Claims that Matthews sees independence as moving freely and being able to function apart from the adult, leading to competence and cognitive development for life. Reiterates the importance of emotion, relationships, and the mother as the central part of the child's prepared environment. (MOK)

An expert panel and consensus workshops identified eight general hallmarks and 23 related indicators of person-centered approaches in planning and providing services and supports to individuals with mental retardation. The applicability of person-centered features and indicators to improving services and supports is discussed. (Contains…

Considers homework as an issue in the effort to define children's role as active participants in their lives. Notes the tension created as children attempt to find a place for themselves in their families and schools, the debates about children's rights, and the prescriptive approach of public policy toward homework. (JPB)

The concept of the autonomous learner underlies discourse in self-directed, experiential, transformative, and lifelong learning. However, full autonomy is rarely possible for reasons of culture, gender, and class. Extensive accountability requirements also limit the autonomy of learners, teachers, and institutions. (Contains 54 references.) (SK)

Explores the economic and political contexts of assessment in New Zealand adult education. Discusses assessment in relation to power, objectivity, reliability, and validity, suggesting that accountability prevails over autonomy. Advocates a context-dependent learner-teacher partnership for assessment in adult education. (Contains 54 references.)…

A national survey of Extension employees identified the most critical work/life challenges as a heavy workload, evening and weekend commitments, and lack of control or job autonomy. Only 40% were aware of benefits and programs offered concerning work/life balance. Recommendations included reducing the workload and time requirements of county-based…

This article discusses how to make sure the gifts of a gifted child are developed to attain the most satisfying outcome for self and society. It provides general principles and gives concrete examples of some experiences parents might consider at various ages. Facilitating self-directed learning and ownership is emphasized. (Contains references.)…

Structural equation modeling of data from 204 government workers indicated that career control significantly influenced the effects of career dependence and flexibility on emotional exhaustion. Higher levels of task uncertainty were associated with higher career flexibility. Seniority was linked to dependence and lack of career control. (Contains…

Adolescence is a developmental transition period during which there are profound transformations in emotional, cognitive, and behavioral systems. Despite being a time of rapid development and increasing rates of suicidality, limited research has examined possible interrelationships. Through the use of a case study, this paper illustrates the role…

With trust as its antecedent, social capital comprises the potential capacities of a people to prosper. Building on the presence of social capital, social cohesion involves the internalization of social ethics and constitutes the level of realized propensity among citizens to engage in virtuous behavior for the common good. This theory elaboration…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the tenability of a proposed path-analytic model relating resourcefulness and persistence in the context of adult autonomous learning. Data collected from a nonprobability sample of 492 American adults using valid and reliable measures for resourcefulness and persistence were analyzed. Results suggest…

In service learning, students learn skills and apply their knowledge while addressing an identified community need. Service learning is especially powerful in special education as students with disabilities are allowed the opportunity to give, instead of receive, help and support, and therefore gain independence and self-esteem. This article…

This plenary address from the AAUP's annual meeting says that it is time to clear away the obfuscating rhetoric and emphasize the urgency of this basic democratic principle. Michael Berube argues that not only is academic freedom under attack, but that what the society is now dealing with is a coordinated program of obfuscation about just what…

This is a summary and non-specialist account by one member of a small team involved in the development of an English language test, following the reorganization of that part of the Department of Education in Ireland which deals with the ELT sector. The article describes why and how the test was developed, the theoretical background, the structure…

This paper describes a case study concerning the teaching of logistics in the Computers and Electrical Engineering degree at FEUP. The logistics course is taken in the last semester of the degree and there are no lectures given by the teachers. All the learning strategy is based upon the autonomous learning capacity of the students, following the…