Robert Gagne has been a central figure in the infusion of instructional psychology into the field of instructional technology, and in the creation of the domain of instructional design. Gagne's design principles provide not only a theoretical orientation to an instructional design project, but also have prompted a number of design conventions and…

The evolution of the concept of communicative competence (CC) in language learning and teaching is traced since 1966, when D. H. Hymes first discussed it publicly. His concept of CC had its theoretical origins in the convergence of transformational generative grammar and the ethnography of communication, and was first discussed at a conference on…

This paper summarizes ongoing theoretical work and the findings of a recent research project in nursing and midwifery education to understand the problems encountered with using scientific knowledge in actual health care practice and to address these problems with educational program redesign. Case studies and mini-studies are used to investigate…

One of a series of educational packages designed for implementation either in a workshop atmosphere or through individual study, this Hot Topic guide presents a variety of materials to assist educators in designing and implementing classroom projects and activities centering on the topic of integrating the language arts. The Hot Topic guide…

Recent research in the visual arts has resulted in the development of a range of methods for assessing student learning. Theoretically based in cognitive conceptions of learning, assessment systems discussed in this paper have been applied in practice. Possibilities for the art teacher to apply such assessment methodologies directly in the…

A qualitative ethnographic study examined three early childhood teachers' awareness, acceptance, and implementation of emergent literacy theory. The three teachers, from three different schools in two neighboring mid-Atlantic states, were chosen for their contrasting teaching styles. Each classroom was observed by a non-participant observer for…

This paper focuses on several models of supervision in public schools with respect to needs in physical education. A literature review examined the traditional, counseling-based, self-analysis, competency-based, and systematic supervision models. Findings include the use of each model and the failure of each in the physical education setting. One…

While learning to quilt, and subsequently seeing quilting everywhere, one teacher decided to make a quilt with the theme of herself as a teacher. Quilts are stories told in visual form, and connections exist between curriculum theory and quilting. During a Master's program, the teacher learned about various curriculum theorists and was amazed at…

The League of Professional Schools consists of 5 self-governing chapters in 3 states and has more than 100 member schools. For this study, a total of 1,379 teachers from 43 Georgia public schools (29 elementary, 7 middle and 7 high schools) were surveyed to determine their sense of efficacy about teaching effectiveness and their degree of…

This book calls for a radical reappraisal of the phenomenon of literacy, and hence for a profound shift in educational practice. Through close attention to the multitude of objects which children constantly produce (drawings, cuttings-out, writings, collages), the book suggests a set of principles that reveal the underlying coherence of children's…

There exists in the counseling and therapy professions the paradox of widespread endorsement of research with little use of, or engagement in, research in actual practice. This situation exists in large part because many counselors and therapists are less knowledgeable of research than they are of clinical practice. This collection of digests,…

A project was undertaken to examine sources of variety in developmental survey courses found under the headings of developmental psychology and human development. Specifically, the project sought to determine how development-related content and pedagogy were customized to adapt to such academic contexts as psychology major courses and service for…

The project described in this report used action research to study the involvement of teachers in the change process at a suburban elementary school. The project used study groups as a professional development strategy that fosters educational reform efforts. All 28 teachers on the school's staff signed up for a group. Teachers appreciated the…

A qualitative study examined and compared the theoretical basis of a remedial curriculum program designed for beginning readers with the espoused theory of the teacher chosen to lead the program's implementation. Visits to the elementary school (located in a town which adjoins a military base), document reviews, classroom observations, and…

This is an introduction to some of the teaching models that have been developed and studied through modern educational research. Some models are designed to accomplish specific objectives, such as teaching students to form and attain concepts; some have generic applications that adapt to a range of learning styles and curriculum areas.…