This study examined graduate student attitudes towards letter and pass/fail grading systems in the Law School and the School of Education in a selective university in the United States. Fifty-four students completed a questionnaire on goal orientations (ability comparison vs. mastery), amount of effort and stress in each of the two grading…

In 1987, the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration concluded that educational leadership preparation programs in the United States were marked by a "lack of collaboration between school districts and universities and lack of modern content." Echoing this concern, scholars have argued for a programmatic change…

Student teachers are rarely encouraged by experienced educators to consult schoolchildren to understand teaching and learning. Sometimes student teachers are not encouraged because of a believed incapacity to interact discernibly with schoolchildren--a belief stemming from minimal life experiences with people unlike themselves. Notions of…

Attracting and retaining highly qualified school leaders is becoming increasingly important in our nation. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that motivate or inhibit practicing teachers from seeking administrative positions. Using exploratory factor analysis, survey responses of 329 students enrolled in Master of School…

Entering graduate students were asked whether technology would soon eliminate the need for teachers. Responses (all negative) were clearly separable into "modernist" responses, which indicated that the role of education was the transmission of information and skills, but that teachers can do a better job of this; and…

This article examines the effects of a pilot project for an experiential instructional model in teaching culturally sensitive, empathic communication skills. It attempts to integrate and communicate the theoretical, conceptual, and experiential understanding of cross-cultural empathy through the practice of mindful attitudes. Students were…

Given the current diversity of communication tools at an educator's disposal, what role (if any) does the discussion forum play in the development of a strong sense of community among students? This study sought to investigate the relationship between discussion forum interaction and perceived student sense of community. The results of the study…

Purpose: This article is a critical reflection of the development and implementation of one of the first online doctoral programs in the UK set up at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle in 2000. Design/methodology/approach: The method adopted for analysis takes the form of a case study. Findings: Effective market research has to be undertaken…

Life-long learning, reflection, and teamwork are all attributes that enhance leadership capacity and school reform efforts. Yet, the skills and the process to build these skills are not traditionally integrated into university coursework in teacher education or aspiring leader programs. A framework has been developed that incorporates social…

Supporting quality learning in online discussion forums is an intricate task, particularly for e-tutors aspiring to facilitate vigorous interactive learning environments. I argue that the key to successful online discussion forums is the ability of e-tutors to provide learners with feedback well informed in the meaning making and knowledge…

Objective: The authors developed mentorship programs to train minority junior faculty and advanced graduate students in mental health services research. Method: The programs target "mentees" in the Southwest United States and offer long-term mentoring, seminars, group supervision, seed funding for peer reviewed research proposals, peer…

Objective: In the United Kingdom (UK), an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has replaced the individual patient assessment (IPA) for part 1 of the membership examination of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych). The authors' assessment of the OSCE was conducted. Method: Residents completed and evaluated an OSCE designed…

Objective: This study examines the issues influencing psychiatrists' decisions to provide care to the under-served geriatric population. Methods: Community-based psychiatrists who see geriatric patients participated in focus group discussions exploring factors that influence the characteristics of their current practices. Results: Personal themes,…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the meaning of career success in relation to the attainment of an MBA degree, for a group of experienced managers. In so doing, the paper aims to consider the adequacy of MBA career success, defined solely in terms of external criteria. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 36 in-depth interviews…

Classroom discussion is a frequently used "active learning" strategy; however, a dilemma this strategy produces is what to do about students who are less inclined to volunteer. This study examines an environment which uses cold calling and graded participation to include more students in discussions. The results suggest that despite widespread…