Examines three historical examples of experiments in social change at the school level. Discusses the underlying assumptions that establishing a democratic education on a small scale can contribute to societal democracy and that education must come from the people and be related to their everyday lives. (CJS)

Three years ago, a coalition of three Washington State districts, Peninsula, Tacoma, and Issaquah, began cooperating to help one another implement programs and policies fostering a service ethic. This article describes each district's progress at implementing its Project Service Leadership program. (MLH)

Urges educators to beware adopting new programs during the coming academic year. A better approach is to adapt worthy innovations without throwing out last year's innovations. The history of American educational practice supports this approach, emphasizing the value of familiar continuity sprinkled with modest and occasionally some significant…

Describes personal teaching efficacy. Notes that a positive personal teaching efficacy is fundamental in accomplishing change, and is a powerful influence in altering classroom practice. Discusses four strategies for enhancing efficacy in schools. (SR)

Western Governors University (WGU) was initiated by 15 western governors in response to perceived needs in the marketplace and as a supplement to traditional institutions. WGU features competency-based credentials (certificates and degrees) rather than course-based programs; distance learning; focus on nontraditional, working students; third-party…

Traditional universities are feeling the impact of "disruptive technologies" such as distance education. Seeing how businesses have responded to such disruptions, universities should "incubate" innovations in a semiautonomous unit such as continuing education, which can address new markets with low margins. (SK)

Describes the invention of the CIVA Charter High School, a 4-year school that began in 1997. Its curriculum emphasizes the development of character and personal integrity. It was founded by public educators collaborating with the teachers' union and community members in order to create a school that built on the best of public education while…

Analyzes conditions under which implementation of multi-grade schools might be successful, focusing on the Colombian Escuela Nuela programme. Concludes that capacity building through in-service training is an important determinant of the way teachers approach their task. Suggests that teacher motivation and commitment might explain much of the…

Tells about how the author has been learning how to advocate for progressive literacy practices (such as whole language) without demeaning traditional reading and writing instruction and, ultimately, the teachers who enact those practices. (SR)

An innovative approach to teaching psychiatric nursing incorporates students' knowledge and experience as subject matter for inquiry. It includes an artistic genre project in order to develop empathy through aesthetic experience. (SK)

Provides abstracts of 84 presentations on educational models, telecommunications, distance learning, human resources development, research, interprofessional roles, educational challenges, and innovations in allied health. (SK)

Describes the concept and practice of "teaching in context," defined as teaching a mathematical idea or process by using a problem, situation, or data to enhance the teaching and learning process. Explores one mathematical problem situation at different levels of understanding and suggests ideas for classroom explorations. (KS)

Studied the effectiveness of an innovative statistics course designed to improve students' scientific and statistical reasoning skills during its second presentation. Quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that the 22 students made significant gains in their ability to reason statistically. Analyses also revealed some specific conceptual…

The whole language movement evolved partly from a larger political context. Anti-whole language arguments were responses to increased student and teacher empowerment threatening traditional hierarchies and certain characterizations of whole language. By calling whole language a point on the pendular cycle, critics mounted an aggressive campaign in…

During the past two years, UNESCO has been collecting examples of general secondary education curricula from around the world. A preliminary sample includes an Austrian gender education program, a Swaziland developmental studies program, an Indonesian distance learning program, and a foreign language handbook for Belarus teachers. Entries will be…