The isolation that has historically plagued the teaching profession has particularly harmful effects on novice teachers who need the guidance, wisdom, and encouragement of other educators. In recent years, however, social media tools have helped many teachers connect with colleagues and build robust professional learning networks (PLNs) beyond…

One of the most critical labor shortages facing the U.S. involves the number of young adults entering careers in what's now commonly referred to as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Equally troubling is that the participation of blacks and Hispanics in STEM careers continues to lag that of whites and Asians. High school is…

Outlines a fictitious but ideal school in which staff work cooperatively and are encouraged to develop their talents. (MD)

Describes the Houston (Texas) Mathematics and Science Improvement Consortium sponsored by the National Science Foundation and coordinated by the Baylor College of Medicine. The project, using paracticing scientists and mathematicians as mentors for secondary science and math teachers, resulted in improved teaching skills, increased teacher…

In this article, the author argues that small high schools offer the kinds of environments needed to try out some of newer ideas in school redesign. The author also argues that states and districts should pay attention to what these new institutions are making possible.

Describes the Senior Project, a program at California State University, Fresno, designed to help children at risk of school failure. The project stresses one-on-one mentoring of at-risk, limited-English-speaking children by Liberal Studies/teacher preparation majors. Plans for most sessions feature reading and writing activities, simple science…

In a learning community, students learn to cooperate and make teams work. Past technologies (print, photography, film, and computers) have enabled idea sharing, but are one-way communication modes. Broader learning communities have been made possible through electronic field trips, online mentoring, science investigations, and humanities…