This book critiques dominant discourses and debates pertaining to cultural identity, set against the current backdrop of growing social stratification and unequal access to quality education. It addresses current discourses concerning globalisation, ideologies and the state, as well as approaches to constructing national, ethnic and religious…

The urgency of the problem raised in the article is explained by the increasing demand for qualified specialists who have a good command of a foreign language. The communicative competence of an academic science teacher under the conditions of international cooperation development is of great importance. The article discusses the problem of…

Presents a historical overview of the social and educational theories popular in 19th-century Russia. Educators and reformers constantly argued over the contradictory efforts to raise educational standards without threatening the status quo. Identifies preeminent educational movements and their leading adherents. (MJP)

Distinguishes between alternative schools (where a particular educational program is adhered to as a matter of faith) and innovative schools (where there is a constant search for better approaches). Maintains that the innovative approach has become more accepted in Russian schools, allowing teachers greater freedom and increasing their…

Defines a value system as a universal, prolonged, consistent structure of priorities that defines an individual's life plan. Reports on a study of individual values among 3,154 Russian adults in 3 major cities. Identifies four generalizations based on the data about social values and social change in Russia. (CFR)

Reviews the career and contributions of N. A. Menchinskaia, from her tutelage under Vygotsky in the 1930s, to her emergence as one of the Soviet Union's preeminent educational psychologists. For over 50 years, Menchinskaia researched knowledge acquisition and cognitive development. Discusses her major theories and places them in the overall…

Discusses the sometimes brutal, sometimes idealistic attempts by early Soviet revolutionaries to conscript the home and family into the Marxist educational system. Programs ranged from the benign (teaching peasant children new crops) to the totalitarian (extending criminal prosecution to the age of 12). Briefly covers later periods. (MJP)

Discusses humanization in contemporary Russian education where it is seen as a key factor influencing social change. Analyzes past educational development and suggests that present trends owe more than may be expected to the past. Argues that the present discussion in Russia focuses too much on individualism and ignores processes of mediation.…

Asserts that education means the transmission and reception of knowledge, abilities, skills, and consciousness so that individuals can become effective members of society. Discusses the failures of the educational system of the former Soviet Union. Describes a preferred type of schooling for Russian society in the 21st century. (CFR)

Surveys some of the more prominent views on education during the final years of tsarist Russia. Russian pedagogical thinking was largely influenced by progressive educational theories popular in the United States and Europe. Discusses the views and efforts of major Russian educational theorists at the time. (MJP)

Presents a historical summary of Russian pedagogical thought concerning cognitive style and different learning strategies. As early as 1832 Russian educators were questioning the rigid standardized teaching strategies applied to all students. Identifies leading theorists in this movement and briefly discusses their contributions. (MJP)

Presents an interesting example of Russian pedagogical thought. Personality-oriented instruction generally refers to cognitive style. Attempts a broad classification of objectives and procedures for this type of instruction. Includes many references and terminology from Russian pedagogy (for example, psychodidactics, social-pedagogical model,…

This document contains 41 papers and 11 poster session presentations from a conference on research-to-practice in adult, continuing, and community education. The following are among the papers included: "Learning in a Multicultural Environment" (Mansur Abdullah, Cory Eisenberg, Willard C. Hall Jr., Pauline Valvo); "How to Engage in…

Reports on a study of 12 U.S. and Russian elementary students working with a mathematics computer software program. Finds that students working together learned the program's concepts faster. Discusses implications of the findings and the significance of sociohistorical frameworks on cognitive processes. (CFR)