Explores cultural conditions (high student achievement, student success expectations, student-tailored instruction, participative management, and student-oriented climate) and relationships (strong community support, selection for quality, assumption of competence, and others) within five school districts that promote change and implementation of…

Describes the key components of an intelligent building--i.e, automated building control systems and information management control systems--and shows how they have been integrated into Infomart, a high-tech facility located in Dallas. Usage of these components by Infomart tenants and possible applications to library buildings are discussed. A…

As a form of warning to educators who might mistake novelty for value, a nationally recognized expert compares the present influx of microcomputers into academia, with similar and now historic moves by motion pictures, educational radio and television, language laboratories, and teaching machines. (JN)

This series of 34 one- to two-page essays provides brief descriptions of innovative approaches to various aspects of two-year college education. Included in the series are: "Debatable Learning," by Beti Thompson; "Mentors to the Rescue," by Cynthia A. Barnes; "How to Take Line Management Risks: Push Them Downward," by…

The packaging of history, science, and most other classroom subjects lack the excitement for students that the stylish, artful presentation of items on television and in magazines contain. The world is more distracting outside of the classroom than earlier in the century, yet the instructional materials have changed little over the decades. The…

This paper is a report of an innovative program in social work education to enrich field supervisors and students with the latest theories and practices related to social work practice in health care settings. This program consists of a study day organized jointly by academic faculty, field supervisors, and students, conducted once a year between…

As part of its 1984 school reform initiative, the Maine legislature created the Innovative Education Grant Program. It was designed to act as a catalyst for new ideas, conceived by teachers and principals, to bring new energy to classrooms and schools. From April 1986 through June 1986, 278 programs were put into practice. Descriptions of 23 of…

Alternative approaches to education can work well if they are based on common sense and sound research. Recent research findings are reported for alternative approaches to three areas: curriculum, testing and measurement, and instruction. (TE)

A guide for a person attempting to construct his own synthesis for change or diffusion of innovation. (HB)

Discusses a collection of 75 research studies reporting great differences in one or more teaching productivity indices when two teaching methods and/or management systems are compared. In 26 percent of the sample cases, conventional instruction proved superior; the remaining 74 percent showed nonconventional methods such as programmed or…

Provides guidelines for developing grant proposals. Covers steps in the following phases: planning (i.e., brainstorming, identifying funding sources, and researching); developing the proposal (i.e., abstract, title page, narrative, problem statement/needs assessment, operational plan, key personnel, budget, significance statement, future funding,…

Article suggests an alternate approach to using the textbook as a guide to curriculum, called instructional systems development approach. (HB)

A discussion of the techniques used by Auburn University, Alabama, to introduce new students to an innovative program of teacher education. (HB)

Introduces the articles in this special issue on social studies. Articles concern political socialization, economics, geography, a global perspective on social studies, ethnic studies, social change, thinking skills for citizenship training, and the integration of writing skills and social studies. (RH)

If computer technology is to effect curricular changes, then teachers must be involved in authoring software programs. The UCLA Curriculum, Computers, and Collaboration Project disclosed some generic features that encourage voluntary teacher participation. A significant factor, besides courseware evaluation and teacher training, is meaningful…