This article examines the issue of academic drift with reference to South Africa's former technikons. The shift from technikon to university of technology and the policy issues which surround these changes, have been viewed pejoratively by many commentators and stakeholders in the technikon sector as "academic drift" with several…

Taking account of crucial differences between the social environments of universities in Newman's time and in ours, this paper considers two key concepts in "The Idea of the University", the "philosophical" and the "liberal". It argues that, despite their merits, both concepts are beset by problems. And it suggests some lines of analysis, partly…

This comment attempts to identify different "semiotic perspectives" proposed by the authors of this special issue according to the problems they discuss. These problems can be distinguished as problems concerning the representation of mathematical knowledge, the definition and objectivity of meaning, epistemological questions of learning and…

The graphical user interface (GUI) has become something of a standard for instructional programs in recent years. One type of GUI is the metaphorical type. For example, the Macintosh GUI is based on the "desktop" metaphor where objects one manipulates within the GUI are implied to be objects one might find in a real office's desktop.…

This paper reports on some of the theories and methods that could characterize historical study in the field of educational technology. After a discussion of the importance of historical study, it provides background about the problems facing the uses of different historical methods in the study of educational technology. Difficulties arise when…

This paper discusses the relationship of reading and television and describes a "critical viewing skills" program ("Spudbuster") for combatting the effects of prolonged TV watching. The paper enumerates helpful suggestions for both parents and teachers to ensure that children's television watching is not excessive and that what…

This practicum addressed the problem of fourth grade students who watched their fingers and used the "hunt and peck" method while answering questions in curriculum-based software. The following objectives were established: at the end of the 15-week practicum period, all of the 22 targeted students will demonstrate at least 80% accuracy in correct…

This report, resulting from a visit to Czechoslovakia and Poland to conduct preliminary research for the 1991 Projects in International Education Research (PIER) workshop on the educational systems of Czechoslovakia and Poland, presents information on the status of educational systems of both countries. Historical descriptions of the educational…

The role of the top human resources executive in major corporations has changed during the past decade into a directly involved business advisor, strategist, and implementer of business objectives. Intense competition has overridden previous human resources concerns and forced priorities toward internal, business-driven issues. Since cost-cutting…

Although schools have served as a major target of both educational and mental-health oriented interventions, they have shown a marked tendency to assimilate innovative programs into existing patterns. This paper analyzes the sources and manifestations of resistance to change in schools and discusses the implications of such resistance for the…

The author contends that when counseling a person of an ethnic group, the counselor must be sensitive to the individual and also to his/her ethnic group. She discusses some of the problems encountered in counseling adolescents of ethnic origins. (Author/HMV)

The past few years have seen a proliferation of microcomputers and a reduction in their cost. Many children have microcomputers in their homes and have learned their use in playing games and solving problems. Among these programs are those designed to improve reading skills, many of which are somewhat poorly conceived and prepared, often being…

Noting that the technological revolution in book production has led to more effective means of distribution and increased the number and variety of reading materials available in the world, this report examines several issues connected with the international circulation of books. Following a brief introduction to the subject, the various sections…

Problems encountered by Japanese women who participated in an American women's studies seminar have been valuable to the development of a cross-cultural women's course at Mary Baldwin College in Virginia. In the summer of 1981, the school offered a special women's study course to 30 Japanese university women. The program had limited success…