A review of the literature on instruction in English as a second language (ESL) looks at four areas of ESL instruction individually and then derives conclusions and recommendations from those areas. The first area, ESL instructional approaches, includes discussion of the educational benefits of current ESL instructional approaches (audiolingual…

This handbook is designed to aid school administrators, policy-makers, and teachers in bringing a "futures orientation" to their schools. The first part of the book describes a "futuring process" developed as a tool for examining alternative future probabilities. It consists of a series of diverging and converging techniques that alternately…

This publication provides an overview of the Vocational Education Act (VEA) of 1984 and guidelines for compliance and proposal development. Section I describes why the legislation was enacted and the five titles of which the Act consists. Funding is compared for fiscal years 1984-85 and 1985-86, and funding priorities and eligibility for VEA…

The importance of school organization and its impact on teachers' commitment to staff development has been highlighted in recent research. In schools that are favorably disposed toward staff development, the norms of "collegiality" and "experimentation" prevail. Staff practices fundamental to the creation and maintenance of the…

Traces the decline in United States productivity growth since the late 1960's. Suggests that the failure to innovate, changing demographics, and disruptions to the economy (including oil price increases and inflation) are major contributors to the decline. Argues that American living standards will stagnate unless this trend is reversed. (TW)

This article describes how the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) is changing the way the state's middle school students learn. MLTI is the largest education project in Maine's history, aimed at eliminating the digital divide by loaning a laptop to each seventh and eighth grade student and teacher in the state. The Initiative has put…

This book is designed to provide future and experienced educators and other professionals with a fundamental understanding of traditional and contemporary perspectives on the assessment of children and youth, aged 3 through 21. It features broad coverage of traditional and contemporary assessment approaches. Individual tests are discussed at…

Notes some of the problems and payoffs involved in adding brief field projects to political science classes. Recommends a variety of activities including attending a public forum, community meeting, or legislative session. Students view first-hand how these organizations operate and sharpen their research skills. (MJP)

Maintains that cooperative learning produces higher achievement, more positive relationships among students, and healthier psychological adjustment than do competitive or individualistic experiences. Describes a cooperative learning core module complete with course content and assessment strategies. Discusses advantages, disadvantages, and student…

Presents a personal perspective of a young teacher from a rural background and his experiences teaching music in an all-boys high school in New York City's South Bronx. Includes brief recommendations for creative and innovative ideas to motivate students and keep them focused. (MJP)

Describes a pilot project that implemented and tested an interactive system of multimedia computer learning modules for an introductory human geography course. The project used a sequential learning process moving from initial concepts, to collaborative writing, and on to geographical analyses by the students. Includes assignment examples, system…

Dramatic changes in the discipline of international finance are examined, including trends in textbooks, journals, and conferences, and their implications for professional business education are discussed. Also discussed are new approaches to teaching, including a group-based learning approach and innovative uses of information sources that may…

The Valley City State University (North Dakota) Center for Innovation in Instruction serves the entire state as an educational, informational, and support center for use of emerging technologies in education. The center supports instructional innovation, provides professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators, promotes…

Outlines a dozen alternative formats for oral book reports that can turn this often boring ritual into an engaging learning experience. These creative formats emphasize the inherently important concepts of the books and build in listener accountability through authentic assessment. The formats include creating comic books, mock trials, and…

Provides summary reports of 81 innovative approaches to medical education in the areas of program management and assessment, admission and student-support programs, computer applications, preclinical and clinical course integration, development of professional skills and values, introduction to clinical medicine, community-based experiences,…