Education provides the basic knowledge and skill sets that enable individuals to gain employment. In today's world of increasing globalization, there is a need for skilled workers who can move quickly and easily across national borders. Globalization is real and important. It drives economic change, but its influence goes far beyond economics. As…

As long as there have been public schools, there have been reformers of public schools. All too often, they have insisted on sweeping changes; enamored of their bold, new idea, they haven't considered whether anything established ought to endure. The result? A century of faddish ideas, but little real progress. Among today's most vocal reformers…

Times of threshold change, such as the transformation from the industrial era to the knowledge economy of today, produce pressures to redesign the institutions people live with to respond to, or better, shape this change. In America's knowledge economy, there is broad agreement that the only way to preserve the nation's economic edge will be…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

"Response-to-Intervention" (RTI) refers to a framework for providing support to struggling learners in the general education setting. To date, RTI models have focused primarily on reading intervention and typically utilize a three-tier approach. RTI models are designed to provide high-quality instruction using evidence-based best…

Many innovative approaches to education such as problem-based learning (PBL) and inquiry learning (IL) situate learning in problem-solving or investigations of complex phenomena. Kirschner, Sweller, and Clark (2006) grouped these approaches together with unguided discovery learning. However, the problem with their line of argument is that IL and…

The release of "The New Zealand Curriculum" causes us to rethink the aims of education. Dr Cavanagh offers an alternative set of aims to the vision outlined in the Ministry of Education document, which is based, at least in part, on socialisation into the corporate industrial world. Dr Cavanagh's position is focused on putting…

This paper discusses technology education, with a focus on agriculture. Discussion includes objectives of instruction; integrating technology into the curriculum; objectives in technology education, including 10 learning opportunities for achieving educational objectives; inservice technology education, including issues to address and problems for…

Focusing on the precise grounds on which a person can be said to have solved a problem, six conditions are articulated which govern the application of the concept and its relationship to trying and intention. The "solving" concept is found in synonymous phrases such as "figuring out" and "finding the solution." (Author/CM)

Responding to an article in the January 1983 issue, "The Incredible Brain," the author claims problem solving is, in part, a social activity requiring communication. Logic is necessary to the process of communication and, therefore, plays an essential role in the complete process of problem solving. (MLF)

The author examines the nature of reflective thinking and its necessity as an educational goal. The work of John Dewey, empirical approaches to reflective judgment, evidence of students' ability to use it, and implications for education are discussed. (SK)

Distinguishes two types of learning processes: (1) learning from regularity--a linear model of problem, process, and product; and (2) learning from irregularity--adaptation to changing circumstances. Argues that these approaches lack an ethical or political dimension and advocates learning from responsibility or social commitment. (SK)

Professionals often neglect problem-setting because of a preoccupation with problem-solving. Missions, goals, and objectives are products of problem-setting that are important to the process of professionalization. Professionals should become more reflective and reflexive in their approach to problem-setting. (Author/DF)

The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reflects on two fundamental principles of liberal education, that liberal education allows us to: (1) understand ourselves; and (2) act. He observes that problem solving is becoming more interdisciplinary, thus creating a greater need for liberal education. (DB)

Describes a secondary agricultural education program that was a dumping ground for academically disadvantaged students. Discusses how such a program can be improved by identifying problems and symptoms, treating problems, and goal setting. (JOW)