This paper points out issues to consider when applying the "Standards for Evaluation of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials in a different social context." Differences in the American and Israeli educational systems and perceptions of evaluation illustrate some limitations. Principles that do have general applicability are…

Defines constructivist learning environments and explains why the idea is worthy of study. Discussion includes the different assumptions underlying common metaphors for instruction, the idea of learning environments, the outcomes of learning environments, and the components or functions that make up learning environments. (JMV)

This paper is aimed at readers who are committed to new ways of designing supportive learning environments that individually adapt to how students want to learn. Its premise is supported by the need for society to acknowledge the diversity of the population and to shift the paradigm from school reform restricted by concrete structures to learning…

A web conference "adds value by generating discussion among a diverse student group" (Skinner, 2004a, p. 12). Or does it? A significant concern is the extent to which learners construct knowledge and develop a learning community through online discussion. Critics argue that genuine knowledge construction is difficult to achieve. This study…

As the sophistication of technology has increased, so has public demand for quality. This expectation of quality has occurred across a broad range of products and systems, including education. To meet the demand for quality, many products and systems (including educational ones) have become increasingly complex. Within education there are also…

This article is a socio-historical account of the development of the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and methylphenidate treatment in America, attending particularly to the political and institutional contexts that have supported this development. Historical developments in early-mid-twentieth-century America frame a…

Although materials informing parents about children's mental health (CMH) problems can improve outcomes, we know relatively little about the design factors that might influence their utilization of available resources. We used a discrete choice conjoint experiment to model the information preferences of parents seeking mental health services for 6…

This article addresses an enduring concern in the sociology of education: how social class differences are reproduced through schooling. In particular it focuses on the functioning of pedagogy in this regard. The article presents a model that elucidates the inner logic of pedagogy in order to reveal the structuring of inequality with respect to…

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics, core beliefs, and activities of successful middle grades programs. Schools in Florida are held to standards of accountability under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the Florida System of School Improvement and Accountability, and the Florida Secondary Schools Redesign Act.…

Society and the life experiences of children and youth changed considerably during the last century. Schools today are expected to do more than they have ever done in the past to implement effective educational approaches that promote academic success, enhance health, and prevent problem behaviors have grown significantly. Broad-based, school-wide…

The authors stress the importance of providing severely handicapped students with concurrent, systematic, direct, and individualized instruction both in school and nonschool environments within daily or weekly time intervals. A brief historical review of educational service delivery models for the severely handicapped is provided. These include:…

This booklet is part of a series that was designed to serve as a resource for high school leaders. It focuses on the integration of technology in the high school and contains practical strategies, procedures, and ideas to enable school leaders to plan and implement programs that will help students. It highlights the findings in the National…

This speech articulates one practitioner's assumptions and recommendations concerning desirable preschool education practices and learning environments. It is suggested that reliance on experts such as child development specialists and curriculum planners may limit teachers' access to students as ideosyncratic individuals. Teachers might do better…

A study was made of the Institute of Lifetime Learning in Washington, D.C.; data were gathered by observation over an 11-month period and through interviews with 19 instructors. An analysis of the findings indicate the following: (1) The institute's philosophy is the provision of non-threatening education for older or retired adults; (2)…

Significant numbers of students are being pushed out of school as a result of "zero tolerance" school discipline policies. While nobody questions the need to keep schools safe, teachers, students, and parents are questioning the methods being used in pursuit of that goal. Initially enacted to counter violent behavior and drug use, zero tolerance…