Education & Pedagogy

Explores characterizations of Socrates' nature as they imply notions of liberal education, arguing for an ironic view of schooling; discusses elements of liberal education in the tradition of the pragmatic, not the Platonic, Socrates and reviews Rorty's essays on education and irony, noting how essential irony is in education. (SM)

Offers background information on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Occupational Education Institutions, and the manner in which assessment requirements are stated in the commission's 12 standards and the way these standards change. (DMM)

Lists 12 changes to Vietnamese higher education resulting from the 1987 socioeconomic "renovation" that involved decentralization of authority and a shift to a mixed economy. Describes the development of higher education in Laos since 1975. Examines efforts by Cambodian higher education to recover from the devastation of the 1970s. (SV)

Discussed are the importance of earth science, how earth science should be taught, and when and to whom earth science should be taught. Topics which should be taught in a modern earth science course are suggested. (CW)

Rapid development of competency standards for management education concurrent with their implementation has left some questions unresolved: the rationale for linking occupational standards to academic awards; establishing and ensuring generally accepted standards; comparability of student experience; and policy protecting the candidate against bias. (MSE)

Discusses Afrocentricity in education and its potential benefit to both Black and White youth. Schools do not sufficiently cover slavery and its aftermath; many Whites are unaware of African American culture and contributions. An Afrocentric formation would also foster academic success among Black youth. (DM)

The study of education does not lend itself well to an experimental approach. Educators cannot even agree on a fixed body of common knowledge constituting a discipline of education. Education is subjective, lacking governing equations, unifying principles, and invariant experiments. Education must be dealt with in words, with feelings, and from a human perspective. (MLH)

Educational and gerontological perspectives coincide in a view of lifelong learning for women. Developments in women's education, preretirement education, education for older adults, and self-help programs, together with public debate on both aging and feminism, challenge educators to offer relevant, empowering opportunities to older women. (SK)

Five authors relate principles of learning to learn to adult education: "Self-Esteem" (Krupp); "Labor Education" (Nesbit); "Telecommunications Courses and the Distant Learner" (Takemoto); "Learning Techniques" (Rosenthal); and "ABE: Taking Control" (Spring). (SK)

The use of field trips for both conceptual and factual learning and affective objectives is discussed. Discussions on the general perception of field trips, perceptions from the perspective of research, implications for science education, and conclusions are presented. (KR)

Science education in the United States is compared to the programs in Eastern Europe and the U.S.S.R., Japan and the Far East, and Western Europe. Student attitudes, scientific literacy of students, teacher qualifications, academic achievement, high school completion rates, educational reform, and national curriculums are discussed. (KR)

Three major barriers have limited the successful use of technology in education: the installed base of computers is inadequate; good educational software is lacking; and teachers have had little or no computer education or training. Recommendations are provided for overcoming these stumbling blocks. (JDD)

Cooperative education has been limited by its characterization as an educational strategy, model, or method. As cooperative education enters its second century, it needs to be reinvented as an academic discipline with its own body of knowledge and precepts in order to assume its place within the academy. (JOW)

Provides an overview and introduction to some of the most useful databases for art education and research. Notes that much art education research uses dissertations and theses. Discusses the content and use of several U.S., Australian, and British databases. (MJP)

Reports on a study that examines the beliefs and attitudes of prospective primary school teachers with respect to the learning and teaching of mathematics. Concludes that some of these beliefs impede reform efforts. Contains 16 references. (DDR)