This paper asserts that a gap is developing in English for Special Purposes (ESP) between theory and practice, between received wisdom and grassroots activity that are important to understand when considering the future of ESP. Evidence for these gaps in ESP are discussed in detail in the context of course design, academic input, and the…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of assessment practices of educational quality at universities in the Netherlands. The project involved analysis of questionnaire responses from 239 study programs at all 13 Netherlands universities followed by 12 case studies. The paper first provides a brief account of the theoretical background of the…

Springing from a series of weekly conversations with five second-year teachers in a university writing program, this book presents reflections on some of the questions about teaching that emerged from those conversations. The book is divided into three sections. The first section, "Taking It Personally," examines how the feelings,…

The Task Group on Gender-Focused Research was established to raise awareness and interest in gender as a variable in addictions research at the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) in Ontario (Canada). Recognizing that much of the research on substance abuse has focused on males, the Task Group was charged with providing a basis for the development…

This book, by two university professors in a professional preparation program, is intended as a conceptually based practical guide to reflective practice for educators at all levels. The first of the book's 8 chapters explores the rationale for reflective practice, a professional-development strategy aimed at behavioral change, and explains how…

Concentrating on the adoption and implementation of educational technology, this paper outlines and compares the conceptual definitions of educational technology (ET) and information systems (IS). Adoption and implementation models and frameworks are discussed, and similarities and differences between IS adoption and implementation and educational…

Phonics has been taught from the time of the ancient Greeks to make the written language more accessible. The first task of learning to read is learning to recognize in print the language used in speech. As a result of many studies conducted during the 1960s which demonstrated the effectiveness of phonics, its use as an instructional method…

Intended as a practical planning and instructional tool, this teacher resource manual is a support document developed to assist teachers responsible for implementing the Senior High English Language Arts Program in Alberta, Canada. The manual's five main sections are: (1) Senior High English Language Arts in Alberta: Overview; (2) Developing the…

In 1987, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2020, the School Improvement and Professional Development Program. Designed to encourage innovation and professional development in a select number of Oregon schools, this act was intended to upgrade educational quality and create models for other state schools. Rather than evaluating program…

This monograph addresses the challenge of improving literacy learning for all children, especially those in language-minority classrooms. The monograph introduces some of these classrooms in detail, examining and describing their literacy practices and setting forth some of the principles of learning and language that underlie them. It is the…

The papers (from a symposium held at the Fern Universitat) included in this collection focus on distance education in theory and practice. Contributions are written in English or in German, with summaries available for each in the language not used for the paper concerned. Contributions are: (1) "Distance Education as Communication: The…

Throughout the early years of the twentieth century, literacy education was based on the solid understanding of grammar. Yet as early as 1923, empirical data indicated that the link between knowledge of grammar and correct use of English was tenuous at best. Despite formidable evidence, some educators still advocate the use of grammar as a…

The question of whether research supports a "phonics first" approach to teaching reading is not entirely answerable by factual evidence or statistical data: the issue is partly a matter of values and opinion. The debate is over whether phonics should be taught and tested in isolation, as a prelude to reading texts (the phonics-first…

The factors that contributed to changes in policy and practice regarding corporal punishment in Scotland's public education system are explored in this paper. An overview of the context and issues traces the links between practitioners and researchers that facilitated acceptance of previously unacceptable constraints, focusing on the role of…

Addressing the changing needs of new college student clientele and meeting campus demands of the upcoming decades calls for an interactive teaching approach, one that meshes theory and research with practicality and relevance, and addresses environmental press, the student socialization process, and problem-solving through the diverse techniques…