Three major barriers have limited the successful use of technology in education: the installed base of computers is inadequate; good educational software is lacking; and teachers have had little or no computer education or training. Recommendations are provided for overcoming these stumbling blocks. (JDD)

This article, focusing primarily on England and Wales with some data references to the United Kingdom, describes the general education system, special educational provision, support services, integration, training of special educators, and challenges for the future. The impact of the Education Acts of 1981 and 1988 is also discussed. (JDD)

Presents vignettes of Chinese elementary education as seen through the eyes of an American teaching in China and a native Chinese teacher. Notes that, although the Chinese and Western educational systems differ in many ways, a shared love of children unites the systems at the deepest level of belief and practice. (MG)

Individualized education programs for 48 students with mild mental retardation and behavior disorders attending integrated elementary and secondary schools were evaluated for current, appropriate practices regarding generalization, functionality, age-appropriateness, and curricular area of emphasis. Results indicated that, although appropriate…

Described is an analysis of factors which relate to the establishment of staff development methods and the effect of these factors on staff development policy. A number of ways in which a department of engineering can formalize staff development programs are illustrated. (CW)

Interviews with 21 Canadian teachers of grades K-4 indicated that classroom observation was a predominant form of data collection for student assessment. Teachers felt that the purpose of assessment was to help students learn, and that assessment was formative and intimately embedded in teaching and learning. Problems with observation included…

Excerpts from students' writing illustrate the differences between Foxfire and other learning approaches and the dilemmas students face in Foxfire classes, including choices, decisions and responsibilities; developing new skills in a new process; participating in the democratic process; effectively working together; and nontraditional evaluations.…

Science education is not exempt from the general criticism that research has had little effect on classroom practice. Argues that teachers do not reject research about practice, they ignore it. Contains 46 references. (DDR)

Maintains that knowledge of the temporal organization of adolescents' lives is valuable to the efforts of policymakers, citizens' groups, and others concerned with decreasing risk and improving developmental opportunities in adolescents' lives. Concludes that communities and families can be proactive in changing their rhythms in ways that…

Presents a format for assisting educators in translating educational research into classroom interventions. Steps include identifying the problem, seeking a variety of sources, reviewing information, selecting primary sources, distinguishing between theory and opinion, reviewing the parts of a research article, and translating the research into…

Focuses on the educational theories and practices of John Dewey and their reception in England between 1895 and 1939. Adopting Quentin Skinner's approach to the definition of influence, prevailing accounts of Dewey's impact on the English educational system are found to be misleading. Presents an alternative account which minimizes Dewey's role.…

Examined the impact of implementation of middle school practices on student achievement in North Dakota schools participating in the Middle Grade School State Policy Initiative. Found that changes in composite grade-equivalent scores from grades six to eight were higher in reading vocabulary, language mechanics, study skills, science, and social…

Explores the material nature of language in practices that construct pupils as subjects in art curricula. Shows that assessment practices can pathologize what may be, for pupils, powerful and legitimate art practices. Examines how a more inclusive and legitimating construction of pupils as subjects involved in drawing practice is possible. (DSK)

Describes the Japanese approach to educational improvement called "research lessons," actual classroom lessons taught to a teacher's own students but observed by other teachers, recorded, and discussed. Outlines the impact of research lessons as examples of good educational practice that can be disseminated throughout Japan. (SLD)

Addresses the promises, practices, and pitfalls of distance education for training additional special-education teachers. A table summarizes current distance-learning practices broken down into use of either asynchronous technology or synchronous technology. Advantages (such as fewer teachers reaching more students and low cost instruction) and…