications, work environments, and teachers' affective reactions to work. Following this thematic review, a critique of definitional, conceptual, and methodological approaches used to study special education attrition is provided, as are priorities for future research.

At a time when college administrators, faculties, and parents are debating the purpose and value of higher education, the rising cost of a baccalaureate degree, and the role education plays in the twenty-first century, a major in theatre, theatre studies courses, and theatre activities have not received much interest. It is not uncommon to hear, on campus or at a neighborhood gathering, parents, students, and even some members of the higher education community ask: Why in a period of economic uncertainty are students electing an impractical field of study like theatre as a major? How can this discipline provide the practical skills that help students face the harsh realities of securing a job in today?s world?

This study explored the current state of secondary special education in Michigan, focusing on students with mild mental impairment (MMI) and learning disabilities (LD). A survey was mailed to 378 secondary special education teachers. The survey asked questions pertaining to demographic data, curricular approaches and instructional environments, provider satisfaction and perceived effectiveness, and teacher preparation and professional development. Six findings were revealed: (a) lack of secondary experiences in preservice preparation; (b) low levels of vocational education for students with MMI and LD; (c) differential instructional environments and curriculum depending on size of district; (d) low rates of inclusion; (e) lower levels of satisfaction for programs for students with MMI; and (f ) the need for curriculum for students with MMI.

"Internationalisation", the growing border-crossing activities between national systems of higher education is losing ground to "globalisation", increasing border-crossing activities of blurred national systems which is often employed to depict world-wide trends and growing global competition. This article addresses recent issues of knowledge transfer. It points out tensions between increasing diversity in higher education and efforts to facilitate recognition of prior studies on student mobility. It shows the diversity of steering and management policies with respect to internationalisation and globalisation. Finally, it asks whether globalisation of higher education has to be viewed as a manifestation of "turbo-capitalism" or could be viewed instead as a move towards "global understanding".

Affirmative action addresses disparities in higher education. Recent trends threaten gains, resegregation is underway nationally. California outlawed affirmative action, the quality of K-12 education is declining, and prison construction is soaring. African American and Latino participation in higher education has declined; both groups are overrepresented in prisons and among the poor. Opponents pretend affirmative action threatens academic quality and promotes reverse discrimination. In fact, economic instability spurs efforts to defend status quo privilege. There is a clash of national ideologies, the American Dream versus White supremacy. Higher education must be a model for society in promoting equity, excellence, and diversity.