This report offers a brief history of how the instructional staff at Moraine Valley Community College (Illinois) attempted to implement the institutional philosophy of providing innovation in learning. It is based on the assumption that students can learn from a variety of methodologies. Innovation is discussed under the categories of grouping,…

The chief purpose of this project was to prepare descriptions of exemplary programs in childhood education and reading having sufficient merit to be considered as visitation sites for other educators. The childhood education phase of this project was funded jointly by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Office of Education. Its purpose was…

Composed of articles which appeared recently in "Educational Technology" magazine, this volume in the review series considers instructional systems. Topics covered include systems models for instructional design and management, the design of simulation systems, informal and vocational education, individualized instruction, operational learning…

In an experiment conducted under classroom conditions with 8th grade students, the simulation game "Democracy" was shown to be effective at teaching that "log-rolling" is an acceptable part of the legislative process. Two aspects of the game--role identification and game structure--were shown to contribute independently to its effectiveness.…

One of 15 core modules in a 22-module series designed to train vocational education curriculum specialists (VECS), this guide is intended for use by both instructor and student in a variety of education environments, including independent study, team teaching, seminars, and workshops, as well as in more conventional classroom settings. The guide…

This paper identifies and defines skills associated with the commentary-discussion method of teaching in an effort to improve student learning in precollege psychology courses. First, the author examines the range of teaching methods from formal lecture to open discussion and identifies commentary-discussion as the most widely used technique. In…

The adoption of educational innovations by secondary schools, their abandonment, and the causes for abandonment are the subjects of this study. The researchers surveyed 3,271 high schools accredited by the North Central Association, including both public and private schools. School administrators were questioned about the history in their schools…

Discusses reasons for enrollment growth at institutions of higher learning, including instructional quality, departmental diversification, instructional innovation, and publicity and recruitment. (AM)

Reports on a study that investigated the effects of various instructional practices on programming proficiency focusing on characteristics of Pascal classes. States that instructional practices involve extensive on-line access, explicit instruction, and extensive feedback. (ML)

Australia's innovation capacity is, in part, reliant on its teaching workforce--to teach and promote new technologies to industry. This pilot study examines how vocational education and training (VET) teachers, in particular TAFE (technical and further education) teachers, maintain the currency of their skills and knowledge base. It also explores…

This professional development guide is designed for educators who work with secondary students who are struggling in reading and writing and who need intensive, individualized instruction to improve their skills. Examples of students for whom this guide is intended include: students with disabilities, English language learners, and low-achieving…

This professional development guide focuses on the Viewing and Representing strands of the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) and includes the areas of interpretation analysis and production, which help students in grades four through twelve become critical consumers, and capable producers, of media. The guide includes mini-lessons,…

A study examined the visibility of African-American literature in middle schools. The move in middle schools of this region toward the use of authentic literature and teacher/student choice of what is read has made a dramatic impact on the reading methods courses at the local university. Two teachers sought recommendations from local librarians,…

An instructor's experience teaching introductory Sociology at Maple Woods Community College demonstrates the benefits of using instructional technology to deliver standard lecture material. In order to integrate technology with each lecture, a PC was used to create an interactive text-based design through Compel, a multimedia slide presentation…

During the past decade, many American companies have shifted their work styles from classically controlling management styles to self-motivating teams. For this reason, a few communication educators are now exploring alternative models of teaching. If students have the opportunity to experience many of the concepts covered in organizational…