This paper reports a study of student knowledge of percent at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels. The study concentrated on three areas: (1) an analysis of the percent concept, its symbols, and procedures; (2) the child's naturally constructed base of informal knowledge of the percent concept; and (3) what formal knowledge develops in…

This study describes an action research case study through which the dynamics of identifying and changing strongly held assumptions illustrate the differences between experiences that serve to strengthen beliefs from those that lead to learning. Theoretical considerations are presented linking cognitive schema, action science, attribution theory,…

Formal mentorships should help new and aspiring administrators, yet there is little evidence about what works and what does not work in such programs. The study summarized in this paper explores demographic, relational, and operational characteristics of mentor dyads in both formal programs and informal pairings of aspiring and practicing…

Observation of a kinship and social network among Mexican Americans in a Chicago neighborhood, part of an ethnographic study, revealed a pattern of self-education in literacy among the men in the group who came from one rancho, while the literate men from another rancho were primarily school-educated. Economic forces caused one group to attend…

This article examines the evolving nature of Human Resource Development (HRD) as reflected in changes in one of the component parts often associated with HRD--career development (CD). Recent developments within career development such as a focus on employability, the boundaryless career, and free agent workers are discussed. New directions for…

In a Canadian survey of informal learning (n=1,562) and a follow-up (n=328), unpaid work, informal learning, and job-related learning were extensive. Despite considerable underemployment, respondents still pursued learning that prepared them for work. (Contains 29 references.) (SK)

The mainstream press and politicians have highlighted the application of new communication technologies in educational domains for years. Although a myriad of literature has examined the philosophical or practical concerns behind the creation of such civic improvement programs as the "electronic town meeting" or the "televote,"…

Researchers from a government agency and a university collaboratively studying workplace learning examined their own interactions in planning. A surprising finding was their difficulty legitimizing a focus on their own workplace learning. The two groups had different assumptions about acceptable public disclosure. Keys to workplace learning were…

Among African cultures, the creative process is regarded as the most important because it is usually done jointly as a culturally shared communal activity. For Africans, art is normally functional and the artifacts carry more meaning when they are in use. This paper focuses on the communal making of art, rather than just the aesthetic appreciation…

This paper discusses the pre-colonial aboriginal societies that in part established laws, customs, and history through art. The paper cites their artistic mediums and methods and explains that art among the aborigines was used for learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be. The paper describes the role of art…

This study investigated the tacit knowledge of highly productive and influential scholars in educational administration. Tacit knowledge is personal knowledge so thoroughly grounded in experience that it cannot be fully expressed. Some researchers suggest it is a marker of practical intelligence. Individual, indepth, semistructured interviews were…

A survey of the scientific literacy of selected high-school leavers at the secondary/tertiary educational interface in South Africa revealed that taking Physical Science in grade 12, in contrast to Biology, plays a more significant role in the achievement of scientific literacy by these students. An explanation for this result was sought by…

This paper examines the Kalamazoo Ladies' Library Association during the 25-year period in the last half of the 19th century when the association formed a Reading Circle, held Social Meetings, and finally established a Ladies' Library Club. The Reading Circle met weekly and bi-weekly between 1861-1868; the Social Meetings took place once a month…

The distinction between formal education and museums and science centers has become less obvious over time as museums meet more needs of schools. This study examines two different cultures in the form of the school/museum partnership. The objective of the study was to identify the points at which two institutions, schools and museums, could merge…

This paper reports on an inquiry into the use of zoos as a source of informal or free choice learning. The study was contextualized within the zoo's environmental enrichment program - an animal husbandry principle that seeks to develop species-typical behavior for captive animals by using naturalistic enclosures or artificial items that stimulate…