In this article, the author presents pointers for--and perspectives on--pathways to productivity. The following pathways are presented and described: (1) Planning and Preparation; (2) Proper Programming; (3) Play; (4) Pay Attention; (5) Possible Problems; and (6) Practice and Persistence.

Positive, student-centered learning environments and the professional development opportunities which support those environments, while crucial, are not easily built or sustained. As a result, instructors often spend semesters or even years in the classroom with no barometer for effectiveness and change in their pedagogical approaches other than…

Schools are considered one of the primary settings in which prevention and intervention initiatives can be implemented successfully, reaching a large number of young people. Especially when promoting social and emotional learning (SEL), many adolescents benefit from universal programs implemented in the school context. This chapter embeds…

Initial work on the European qualifications framework (EQF) started in autumn 2004. Partly triggered by this initiative, qualifications frameworks have since become integral parts of almost all education and training systems in Europe. Outside Europe, more and more countries and regions (such as Asia-Pacific) are rapidly developing and…

This article describes the implementation of an innovative undergraduate research model for students attending a two-year institution. It gives students an opportunity to engage in undergraduate research at nearby four-year institutions, which provides a foundation that allows them to successfully make the transition to STEM programs at the…

This article explores one approach to meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities using a systematic approach to decision-making called the achievement-based curriculum.

Preparing pre-service special educators to meet classroom demands requires teacher preparation programs to design experiences for students to demonstrate routine expertise, while also building adaptive expertise. In this article, the authors describe a capstone project that meets these needs and prepares pre-service special educators for their…

This article focuses on the enactment of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the USA's broad sweeping federal education policy, in a persistently low-achieving school in which the majority of students are refugees and immigrants. Drawing on a 26-month ethnography, I reveal the ways in which a NCLB-guided school turnaround plan is enacted variably,…

This chapter describes how implementing the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships' 17 accreditation standards strengthens a concurrent enrollment program, enhances secondary-postsecondary relations, and benefits students, their families, and secondary and postsecondary institutions.

The term "outcome evaluation" has become one of the most popular terms among human service providers and those whose job it is to evaluate the impact of human service programs. In the public sector alone, there are over a hundred instruments in use to evaluate the impact of state human service programs. Most states, many providers, and…

The "Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" was adopted by the General Conference in October 2003 and entered into force in 2006 after ratification by 30 Member States. To date there are 161 Member States, yet the States Parties to the Convention still need to appreciate better the concepts and mechanisms…

TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project) is committed to ending educational inequities by promoting the recruitment, training, and retention of high-quality teachers and school leaders. The U.S. Department of Education's Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant has funded TNTP to implement the Teacher Effectiveness and Certification…

Makerspaces provide an opportunity for libraries to build upon services they already offer while reaching out to students and faculty who do not frequent the library on a daily basis. By implementing a makerspace in the campus library, the space is seen as more neutral and approachable by students and staff from all academic departments. Broadly…

This article describes the development and implementation of a program at the Jewish Museum in Vienna, "Einfach so? So Einfach" (It's that easy? Yes!), in which students are asked to photograph works that interest them, either because they like the works or because they do not. The works selected by the students make up the discussion…

This article describes the creation of a First Year Experience learning community in a teacher education program. The First Year Experience model was adopted by the university because of declining enrollment, retention, and graduation rates and has been generally successful in the education department. With little information available for teacher…