Education & Pedagogy

Describes the benefits of peer coaching to preservice physical education teachers. After explaining how peer coaching works, the paper examines the early field experience progression, looks at three teaching laboratories designed to facilitate preservice teacher education, and discusses data collection instruments (teacher position and function and the Hamrich Demonstration System). (SM)

This article begins by describing the principles and beliefs in Nova Scotia that guide educational services for children with disabilities and then discusses findings from a special education implementation review that indicate progress has been made in implementing changes in many special education policy areas. Implementation recommendations are listed. (CR)

In the alternative licensure program for career and technical education teachers offered at the Ohio State University, some courses are entirely web based and others are web enhanced and include a combination of classroom time and Internet-based activities. Faculty concerns include time, technical expertise, and security. Student issues include technical expertise and access. (Contains 15 references.) (JOW)

Responses from 44 research universities indicated that 98% use comprehensive exams with adult and continuing education doctoral students; 81% at the end of coursework. A wide variety of formats are used: in-class, take-home, combined, and alternative. The comprehensive exam is becoming more of a bridge to the dissertation than a synthesis of intellectual content. (SK)

Describes a project within an early childhood multicultural teacher education program that examined what makes educational environments conducive to discussing culturally sensitive issues. Diverse students participated in two discussions, created guidelines, and completed interviews and questionnaires. Students and the instructor stressed the importance of creating an environment where all students felt comfortable and safe about discussing culturally sensitive issues. (SM)

Describes a conference on black students in London's schools, focusing on continuing achievement gaps and solutions proposed by various experts. Addresses such issues as equitable resources, parent-school relationships, teacher-student relationships, street culture, and personal development. Includes recommendations for Local Education Agencies related to partnerships in education, racial equality plans, and education development plans. (SM)

Responds to a paper that focused on the "domestication of the ivory tower" and that highlighted indigenous, field-based education associated with higher education institutions in Alaska. Shares two stories that illustrate what indigenous students often encounter in higher education, places of learning that frequently devalue or ignore their world views, intellectualization, and life experiences. (SM)

Presents a socio-historical analysis of teacher education in England tracing the changing agents and nature of control of the enterprise since its inception. Illustrates the evolution from church through university, to state control, and the limited role of the teaching and teacher education professions in each. Includes references. (CMK)

Increasing corporate sponsorship in public schools is seen by proponents as promoting change among pedagogic fundamentalists resisting innovation. Critics see it as predatory marketing among a captive audience, undermining educational credibility, focusing on employment at the expense of preparation for participation in society, and a disincentive for government to meet its obligation to fully fund public education. (TD)

Discusses the place of computer science education in the high school curriculum and reports on a survey of schools in five states that investigated computer science teaching responsibilities, hardware and software use, programming languages, how teachers rank instructional resources, and how teachers rank opportunities for their own skill upgrading. (Author/LRW)

Reviews research and case studies of Internet-based degree programs to gain a better understanding of the impact of information technology on student equity and overall standards of quality. Offers recommendations suggesting that governmental strategies related to online education should be limited in scope and promote two goals: equal opportunity and standards of quality based on proven models of success. (EV)

Provides a brief overview of the process of outcomes assessment and examples of its application in professional health science education. Provides a background for other articles in this issue describing ongoing activities in outcomes assessment in veterinary education and for programs considering developing a plan. Focuses on health professions other than veterinary medicine. (EV)

Examines the influence of teacher education on one novice teacher's practice. She believes that teaching and learning occur between each student and the teacher and that each member of t he learning community is responsible for teaching and learning. She uses content knowledge as the vehicle through which to teach students and advance their contributions to the learning experience. (SM)

A balance must be maintained between what students want and what they should receive in educational institutions. If teachers forget that they possess more knowledge of teaching than the lay public, especially politicians, or downplay their own importance in education, they abrogate their professionalism and weaken their ability to contend with whatever notions politicians try to impose on education. (TD)

Describes a survey of faculty and administrators at a research university that investigated faculty use of technology in teaching, motivating and inhibiting factors for participating in distance education, and understanding of policies on distance education. Presents a factor analysis of motivating and inhibiting factors and considers gender, age, rank, and tenure status. (LRW)