Education & Pedagogy

Contends that there is an almost universal demand for the reform of the postsecondary curriculum in England and Wales. Explores the relationships among postmodernism, self-actualization, and empowerment. Presents a holistic empowerment model and relates it to current issues regarding curriculum reform. (CFR)

Reports on the Network for Experiential Projects and Adventure Learning, a two-year training program in Germany developed to prepare teachers to integrate elements of adventure education into their curricula. Program sequence consists of 12 workshops, divided into 5 levels, including a participant initiated adventure project. Includes participant self-evaluation through personal logbooks and professional follow-up. (LP)

Informal outdoor education refers to the use of voluntary outdoor activities and experiences to promote personal growth and mutual aid among the clients of youth programs and other human services agencies. Discusses the unique benefits of outdoor education, client recruitment through outreach, links with home, and the aim of increasing client self-direction and responsibility. (SV)

The Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is working towards obtaining accreditation for a two-year Associate of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering. SIPI is a tuition-free vocational-technical training institution, designated in 1993 as a community college. Since 1991 the institute has enforced a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for its students. (LP)

The professional development plan for the Wichita State University (Kansas) College of Education and the process used to develop it are described. The committee that developed the plan first had to reach consensus on the purpose and nature of professional development. Reflections are offered on why the program has succeeded so well and on the next tasks in the ongoing program. (Author/MSE)

Heavy growth in the population of high school graduates seeking higher education opportunities presents a special challenge to higher education. These students will reflect growing racial and ethnic heterogeneity. This trend and the increasing need for advanced education mean that the short-term response of higher education will heavily influence future economic, civic, and political dimensions of American society. (MSE)

Experiences of different countries in establishing mechanisms to coordinate development of higher education systems, diversify institutional financing, and increase efficiency of public investments are examined. Attention is drawn to the need for effective policy structures to manage higher education, link reform costs to benefits, acknowledge institutional constraints to change, and articulate educational reform with other higher education-related policies. (MSE)

Asserts that the arts, including art, music, dance, and theater, often are ignored or shortchanged in the school curriculum. Discusses how language education has assumed a central place in the school curriculum and whether art education can use curriculum integration to achieve the same status. (CFR)

Maintains that efforts aimed at the development of a European dimension to the general education curriculum offered in individual nations' schooling have increased in recent years. Asserts that the immediate goal is to provide young people with opportunities beyond their national borders. (CFR)

Outlines historical trends in general education using a model developed by Arthur Efland. Discusses the integrated arts curricula of the 1960s in terms of their adherence to principles of the arts-in-education movement. Questions the widely accepted assumption that integrated arts provide art education with a nurturing curricular home. (CFR)

There has been a resurgence of concern for character education in schools because of the breakdown of the family and growing negative influences such as the mass media. Discusses how character education can be taught, who will teach it, the role of outdoor educators and the use of animals in teaching it, and accommodating differing cultural values. (TD)

Discusses the components of outdoor education and its potential as an ideal context in which experiential learning can take place. Touches heavily on spirituality, which is seen to be fundamentally concerned with relationships between ourselves and others, the earth, and God. Promotes outdoor education as a vehicle for discovering what life has to teach about becoming human. (TD)

Presents excerpts from Gerstner's book, "Reinventing Education: Entrepreneurship in America's Public Schools." Highlights include public education reform; slow technology adoption in education; school budgets and public-sector spending; the special role of business; productivity in schools; teachers, including salaries and management; and the need for national education goals. (LRW)

This study of five bilingual special education teachers identified three factors affecting attempts to change instructional practices: (1) a positive correlation between special education training and a reductionist approach; (2) relationship between changing both instructional practices and beliefs; and (3) the importance of including fellow teachers as agents of change. (Author/DB)

Usable responses from 244 of 367 secondary agriculture teachers indicated that 1 or 2 adult organizations were commonly affiliated with their programs (Future Farmers of America alumni affiliates, National Young Farmer Education Association chapters, and advisory committees). Advisory committees were affiliated with 199 programs. Adult organizational goals were being met by over 50% of all types of organizations. (JOW)