Telephone conversations were conducted between a senior-level class in advanced sociological theory and well-known contemporary theorists. The students and teacher rated the project very highly. Strengths and weaknesses of the project are discussed, and suggestions for expanding the idea of using conversations are given. (Author/RM)

Four outstanding elementary teachers from different parts of the United States talk about instructional innovations that have worked for them. (RM)

It is becoming increasingly important to approach the study of the earth and its inhabitants with a global perspective. Several approaches can be used to teach global history. New global education programs and courses are being developed. (AM)

Describes the West Germany "Fernuniversitaet," an innovative distance education university. Organization, governance, enrollment, course content, and research activities are discussed. (SK)

Examines the slump of social education in the curriculum. (HOD)

The Teacher Center is a tangible product of teachers' demand for self-determination and their disenchantment with existing graduate and recertification programs. Like other innovations, the Teacher Center has its share of problems, which may be summarized as lack of experience, lack of coordination, and lack of funds. (Author/SJL)

Describes the National Diffusion Network, a federally-sponsored program that identifies successful educational practices and then helps other schools locate and adopt them. (IRT)

The National Diffusion Network makes 250 educational improvement projects available to elementary and secondary schools around the country, and provides assistance in choosing and implementing the project right for each school, all at low cost. (Author/PGD)

Introduces a revolving-door model for identifying and teaching the gifted that allows students to move into and out of special programs as the need arises. (Author/WD)

The growth of educational evaluation has brought with it a corresponding increase in the need to include information on the nature of the educational treatment that is to be evaluated. Treatment can be described by means of estimating degree of implementation or by modeling the instructional domain. (Author/RL)

Denmark's informal residential schools provide practical work experiences in humanistic, innovative settings. (Author)

Evidence gathered from commissurotomy (split-brain) patients and right-hemisphere/left-hemisphere studies on normal intact humans is reviewed and evaluated. Concludes that right-left hemisphere differences reported in normal subjects are small and that there is no scientific basis for any reorganization of curricular, teaching, or testing…

A number of studies available through the ERIC system raise the possibility of major changes in the testing of reading comprehension during the 1980s. (DD)

Presents and discusses guidelines for analyzing learners' individual stages of adoption--awareness, interest, mental tryout, real-world trial, adoption, and integration--to guide pretraining activities and increase the effectiveness of a training program. (JEG)