An educator criticizes the fuzzy goals, unrealistic assumptions, simple schemes, and self-gratifying plaudits of college administrators planning to change higher education and urges more specific and realistic strategies. (MSE)

Most school improvement begins outside the school, but the greatest promise for school reform with the most potential for lasting changes comes from within the school itself. (MD)

"Alternative certification" is a general term for nontraditional avenues that lead to teacher licensure. Alternative teacher certification programs (ACPs) are generally geared toward aspiring teachers who already have a baccalaureate degree but who require additional education methods coursework and classroom experience. Such programs vary in…

A survey of 33 Australian higher education institutions investigated the use of and attitudes toward awards given to faculty for teaching excellence. Patterns of award giving, benefits and problems associated with their use, and ideas for improving the design and value of award schemes are reported. (MSE)

With good teachers leaving the profession over No Child Left Behind, this law is in danger of disenfranchising the very kids it was enacted to protect. Many teachers worry that the law will simply be ineffective at truly raising student achievement.

Studies have highlighted the influence of how students perceive their learning environment in shaping their attitudes to learning, their approach to learning and ultimately with the quality of their learning outcomes. Although far less extensively researched, it appears that how academics perceive their teaching environment influences both what…

Professional Development Schools (PDSs) can potentially affect the quality of teaching and learning of students in Grades K-16. The authors describe the collaborations among teacher education, arts and science, and K-12 classroom teacher faculties involved in a 5-year PDS partnership at Kansas State University. A 15-member language arts team…

This issue of "Focus" includes nine essays addressing various concerns related to curriculum, theory, research, teaching strategies, student and faculty issues, and other matters pertinent to the Utah community colleges. The issue contains: (1) "Comment: Making Quality 'Job One' in the Community College," by Don A. Carpenter;…

Outlines research on how expert teachers function in the classroom. Shows the structure of an expert teacher's lessons and how she handles content in the teaching of mathematics. The studies suggest that content knowledge is critical and that expert teachers manage time and academic engagement equally well. (MD)

Concerns with teacher education extend to program quality, professional credibility, and utilization of research. This article suggests that university- and school-based teacher educators increase their role in research utilization and development activities and establish school-university networks to sustain these efforts. (DF)

Discussed are two main concerns of Zoltan Kodaly, the developer of the Kodaly method of teaching music: the caliber of musical training and how professional musicians are trained. Kodaly felt strongly that only the best musicians should be teaching in the schools. (RM)

Reviews changes in the community college movement, citing a 20-year history of teaching excellence as its greatest contribution and the failure to pursue scholarship in an orderly, systematic manner as its greatest flaw. Offers faculty members reasons, suggestions, and cautions regarding engagement in scholarship and research. (LAL)

Reviews the current status of educational software. Only a small percentage of programs available is of high quality. The potential of educational computing is at a crucial juncture during the next two years. (MD)

Reviews the history of the two teachers' unions, presenting the differences and rivalry between the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Details their differing responses to the current "excellence" movement. (MD)

Recognizing that children's earliest years are critical, stakeholders in Delaware have joined together to define what types of experiences children should ideally have before they enter kindergarten. A statewide committee with policymakers, parents, and representatives from the early care and education community, schools, higher education, and…