The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in the UK publishes subject benchmark statements that higher education institutions are expected to consult when designing, delivering and reviewing programmes. Within a context for higher education that is considered by some to be unacceptably bureaucratic, this paper reflects on the value…

This book sets out a constructivist, inquiry-based approach to instruction. The approach builds on clear understandings of children's current levels of knowledge, where their learning should progress to, and the means by which children learn early numeracy topics. The methods presented in this book have been used extensively by practitioners in…

This article summarizes the examining syllabuses of the 1988 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Physics papers. Some of the errors and uncertainties of the GCSE are discussed with examples. Lists five references. (YP)

Describes the different systems of formal governance in the U.K.'s old universities and in the public sector, the pressures on the system which led to the shift from elite to mass education, and consequent concerns about maintaining high academic standards while at the same time expanding access. Differences in management and governance between…

Recent concerns about "fairness" in university entrance have highlighted the need to review existing practices in admissions processes. The agendas for equity and social inclusion, however, must also apply to the processes and outcomes of higher education, where considerations of "standards" are additionally crucial. As…

These proceedings addressed the question of the future of the classified honors degree in the United Kingdom with emphasis on improvements and alternatives. The meeting addressed four main issues: (1) the current presentation of final results in terms of only four categories (first, upper and lower second, and third class honors); (2) concerns…

Several leaders in education have concluded that the United States should have some form of national achievement testing. Such tests are proposed as part of the "America 2000" education strategy. Believing that the experience of other countries will be useful to educators, policymakers, and concerned citizens, the National Endowment for…

This is the second volume of a report on the findings of an international research effort designed to analyze the structures and impact of study abroad programs offered by higher education institutions in France, West Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. This volume focuses primarily upon study abroad program participants,…

This document is designed to assist practitioners in the United Kingdom and elsewhere who are involved in recruiting and teaching students in open and distance learning (ODL) or e-learning environments. The following are among the specific topics discussed: (1) models and definitions; (2) background to student support; (3) nonacademic student…

The key issues, alternatives, and implications for developing countries to consider when designing systems to define occupational standards, related training standards, and assessments were analyzed. The analysis focused on the following issues: the rationale for development of standards; clarification of definitions, terminology, and assumptions;…

This document presents advice from the United Kingdom's Basic Skills Agency regarding developing local action plans. The first 20% of the document defines basic skills and discusses the following action plan components: (1) an estimate of the area's need for basic skills training; (2) a target to reduce the area's estimated scale of need; (3)…

This basic math skills teaching and learning guide contains practical advice and resources for British vocational teachers who have little formal mathematics education training and for beginning teachers. The document has five sections on these topics dealing with numeracy instruction: (1) overview of the basic skill and its application to other…