Education & Pedagogy

During the 18 years of the last Conservative government, a stratified British higher education yielded to dramatic expansion, increased participation, and elimination of the "binary line." The economic imperative offers only a partial explanation for Conservatives' rapid and astonishing changes of policy. Contains 54 references. (MLH)

Beatrice Medicine, Professor Emerita from California State University, suggests that a higher education program for Native Americans should integrate the knowledge and wisdom of elders as well as address the different cultural values and spirituality of Native American students. The challenge is to prepare Native students to live and work in the dominant society without losing their cultural identity. (LP)

Examines a cross-section of craft knowledge and research-based literature of science learning beyond the classroom. Describes informal science education programs, and discusses implications for science teaching, focusing on the importance of informal science learning for children and in-service and preservice teachers. Proposes a model for enhanced school/information science education and school-level policy change. (KDFB)

The University of Maryland University College is providing degree and continuing education to 20,000 military personnel with 1,000 faculty at 100 locations in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and South America. Distance education is offered in Antarctica and Hong Kong. Almost every subject taught domestically is offered overseas. Two other institutions offer education overseas on a smaller scale. (MSE)

In a Foundations of Education course, teachers incorporated experiential learning in an extended exercise culminating in a school board meeting simulation. The exercise was designed to expose students to the varied roles of stakeholders in a typical school district and to challenge them with complex educational issues such as school funding and resource inequities. (MSE)

Discusses the foreign language teacher education project organized by the Modern Language Association to provide institutions the opportunity to develop exemplary programs in this field. Argues that the concept of articulation in this field currently focuses on irrelevant issues and that educators must formulate new concepts and tools to address current needs. (Three references) (CK)

The concept of secondary teacher training as a partnership between schools and higher education was formalized in Great Britain during the early 1990s. This paper considers how aspects of this new policy are working in the context of the Post Graduate Certificate of Education course, highlighting the partnership concept and individual partnerships' programmatic autonomy. Practices are at variance with key policy intentions. (22 references) (MLH)

This paper examines two models of practical experience in teacher education in Hungary. The first is the traditional university training school system, and the second is a system based on partnership with schools in Budapest. Mentors have very different responsibilities in the two models, though they have a crucial role in both situations. (SM)

Identifies and critiques studies regarding chemical dependency training within schools of nursing. The few research efforts in this area possessed methodological shortcomings, and schools of nursing generally provided minimal exposure to important concepts in addictions research. Neither the scope nor intensity of clinical instruction was sufficient to ensure effective interventions. (RJM)

This pilot project examined the use of e-mail to increase the frequency and substance of communication among triads of student teachers, college supervisors, and cooperating teachers. Three of five triads participated actively to engage in frequent dialogs, reflect on teaching, and discuss educational issues. Self-assessments revealed increased proficiency in using computers. (SM)

Describes a cooperative program where the New York City Museum of Modern Art and the New York City Public School System joined forces to create a visual literacy/aesthetic development program. The program incorporated a three-year teacher training effort, development of an art education curriculum, and classroom art education support. (MJP)

Examines the development of liberal education throughout the Great Plains region of Canada and the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Argues that western Canadian universities were more influenced by "general education" experiments and liberal-professional programs initiated at U.S. universities than by the 19th-century liberal education tradition in eastern Canada. (LP)

Physical educators have the opportunity and responsibility to create situations that will enhance the character development of their students. This paper examines theories of character development, then describes character development in elementary school physical education, in summer physical education settings, and among at-risk populations. Four character development instructional strategies are described. (SM)

Maintains that the contextualization (a critical awareness of the social forces that shape one's thinking) of religious education can only proceed with the contextualization of theology. Discusses this process from the perspective of racial-ethnic minorities. Although this process occurs at the margins of public life it often produces creative results. (MJP)

Argues that Americanization has not been a successful goal for educational programs in the United States that contain culturally and linguistically diverse students. Explains that there is a need to go beyond multiculturalism, developing forms of education that allow all children to participate in meaning making. Discusses educational equity and conceptual frameworks that result in more effective schooling. (MOK)