Discusses the importance of the strategic use of lesson time to impart learning to students of English as a Second Language. The article touches on the definition of teaching, wasting time in the classroom, overuse of English or of the mother tongue, and interaction patterns in the classroom. (one reference) (CK)

Guidelines for assessing the classroom environment for optimal student performance cover physical environment, time/instructional management, behavior management, and teacher effectiveness. Vignettes illustrate classroom problems and suggest management solutions. A checklist identifies instructional methods and conditions that positively affect…

Describes a freshman-level library research instruction program developed at Maryville College. Discusses information literacy and the general education curriculum; conceptual framework for the library's role; timetable for a three-hour information literacy workshop; faculty role; faculty response; student response; and recommendations. (LRW)

Investigates attempts to build an analytical picture of classroom practice in nursery schools. Reviews research on the dynamic structures of time, space, and planned activities. Teachers must accept responsibility for these dynamic structures if their teaching is to be successful. (BG)

Describes a freshman honors writing course in which students submit research papers and then write letters to the teacher about the experience. Identifies four concerns raised by students: (1) managing time; (2) managing the topic; (3) integrating sources; and (4) following a structure. Concludes that peer interaction is a valuable resource for…

Provides suggestions for using live demonstrations of online searching to promote dynamic interaction in online instruction. Equipment for live demonstrations is described, including a microcomputer, modem, communications software, and computer projection system; search demonstration techniques are discussed; audience dynamics are considered; and…

Survey forms were sent to 6,000 school board members who subscribe to "The American School Board Journal" in an attempt to discover what reform efforts are being utilized and which ones are working best in schools. A total of 1,347 readers (22.5%) responded. Curricular and instructional reforms were cited by 91% of the respondents, and 70% said…

Study of 10 exemplary research university faculty found their guiding principles for balancing research and teaching included a life centered on primary concerns, commitment to teaching, a sense of interdependence between teaching and research, self-improvement as a way of life, seizing opportunities, persistence, avoidance of politics and gossip,…

Presents a follow-up study of a joint languages diversification model. The research focuses on the evolution of the relative popularity of the three languages involved in the scheme (French, German, and Italian) and the impact of a timetable that allocates different amounts of time to two languages with a switch halfway through the year. (five…

Discusses some technical and nontechnical aspects of using electronic portfolios in the classroom; provides examples from Learning Quest's software for the Macintosh computer. Highlights include selecting student work samples, methods of saving samples on the computer, minimizing storage requirements, media storage devices, and suggestions for…

Describes a rural Vermont K-12 school's experimentation with electronic portfolio assessment. Although electronic portfolios are clearly superior to paper portfolios in evaluating young readers, problems can arise concerning assessment reliability, missing files, student forgetfulness, passwords, and crashed systems. Teachers value this technology…

Investigated how much time special education teachers spend in direct and indirect services and compares the amount of time teachers in different types of programs (cross-categorical or categorical) devote to indirect services. Looks at how time demands have changed in recent years and analyzes reasons for these changes. (RJM)

Investigated differences in school psychologists' role functioning. Asked 636 full-time school psychologists to estimate the time they spent in assessment, counseling, consultation, research, clerical tasks, and administration. Time spent in administrative tasks was the only significant difference between psychologists employed by districts and…

Two studies investigated ways in which computer and video technology can support expert human coaches in order to reduce instructor time and increase learner-centered environments; the goal was to train undergraduate students to facilitate others' interpersonal problem solving. Results indicate that the technology-supported methods can decrease…

The Carnegie structure, involving seven-period days and nine different locations daily, is an ineffective system. The Copernican plan changes school scheduling by lengthening instructional periods for fewer and smaller classes. The system should improve teacher-student relationships, lighten workloads, and introduce innovative evaluation and…