Describes an interactive computer simulation where the student assumes the role of a reporter searching for a missing biologist in Columbia. The search involves simulated news broadcasts, documentary footage, and interviews with Colombians, all in Spanish. The student accesses help via electronic archives (translated words) and faxing the editor.…

Attempts a sociopolitical portrait of Russia's young people through an examination of their motion picture viewing habits combined with other survey responses. Discovers that most Russian youth are disinterested in politics, prefer violent Western movies, and remain concerned about crime although they are personally optimistic. Recommends…

Addresses the central issue of test biases in college entrance examinations. Utilizes differential item functioning analysis (DIF) to compare types of questions, fields of knowledge, and male and female responses in Turkish entrance examinations. Reveals intermittent biases and suggests the tests be used more for assessment than selection. (MJP)

Considers the difficulties experienced by the East German School system adjusting to a more progressive educational philosophy. Specifically, contrasts the traditional East German geography instruction (focused solely on physical geography) with the West German emphasis on social issues and problem solving. Many East German instructors distrust…

Compares the personal counseling role of the college tutor with the work of the trained student counselor. Found that a lot of role confusion exists, that untrained tutors use a smaller range of skills than counselors, and that they tend more toward advice giving and directive techniques. They feel unprepared and unsupported in their counseling…

Classroom electronic mail (e-mail) exchanges between University College of the Cariboo (British Columbia), University of Wisconsin, University of Northeastern Illinois, and Carleton University (Ontario) college preparatory English-as-a-Second-Language students demonstrate that e-mail can be effective in teaching intercultural awareness, can create…

Addresses three critical issues challenging South African and U.S. efforts to improve teacher quality: equity, demographics, and violence. Both countries want education to ameliorate long-standing racial inequities by improving teacher qualifications; both face increasing enrollments and teacher shortages; and both have high crime rates. (Contains…

Describes the struggles and triumphs of a Maori community in the Bay of Islands (New Zealand) as it took local control of its rural school and made it fully bilingual. A series of government reforms have made the Maori people responsible for administering the school with insufficient funds while the government maintains power over the curriculum…

Presents an overview of the current situation within the Korean teaching profession, highlighting major issues and problems (e.g., low professionalism; ineffective preservice and inservice teacher education; rigid, bureaucratic personnel management; legalization of the Teacher Union; and poor working conditions) and introducing the Ministry of…

Highlights problems facing academic and research libraries in Ghana in providing scientific and technical information. Challenges include poor collections and inadequate funding. Topics include library cooperation, training in interlibrary lending and document delivery in the United Kingdom and in Denmark, and the need for CD-ROM databases and…

Presents a pull-out section that includes four brief articles and accompanying learning activities. The articles include an architectural examination of the move from medieval fort to Renaissance palace, interdisciplinary biographical writing assignments, a look at the portrayal of people with disabilities in juvenile literature, and material on…

Presents a lesson plan that analyzes and interprets the symbolic content of six political cartoons published in the United States during the juncture and aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Includes instructions for preparation, reproductions of six cartoons suitable for hand-outs, and a series of discussion questions. (MJP)

Examines intense and bitter conflict over public education in the Philippines occurring immediately after the Spanish-American War and the U.S. annexation of the islands. The U.S. replacement of the popular Catholic school system with a secular system resulted in opposition that eventually focused on textbook selection. (MJP)

The School Improvement Grants Program is a British Columbia-based action research project to support efforts to raise literacy and math skills in public schools serving low-socioeconomic status neighborhoods. The program--which provides $25,000 in planning and implementation grants for each participating school over 2.5 years--began in 2001 and…

The trends in higher education towards internationalisation and increasing dependence on ICTs (information and communication technologies) are contributing to the diversification of the student population and their learning needs. In this context learners may encounter an array of educational and technological challenges. For international…