With increasing adoption of the problem-based learning (PBL) model, creative approaches to enhancing facilitator training and optimizing resources to maintain effective learning in small groups is essential. We describe a theoretical framework for the development of a PBL facilitator training program that uses the constructivist approach as the…

The process of innovation involves numerous contradictions not adequately addressed by business-oriented approaches, in particular the problem that what seem to be mutually antagonistic factors are involved. Psychological research on creativity, especially the 4 "Ps" (process, person, product, and press) and the paradoxes of creativity…

This article describes how the physical educators at Tahoma High School, in a community in Washington state's Cascade Mountains, surveyed their students, reached out to the community, integrated physical education and academics, and established a school-wide focus on wellness. Tracy Krause writes that the three "Rs"--relationships,…

Teacher shortages are a pervasive global issue that is expected to continue, especially in low-performing, high-needs schools [O'Connor, E. A., Malow, M. S., & Bisland, B. M. (2011). Mentorship and instruction received during training: Views of alternatively certified teachers. "Educational Review," 63(2), 219-232]. In an effort to…

The Catholic school system in Ontario, Canada, is fully funded by the government. Recently, Ontario's Ministry of Education mandated an induction year, the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP), for all new teachers. This legislation provides an opportunity for Catholic school boards to take the lead and shape creative and effective programs for…

This response to Smith and Hilton (1994) suggests that those authors reject philosophical bases for decision making regarding program design for students with mental retardation while actually proposing their own philosophical base for such decision making. The importance of philosophy in guiding decisions and practice over the last several…

Similarities and differences are explored in programs and provisions for academically able students in the United States, Japan, and West Germany. Discussed are social attitudes toward gifted education (especially the belief that special provisions for an "elite" group are undemocratic) and the use of various teaching methods as…

The historical evolution of concern for education of gifted students is traced, along with the philosophical tides accompanying that evolution from the 1950s through the 1980s. It is argued that the public is alternatively supportive and antagonistic toward the gifted/talented. Periods of intense concern about their educational welfare are often…

Provides a case study of the evolution of the Paracollege, a major curriculum change at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. The paracollege is a small experimental unit in which innovation in education and new patterns of both learning and teaching are tested. (Author/RK)

This interview with Berthold Lowenfeld focuses on his educational and professional background, his contributions to the education of blind children, and the contributions of other educators in the field. Lowenfeld comments on the role of residential schools, least restrictive environment, and teacher training. (JDD)

This paper traces the three stages of development of gifted programming in Taiwan, services that are now available in gifted education, and continuing challenges in gifted education. Critical events that shaped gifted education during 1973-79, 1980-81, and 1982-89 are described, including gifted programming for elementary students, junior high…

This guide identifies ways of improving the program offerings by regular classroom teachers for students identified as gifted learners, through planned enrichment strategies. An introductory section outlines conditions prevalent in public schools that suggest the need for alternative strategies for the instruction of gifted learners, lists the…

This article examines East Asian societies' response to students who are gifted academically or talented in the arts, music, or sports, focusing on educational practices in China, Taiwan, and Japan. The study concludes that establishment of gifted education programs is not determined by economic development level or school quality but by the…

This book provides an overview of program planning for adult learning from philosophical and pedagogical perspectives. It contains 19 papers and an introduction by the editor, Peter S. Cookson. The following are included: "A Conceptual Context for Program Planning" (Peter S. Cookson); "Prototypical Program Planning…

Describes the philosophy of, efforts to develop, and two-year outcomes of a child-care center for preschool children and infants. (DB)