The world is undergoing a major transformation that requires new skills and qualifications, new ways for people to know about skills and qualifications, and new ways to acquire skills and qualifications. This toolkit is about skills and qualifications, and the benefits they provide for people in a changing environment. It focuses specifically on…

This number of a journal devoted to ideas for teachers of English as a second language (ESL) contains the following articles: (1) "Teaching Grammar as Part of Meaningful Communication" by Raphael Gefen, (2) "Does the School Have a Role to Play in Teaching Environmental Awareness?" by Ora Herzog, (3) "Identifying with…

This article argues that evaluators must go further in mapping how clients' indigenous social structures complement or conflict with the centralized rational structure of program reforms. Evaluation of youth programs in Israel and the United States exemplifies how the respective social rules of program sponsor versus clients may be mutually…

Describes how Pre-Planning Evaluation (PPE) aids initial curriculum planning. Presents a case study of how PPE influenced the development of the electricity curriculum in Israeli technical high schools. Concludes that PPE is an essential component of the curriculum development process. (GEA)

A brief description of the English-language proficiency level expected of ninth-grade Israeli students introduces a tabular guide to various English readers, along with their basic vocabulary ranges. (LB)

This report describes how to implement Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences (MI) into Israel's Tanakh classrooms and includes samples of implemented materials. It also notes goals and obstacles encountered during this process and how they were overcome. To illustrate this process, the report provides an overview of Tanakh-centered activities…

Describes a four-stage working model for implementing cooperative learning and changing patterns of teachers' behavior based on a model developed over 6 years in 14 secondary schools in Israel. The stages involve learning what to do, learning how to do it, expanding the change process in the school, and institutionalizing the change. (SM)

Computer games educate painlessly and incidentally, keeping students motivated and interested and enhancing instruction. Such games are particularly appropriate for English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, because they convey the meaning of language both visually and aurally, occupy all channels of the brain, provide a rich context for the…

Describes how to plan computer-based activities for second-language classrooms, noting ways that computer use differs in such classrooms. Explains how to plan a lesson, focusing on the activity, grade level, time requirements, software, preparation time, teaching method, pre- and post-computer work, skills used, and teacher's role. Sample lessons…

Computers are valuable in meeting all students' needs within heterogeneous second-language classrooms, mainly because they allow for individualized learning, interactivity, learner independence, varied learning strategies, and heterogeneous teaching style. Computers help teachers challenge more able learners while supporting less able learners.…

Israel's Software Evaluation Project sets national standards for hardware and software that is used in schools. All courseware must be approved for technical requirements and pedagogical content. After approval, the courseware is certified for use within Israel's school system for 2 years. Three times each year, schools, inspectorates, and…

If students are expected to become interested in science as a career or hobby, they must perceive their science courses as being useful. Student perceptions of usefulness of curricula were investigated relative to two agricultural programs taught in Israeli elementary and junior high schools. (PB)

Preservice teachers must be properly prepared to teach English-as-a-Second-Language students to read. This article describes the informed approach to reading instruction, discussing what teachers need to know to be effective teachers of reading and offering recommended core requirements for preparing teachers (conceptual foundation, knowledge of…

English as-a-Second-Language teachers can use CD-ROMs to integrate multimedia into their lessons. This paper discusses how teachers can encourage students to use CD-ROM encyclopedias and databases as information sources for class projects, as the basis for defined assignments, as the source of information for subjects within the English syllabus,…

Information on the educational systems of Israel and the Occupied Territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip) and guidelines on placing students from this region in U.S. high schools and colleges are presented. After describing the country and territories, attention is directed to preschool, primary, and intermediate education; secondary education;…