This collection of papers examines instructional environments for students with severe disabilities. It points out that two principles should guide the selection of all instructional environments for all types of learners at all stages of instruction: the environment should be the least restrictive environment possible and it should be the most…

The book contains 19 papers from the journal, "Focus on Exceptional Children," that discuss new perspectives and practices in educating students with mild disabilities. The first half of the book is titled "New Perspectives" and includes the following articles: "Beyond the Regular Education Initiative/Inclusion and the Resource Room Controversy"…

This paper reports on two research studies. The first study investigates teachers monitoring strategies during computer-assisted composition instruction. The findings reveal four principles underlying a strategic, proximal instruction process. The four principles are collaborative assessment, guided practice, instructional branching, and learner…

This paper begins with background on the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and its networks. Other distance education projects in Mexico are described, including projects of the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN), the National Distance Education Program operated by the Secretary of Education, and the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios…

One of the potential negative effects of online courses is a loss of social relationships and a loss of the sense of community that is usually present on a traditional campus. This paper presents evidence that collaborative learning strategies, which require relatively small classes or groups actively mentored by an instructor, are necessary in…

This paper describes "Methods of Integrating Technology in the Elementary Social Studies/Language Arts Classroom," a class at Northern Arizona State University with the purpose of assisting preservice teacher candidates in developing an understanding and appreciation of the many perspectives of the social studies, language acquisition in…

Five Illinois universities, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and the Illinois Area IV Learning Technology Hub are collaborating in the Preparing Educators for the 21st Century Program" (PIE-21). This state-funded program focuses on providing preservice teachers, administrators, and teacher education faculty with…

The School Science and Mathematics Association seeks to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science and to promote the integration and interrelationships among these disciplines. This monograph presents 20 articles that have appeared in the association's journal, "School Science and Mathematics," between the years of 1905 and 1988…

This monograph examines the term "full inclusion" as it pertains to students with severe disabilities; reviews the historical, legal, and policy bases for various models and systems; and considers the implications for policy change of various aspects of full inclusion models. An introductory section identifies key principles of most full inclusion…

Documents providing background and information about the plans of the Owego Apalachin Central School District (New York) for instructional technology are presented. An outline of the technology plan emphasizes key components, the planning process, and details about instructional and administrative computing. The current uses of electronic…

This publication contains 21 reports that explore and document literacy. Following an introduction (Jean-Paul Hautecoeur), the first part deals with literacy in North America. Reports are "Functional Illiteracy and the 'New Literacy'" (Jean-Pierre Velis); "Literacy Policy in Quebec: An Historical Overview" (Jean-Paul…

Exploring questions about how the classroom environment affects young learners, this book describes how young children from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds have coped with the conditions surrounding them in process oriented writing classrooms. Chapter 1 describes the kinds of activities in which children engage in seemingly chaotic…

This guide consists of suggestions designed to assist vocational educators in helping students improve their reading skills. School-related and non-school-related reasons why students have difficulty reading are examined. Discussed in a section on teaching the essential technical reading skills are textbook usage skills, vocabulary development,…

Noting that reading and writing should be interactive in the same way that listening and learning to speak are interactive, this report describes several teaching methods designed to integrate the teaching of reading and writing on elementary and secondary levels. The first section examines the use of dialogue journals in a third and fourth grade…

This manual is designed to help teachers and tutors implement a 4-day modular course in the skills and processes necessary to get things done. The aims and content of the course are described. A course summary is provided along with a model course program that includes parallel lists of objectives, suggested learning activities and text materials,…