In this article, the author describes her attempt to develop more interactive mental mathematics sessions. She observed that her students perceive the multiplication tables as a series of facts which are either known or not known, not as tools which could be used to derive other facts in a flexible manner. She therefore undertook the task of…

This essay addresses the question: given the flattening out of the cultural hierarchy that was the vestige of colonialism and nation-building, is there anything that might be uniquely common about the common school in this postmodern age? By "uniquely common" I do not mean those subjects that all schools might teach, such as reading or arithmetic.…

In this essay, the authors discuss what it might take to develop knowledge that can help education policymakers and schools attain their goals. In reading both the research and the current policy environment, the authors identify several fundamental reasons why it is so difficult to develop the knowledge needed to inform policies that might enable…

This publication defines "service learning" as an instructional strategy in which students are involved in experiential education in real-life settings and where they apply academic knowledge and previous experience to meet real community needs. The publication is intended for persons who are interested in enriching learning through…

This document is a guide for educators to use in planning a three credit course designed to give secondary school students in the Northwest Territories (Canada) the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the historical, cultural, and social foundations of their Northern society; to help them appreciate the importance and uniqueness of the…

The state of Illinois recently has required state goals for learning to be identified and assessed in the following areas of learning: language arts, mathematics, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health. The Illinois Goal Assessment Program (IGAP) is designed to assess the progress made…

American University president, Dr. Richard Berendzen, spoke to a global education audience about the state of U.S. education and its prospects for the future. In 1950, less than 6% of the gross national product was in foreign trade; in 1984, more than 25% was in foreign trade and growing. One job in six of U.S. production workers depends on…

The recommendations put forth in this document were developed at a symposium in which policy and decision makers from education, government, publishing, legal, judicial, and philanthropic organizations gathered to address the following three questions: (1) Is the study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights critical to meeting the nation's…

Leaders in business and industry are demanding workers who not only can read and write but can think creatively and critically and solve problems. Federal- and state-funded programs and volunteer organizations are involved with adult literacy. Increasingly, corporations are funding adult literacy projects. Adults read for different reasons than…

The adults who participate in classes, workshops, and other learning opportunities are as diverse as the kinds of programs in which they enroll and the reasons for which they enroll. Adult learners are multifaceted, appreciate flexibility in teaching strategies, and want a say in what they will learn. These purposes for adult education are…

This module is one of a series of 127 performance-based teacher education (PBTE) learning packages focusing upon specific professional competencies of vocational teachers. The competencies upon which these modules are based were identified and verified through research as being important to successful vocational teaching at both the secondary and…

Findings of this November 1980 study indicated that outdoor education staff and classroom teachers should consider not only what they perceive to be important, but also, what children and parents consider important as outcomes and activities for resident outdoor education (ROE). An opinionnaire, designed to test whether participant groups in ROE…

To meet the needs and accomplish the desirable goals of a changing society, English teachers and administrators must alter many of their traditional roles and become agents of change, providing intelligent leadership and guidance. Harbans Singh Bhola has identified four major issues which have immediate relevance to English education and which…

Describes way in which National Assessment of Educational Progress materials can be used by educators attempting to set instructional priorities and improve instructional programs. (JC)

Criticizes current citizenship education that often results in antidemocratic attitudes due to obvious conflicts between the classroom and society and a rigid socialization process discouraging critical examination, questioning, and participation by youth. Encourages an approach whereby students can effectively participate and feel confident they…