Education & Pedagogy

Summarizes efforts to address the problem of how to involve industry in the design and delivery of education and training and to ensure its relevance for work preparation. Describes a work-based training program in Germany and a statewide industry-driven process for updating postsecondary technical education curricula in Georgia. (JOW)

Provides an in-depth look at the National Standards for Art Education and attempts to correct some of the misconceptions associated with them. Articulates a number of the objections and concerns regarding the standards. Answers each objection with a thoughtful response. (MJP)

Defines moral education as the attempt to create individuals who are willing and able to treat each other as equals and feel compassion towards one another. Considers the contributions of psychotherapy concerning the potential of autonomous individual development to enact social change. (MJP)

Outlines 11 principles to guide schools as they plan their character education programs. These include a definition of character, developing the school as a caring community, a comprehensive and intentional approach to developing good character, and the relationship between character education and the academic curriculum. (MJP)

Defines moral education as an education in morality. Identifies morality as a particular way of life that has its own logic and reason. Recommends looking anew at fundamental concepts of moral education and building approaches and methods out of these new perspectives. Discusses overcoming resistance to this approach. (MJP)

Provides a historical overview of the activities designed to standardize and/or improve civics education. Briefly reviews reform movements, guidelines, and educational studies contributed by private institutions or the government. Lists the eight objectives for political science developed by the Committee on Pre-Collegiate Education in 1971. (MJP)

Discusses the essential components and objectives of multicultural education and considers how to foster and integrate these into social studies teacher education programs. Describes several strategies designed to move students from norms of passivity to interactive pedagogy. These included collecting oral histories and critiquing textbooks. (MJP)

Describes one elementary principal's experience with implementing outcome-based education (OBE), which combines competency based education and mastery learning. The principal explains that he is not convinced that OBE is a worthwhile philosophy to pursue, and he lists problems and common objections from teachers and community members. (SM)

Examines connections between diversity and disability in special education, noting increasing tendencies to locate special education under the umbrella of diversity. The paper maintains that the assumptions underlying disability are dramatically different from those supporting diversity and suggests that special educators transform their traditional advocacy to a broad sociocultural framework. (SM)

Addresses the role of outdoor education in educating for a sustainable society. Discusses elements in promoting social action (environmental awareness, empowerment, commitment) and 10 essential competencies in educating for sustainability. Describes related benefits of outdoor education such as increasing student motivation, utilizing multiple intelligences, promoting cooperation, reconnecting to nature, confronting real issues, and developing problem-solving skills. (LP)

Describes teacher education courses that can serve as models for integrating technology into preservice education. Stresses the importance of learning about technology with technology, an approach that has been integrated into preservice social studies methods classes at the University of New Mexico. Discusses computer discourse and classroom environments and strategies. (AEF)

A review of the 1983 attempt to close the Department of Adult Education at the University of Southampton illuminates the debates over the nature of adult education, the end of political consensus about educational policy, and the demise of the "Great Tradition" of university liberal education in the process of mainstreaming extramural programs. (SK)

Discusses how a fundamental disagreement between the values of distance education and traditional academics could be bridged by a mutual commitment to education driven by quality, access, integrity, responsiveness, and a central role for faculty. Notes adoption of distance education could be enhanced by integrating theories of organizational culture and diffusion of innovations. (SK)

The Open University of United Kingdom's Postgraduate Certificate of Education program is an 18-month, part-time course that annually trains over 1000 graduate teachers via electronic conferencing and open learning methods. The program provides every student and tutor with a Macintosh computer, printer, and modem and builds on face-to-face contacts during tutor group conferences. (MLH)

Examines the growing use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the business world and the challenges and opportunities that presents for geography educators. Discusses issues relevant to both increased business usage and curriculum design. Recommends increased participation in business instruction for geographers. (MJP)