Policymakers and educators see professional development as a way to improve the quality of instruction in classrooms across the nation, but the empirical literature linking professional development to improved student achievement is extremely thin. Logically, though, it would seem that the right kinds of professional development would improve…

This multidisciplinary analysis identifies how an understanding of information processing and decision making as social processes can determine the effectiveness of educational reform strategies, with a focus on viewing the roles of educational leaders as information processors and policy negotiators. This paper: (1) presents an overview of…

An overview is presented of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model, which describes the major factors influencing the decisions and actions of individuals in the innovation adoption process. The two critical indicators hypothesized by the model, Level of Use of the Innovation, and Stages of Concern About the Innovation, are discussed. The seven stages…

The purpose of this study was to examine the literature to find out if the recommendation by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) that mathematics education should focus on problem-solving in the 1980s was being implemented or had caused any changes in the approach to teaching mathematics in the school curriculum. The study also…

This issue of Research and Educational Practice Improvement Notes discusses three recent studies on schooling: (1) "Changing Our Schools; The Realities," by Kenneth Tye; (2) "Innovation Up Close: A Field Study in Twelve School Settings," Volume Four of a study conducted by David P. Crandall and associates; and (3)…

Influences on sex equity in mathematics achievement are discussed in this summary of research and recommendations. Information on the following topics is presented, with each finding referenced to a source or sources in the bibliography provided at the end of the report: mathematics enrollment, influences on mathematics participation, predicting…

When a school system chooses to buy into modern computer technology as the way to solve some existing problems and to meet pressing needs, a myriad of new problems and issues are created. However, the new problems are worth solving to allow the system to benefit from the new technology. In other words, the conversion to using the latest computer…

Literature on vocational education research and development (R&D) was reviewed to determine the distribution, utilization, and impact of R&D information and products. The literature indicated both slightly and strongly negative findings on the dissemination of vocational education R&D products. Many of the studies described strategies…

Taking a cautious view of research into the workings of the brain, this booklet suggests that such research has merely given validity to a truth good teachers have always known: all people have two ways of thinking, a linear, logical way, and a spatial, intuitive way. It also suggests that faced with cries for "basics" in education, it…

The role of external agents in educational knowledge utilization, the factors affecting agent impact, and future research needs comprise the topics of this literature review. Based on existing definitions, the author identifies the external agent as an individual or group outside the client system whose objective is to help the clients enhance…

The problems of relating research to practice are discussed in the context of what, why, and how. The what of recent research is illustrated by examples which suggest that media-related research is becoming more rigorous, analytical, and theoretical, and thus more reliable and generally applicable. The why is briefly argued with reference to the…

Transformational mnemonic strategies have been effectively used to enhance associative and serial list learning of borderline subjects classified as mentally retarded. Recent applications have involved concrete and abstract native-language vocabulary, numbered or ordered information, and digit span recall. (CB)

Reviews findings on miscue analysis, a psycholinguistic study that seeks to explain why and how readers produce inaccuracies when they read words from the page. Discusses the classification of miscues, oral reading vs. silent reading, and the importance of context. (KH)

Reviews literature concerning underutilization of educational research by practitioners and pros and cons of condensed and synthesized research reports. Proposes a method for research dissemination based on direct mailing of synthesized reports to teachers in response to their requests for specific information. (JHZ)

What music research can tell teachers about strategies to use to help students learn to like classical music is discussed. For example, research has shown that music teacher's verbal approval significantly increases students' listening to classical music. Also, choices of musical examples is critical. (RM)