An approach to inservice education in the use of computers in the classroom is proposed that takes into account: (1) reactions to innovation; (2) competing demands for teachers' time; (3) adaptation of available software; (4) integration of courses and practical experience; and (5) provision of ongoing support. (SLD)

Describes 15 innovative college science programs identified by the Society of College Science Teachers. Gives nine generalizations regarding the programs. (YP)

Surveys four studies that examine principal behavior as a factor of organizational climate relating to curriculum changes in Australian primary schools. While high principal supportiveness and low operations emphasis were related to innovativeness in general, one study related high operations emphasis to a particular adoption. (Author/TE)

Dynamic teachers and principals have gone past the slogans of reform to achieve outstanding results with at-risk students, and their pioneering work points to promising directions for others. (Author/TE)

Many small private colleges are gaining in enrollments because of aggressive marketing tactics, more long-term planning, and innovative educational programs designed to appeal to nontraditional students. (MSE)

A process model for guiding explicit, systematic, and observable reflections on the state of gifted education is suggested, based on Ann Kerwin's Map of Ignorance. Use of the model is recommended for determining what is known and what is unknown in order to develop an agenda for future research and clarify practice and theory. (Author/PB)

Discusses the U.S. Department of Education's role as "America's best teacher," with the responsibility to provide national leadership and expertise on educational issues. Suggests that the department must support national education initiatives, such as the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, at the state and local level to help teachers,…

A residential ninth-grade program in the Australian bush strives to develop initiative, personal integrity, respect for nature, leadership, self-esteem, and sense of community by combining academic study with a strong outdoor education program, replacing competitive sports with cooperative activities, requiring students to be responsible for…

Draws on the experiences of the OEkos Foundation for Education in implementing successful Montessori programs in 12 public school districts to present essential elements and key decisions needed for establishing such programs. Includes a schematic for the Decision Tree developed by the foundation. (ETB)

Discusses issues for community college administrators related to Total Quality Management (TQM), transformational quality, and college leadership. Highlight's the author's application of TQM and college leadership literature. Describes initiatives developed at Illinois' Parkland College to provide better service to Parkland's community. (MAB)

Examines indicators of current social and educational transformations created by recent advances in information technology. Describes the American Association for Higher Education's Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable Program, designed to monitor and direct the transformation at individual colleges. Includes a checklist for assessing the…

Examines high schools with and without shared decision making in terms of interests, ideology, information, and the institution. Finds that institutions strongly influenced teachers' willingness to innovate and that they tended to ignore external information sources that would mediate that influence. Principals had more latitude to be reform…

Presents a teacher's reflections on the need to know about, and talk with parents and other teachers about, the benefits of using a child development-based, whole language, thematic approach to teaching in the primary grades. (BB)

Researchers tested the Concerns Based Adoption Model and the Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ), which address professionals' feelings about innovation. Professionals who received innovative training on early intervention completed the survey. Results support the Concerns Based Adoption Model's broad underlying assumptions. A revised model and…

This article introduces the papers included in this special issue on special education of African-American youth. It notes the multidimensional problems confronting African-American students in special education settings and urges special educators and service providers to take new directions in educating at-risk African-American students. (JDD)