Synthesizes a conceptual framework (or linguistic-conceptual systems) for thinking about conceptual frameworks, discusses their potential for helping users develop competence in applying them to unstructured problem solving, and outlines instructional implications. The theory-practice gap arises partly from failure to conceptualize the nature of…

Reports on Educative Leadership Project, which brought together theorists and exemplary practitioners within critically collaborative research framework to generate practical theory of educational leadership. Participants appeared to integrate three major perspectives--educative leadership as an activity conducted in a material world, as cultural…

Examines taxonomy for understanding and applying various facets of ethical argumentation and conceptualization to administrative practice. Stresses importance of developing conceptual analysis approach from scientific, conceptual, general normative, and applied normative ethics strands of literature. Offers prescriptive approach to ethics and…

Reflective practitioners read, reach out, and reflect in a continuous and simultaneous cycle. These actions enable them to learn about themselves to become more effective in helping others. (SK)

A study of 20 randomly selected professionals from each of 4 disciplines (education, engineering, law, and medicine) found that educators read less professional literature than did engineers, lawyers, and physicians. Educators cited lack of time, dislike of technical jargon, reliance on other support systems, lack of incentives, inaccessibility,…

Arguing that curriculum research can be organized and prioritized according to reasonable criteria, this article defines "curriculum practice" and "curriculum research," explains how they relate to each other, and reviews current work in curriculum research. Curriculum research is hampered by lack of longitudinal studies and the separation of…

Although numerous authorities believe that those teaching management should have managerial experience, a recent survey of Academy of Management members showed that a significant number of management professors possess minimal "real-world" experience. This shortcoming affects the quality of the product that universities are providing to the…

Anecdotal evidence from interviews with some program managers gives evidence that unintended negative consequences of evaluations are more than a theoretical concern; they are a real problem deserving an evaluator's attention and energy. Negative consequences usually include: (1) wasted resources; (2) demotivation; and (3) program destruction and…

Proposes a new field called polycultural organizational communication, which would encompass theorizing and research involving organizations in both international and domestic settings in which cultural differences operate (multicultural settings). Delineates the need for the field, its potential contributions in theory and practice, and issues to…

The commentary on this special issue on leadership summarizes the articles and claims that they take a different stance from previous research by legitimizing the subjective realities of practice, emphasizing meaning, and acknowledging the moral as a source of authority for what happens in school. (12 references) (MLF)

Focuses on books, booklets, and position papers that would be useful reading for educators involved in making decisions about selecting materials for schools. Discusses guidelines for judging and selecting textbooks and studies and readings on textbooks. (PRA)

Proposes a framework to examine principals' careers and argues for more research attention on that subject. The framework facilitates understanding of the principalship incentive system by showing how objective features of the principal's role and the principal's own assessment of the career are intertwined. Principals' accounts of their careers…

Discusses two recent stories in the newspaper "Education Week" and the need for educators to be aware of recent research to make informed decisions about teaching methods. (PRA)

The past decade has seen the emergence of numerous new terms, research approaches, and evidence of the nature of learning. Some new concepts are authentic activity, apprenticeship learning, case-based research, conceptual change, constructivism, distributed knowledge, and socially shared cognition. Constructs underlying the new terms involve the…

Advances an alternative philosophic view to positivism, subjectivism, or neo-Marxian critical theory. Comments on Evers and Lakomski's article in the same "Educational Management and Administration" issue, criticizing their views about coherence and empiricism and underlining the importance of societal and social science contexts in…