This essay presents an analysis of the work of a President's Commission on the University and Schools at Wayne State University, Michigan, to uncover some of the implicit versus explicit intentions of those involved in the work of the Commission. The Commission had been charged with formulating a policy statement to be used in guiding the…

The narrative structure of a classroom event describes the order in which the story of the event unfolds. This paper compares the narrative structure of a traditional classroom to that of a communicative classroom. The comparison is made in the form of a drama in which a communicative mathematics spokesperson relates the comparative mathematics…

This technical assistance paper focuses on enhancing teachers' ability to match their expectations with children's existing or emerging capabilities and to facilitate children's development of inner control. Encouraging teachers to adopt a humanistic approach, which promotes opportunities for children to learn and become self-directed, is…

The West Virginia Education Association and the Appalachia Educational Laboratory formed a study group to examine transition activities used in West Virginia by preschool, Head Start, kindergarten, and early intervention programs. The study group members developed a program identification form and a program description form, which were…

SHELCOM, an adult education project in homeless shelters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, investigated the effects of using computer technology on participants' writing and communication skills. The project consisted of 2-hour workshops, twice weekly, complemented by online support and instruction. Learners paired across the city worked on creating…

In April 1993, the Alaska Department of Education conducted an instructional technology survey of all schools and school districts. The purposes of the survey were to collect baseline data on the numbers and types of technologies for instruction currently employed in Alaska schools, to collect information on utilization of the technologies, to…

A study investigated the introduction of an experimental school-centered and neighborhood-oriented communication system in a small midwestern town. It was anticipated that normal parent-teacher-school communication would be enhanced by the electronic messaging potential of the system. Researchers observed the entire adoption process from the…

This document presents a selection of teacher designed activities to help meet the needs of gifted and talented students. The four teaching units focus on creativity, independent study, critical thinking, and communication skills. Introductory material explains how the teachers of Parkland County (Alberta) worked together in informal and…

An International Executive Program for non-native English speakers at the State University of New York, Buffalo, is described. The program is offered to executives, administrators, and students planning to pursue a master's degree in business who need to improve their English language skills. The program is offered jointly by the university's…

To make effective use of a two-way interactive distance education system, classroom design should be a primary consideration. A properly designed classroom will enhance content objectives and increase acceptance of this type of instructional delivery. This paper describes key considerations for optimal design. Construction considerations include…

The guide, designed for regular classroom teachers, outlines principles and strategies for teaching limited-English-proficient children. The first chapter addresses the task of building a trusting relationship with students and establishing a comfortable learning environment. Topics include sensitivity to cultural and linguistic differences,…

Five papers address issues in language learning and teaching in multicultural environments. "Namibian Educational Language Planning: English for Liberation or Neo-Colonialism?" (Robert Phillipson, Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Hugh Africa) examines decisive factors in choice of language for instruction, focusing on the choice of English and the…

The outcome-based alternative assessment used in a two-semester Technology Communication Skills class is described. It provides an alternative activity for final examinations and is a way for students to express creativity and exercise critical thinking skills. Participants in the class are students in grades 9 through 12 (65 in this instance).…

An attempt is made to summarize the perspectives and relevant experience of state-level higher education leadership in responding to the proposals for national assessment resulting from Goal V, Objective 5, of the National Education Goals, which calls for improvement in the critical thinking, ability to communicate, and problem-solving ability of…

In distance education to date, the nature of teaching and learning in all academic domains has largely been understood in terms of behaviorist theories, more recently drawing on cognitive science from which principles and models for course design have been derived. This paper takes as its starting point contemporary critiques of such 'traditional'…