The paper examines the role of critical thinking in an experience-based model of social work education. Within this model, the development of a critical approach to our own understanding of, as well as to existing knowledge about, the world is fundamental for students and educators alike. Critical thinking is defined as more than a rational,…

To help teachers meet the diverse needs of individual students, North Topsail Elementary School in North Carolina developed a differentiated instruction program. North Topsail began its change with staff focusing on the principles of Accelerated Schools, including differentiation. Teachers reflected, developed a vision, and set priorities for…

The Scottish Science and Technology Network (SSTN) is a major collaboration between Careers Scotland and Scottish industry to promote science and technology via an on-line and integrated learning programme. An initial two-year pilot project has grown considerably and has now been running for over 7 years. The SSTN programme is a web-based…

If the modern conservatorium is to prosper in a rapidly changing cultural and economic landscape, it will need to provide a learning experience that produces multi-skilled and adaptable graduates who are self-monitoring and self-directing. By implication, teaching practices that have dominated in the past will need to be re-thought, and…

Online learning is growing rapidly as states and districts are creating new online schools, and existing programs are adding new courses and students. The growth reflects the spreading understanding that online courses and programs can serve a wide variety of students and needs. These include: (1) Creating opportunities for small and rural school…

The report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996), the Kelowna Accord announced in 2005 (five-billion dollars) followed by its demise in 2006, and the settlement in 2006 for Aboriginal survivors of residential schools (1.9 billion dollars), are but some of the recent high-profile indicators of the challenges to Canada in dealing with…

This article contains a description of the Dual Proficiency (DP) program in an urban elementary school located in the heart of a large south-western city, as well as the teachers who designed and now implement DP, and the immigrant community participating by choice in DP. We write from a context where, ironically, the number of English language…

Astin and Astin (2000), W.K. Kellogg Foundation, note "leadership occurs when people become concerned about something and work to engage others in bringing about positive change" (p. 23). At the University of Arizona we have taken that philosophy and integrated it into every component of our course to help students learn about and engage…

For the past dozen years the author has been teaching, along with other volunteers, in a program called "Changing Lives Through Literature," serving the Dorchester District Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Changing Lives began as a single experiment in New Bedford in 1991 and has spread entirely by word of mouth to a dozen…

The main characteristic of Distance Learning is that the student is taught and learns without his tutor's physical presence in the classroom. The opportunity for a direct (face to face) communication between all members of the educational group [tutor counselor (TC) and students] in Distance Learning is offered by the Tutorials/Contact Sessions…

The culture of science is more than science-as knowledge. It is even more than science-as-method. It includes public awareness of the impact of science-technology and mathematics on the economic and social well-being of citizens and their opportunity and readiness to enter into civic discussions of scientific issues. The culture of science in this…

This article provides a case study of the development of the Open Learning Systems Education Trust's "English in Action" program in South Africa from 1993 to the end of 2004. It describes the program's development from a model focused on enhancing learner involvement and learner gains to a model of distance education and open learning…

"Success for All" is a comprehensive reform model, which applies cooperative learning, tutoring, family support services, and extensive professional development to help high-poverty schools succeed with their pupils. A review of research on "Success for All" with African American students focuses on evidence that the model reduces the achievement…

"OATYC Journal," which is published by the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges, is designed as a forum for the exchange of concepts, methods, and findings relevant to the two-year college classroom. Along with commentaries and letters of reaction from the readership, the three issues of volume II contain the following major articles:…

In response to the rapidly emerging environmental imperative that environmental awareness needs to be taught in the schools, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) through its Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) developed a project oriented toward grass-roots improvements by schools within environmental…