Asserts that because M. Wang, G. Haertel, and H. Walberg never clarify the contours of their "knowledge base for school learning," it is difficult to know what their broad-based comparison of research studies has really yielded. Explores dilemmas posed by the methodology of the study. (SLD)

Identifies gaps between what research reveals about how college students learn and current academic, pedagogical, and administrative practices and policies. Offers five explanations of why these gaps exist and suggests that change must be systemic, and will also require that people relearn their roles, systematic measurement of progress, and a…

A study explored the perceptions of 12 administrators and policy makers, 13 family members, 12 friends, and 9 adults with challenging behavior and mental retardation and/or autism, 7 researchers, and 13 teachers regarding current behavioral information and dissemination. Results indicate a continued gap between research and practice. (Contains…

Findings in "The Condition of Education," published by the National Center for Education Statistics, are corroborated by the work of EQUITY 2000, a research-based program of the College Board and other precollege mathematics and science programs that have been targeting first-generation college students and underrepresented minorities.…

Every month, "Leadership" features articles written in an informal, conversational style that provide practical information for school administrators. This issue of "Leadership" contains the following titles: (1) "Accountability at a Crossroads Reeves" (Douglas, B.); (2) "Becoming Proficient at Explaining the Standards: Every Teacher Should Be…

The recent releases of two major international comparative studies that addressed mathematics--the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003 (TIMSS 2003) and the Program for International Student Assessment 2003 (PISA 2003)--provide opportunities and challenges for mathematics education researchers interested in using the…

In recent years portfolios have served increasingly as a vehicle for individual and program evaluation, as well as for career purposes in many fields including education (Galloway, 2001). Nationwide, teacher development programs are being asked to include their students' artifacts in some form of teaching portfolio that will ultimately be used as…

The last quarter-century bore witness to a sea change in academic involvement with commerce. Widespread university-based efforts to identify, manage, and market intellectual property (IP) has accompanied broad shifts in the relationship between academic and proprietary approaches to the dissemination and use of science and engineering research.…

Applying literacy research in the classroom begins with understanding the meaning of scientifically based research and other "lab" terms. From the terminology through key questions to ask yourself when reading research reports, learn how to scrutinize studies to determine their validity--and how applicable they are for your school or district.…

For the past decade, as concerns over the quality of California schools have risen, state policymakers have sought ways to strengthen the state's teacher workforce. In the face of teacher shortages, numerous policy efforts have focused on preparing, recruiting, and retaining fully qualified teachers. The results of these policies have been…

Social science research suggests that reducing class size has its largest effects on the achievement of minority and inner-city children during the first year of formal schooling. Despite scholarly disagreements about the implications of specific studies on class size, economists generally agree that targeted class-size policies rest on stronger…

There is confusion and misunderstanding about the concepts of knowledge translation, knowledge transfer, knowledge exchange, research utilization, implementation, diffusion, and dissemination. We review the terms and definitions used to describe the concept of moving knowledge into action. We also offer a conceptual framework for thinking about…

The paper considers whether, and if so how, research evidence can permeate the world of higher education (HE) management in publicly funded institutions. The paper explores the author's experience of two recent research projects (1998-2000 and 2004) on aspects of managing UK HE institutions and issues arising from the preparation of the HE element…

This article focuses on the impact of research and education evaluation on two universities: Trento State University (Italy) and the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands). The article adopts a system approach to evaluation and proposes a model to describe and analyse evaluation systems. The analysis has been carried out by means of in-depth…

This article describes research instruments that facilitate the description of teachers' beliefs and practices and their use with further education (FE) mathematics teachers. They consist of linked questionnaires aimed at both teachers and students, validated by cross-referencing with more open questionnaires and with classroom observation. They…