This issue describes promising research and development in the use of universal design principles to ensure curriculum access. It defines universal design and describes the differences between universal design and assistive technology. The activities of the Center for Applied Special Technology, the National Center to Improve the Tools of…

During the last two decades learning communities, which are felt to have benefits that extend beyond students to faculty and the institution, have expanded to include many different models. This digest reviews five major higher education learning community models currently in existence: (1) Linked courses, which link cohorts of students taking two…

This paper provides an example of how elementary school curriculum leaders can be mindful of student intelligences and can utilize the strengths of their student populations. It presents the findings from a national study that examined how 17 schools using a curriculum based on Multiple Intelligences Theory improved the self-concept and positive…

Much about designing learning experiences and supporting environments has been learned from the New Designs for Learning process. Looking at the history of education in the United States and high school change initiatives in other countries, project staff have found that designing schools for the future is a learning process in which staff,…

This report summarizes Austin Independent School District's (AISD's) prekindergarten program activities and student performance results for the 2005-2006 school year.

The author comments on Barbara H. Mickey's article, Designing the External Degree Program. (PG)

The purpose here is to consider the need for the official (legal) and professional creation of three distinct entities within the public school systems: elementary, middle, and secondary schools. (Author)

With the aid of technology, a teaching-learning situation geared toward the student as an individual has been under development for several years at the Music Library Laboratory Center of John J. Duggan Junior High School, Springfield, Massachusetts. (Author)

"From the findings of this study it can be inferred that experiences in the art class can have an important role to perform in developing the visual sophistication of disadvantaged learners... the art teacher is the key to effect behavior changes in disadvantaged learners and not in art, per se. (Author)

At Michigan State University's college of education, four thematic core curricula for preservice teachers have been designed. The curricula emphasize (1) fostering academic learning; (2) teaching in heterogeneous classrooms; (3) fostering personal and social responsibility; and (4) decision making. (PP)

The objectives of the study were to determine characteristics of secondary horticulture teachers, the structure of horticulture departments, funding sources, nature and scope of facilities, types of supervised occupational experience programs in which horticulture students participated, and curriculum characteristics of vocational horticulture…

Introduces a computer curriculum designed specifically for a rehabilitation graduate program. Encourages rehabilitation educators to take a major role in preparing future leaders to work with this technology. Describes a curriculum consisting of two courses: a rehabilitation computing overview course and a research data processing course.…

Compared formal science scope/sequence with curriculum as it was taught in Little Rock (Arkansas) classrooms. Elementary teachers (N=126) were given a list of 273 concepts and asked if a topic was a significant part of their instruction and how much time was spent teaching it. Results are reported and discussed. (JN)