There are at least three ways in which educational theory can be used in practice: (1) to reexamine our traditional approaches, (2) to provide direction in future practice, and (3) to generate research. Reexamination of traditional approaches through analysis and utilization of theoretical methods is one means of promoting constant growth and…

A discussion of seven areas in physical education where change is essential. (Editors)

As the evidence-based practice movement gains momentum, continuing education practitioners increasingly confront the challenge of developing and conducting opportunities for achieving research uptake. Recent thinking invites new approaches to continuing education for health professionals, with due consideration of what knowledge merits uptake by…

Investigating University-School Partnerships: A Volume in Professional Development School Research, the fourth book in the PDS Research Series developed by the same editors, includes a collection of organized papers that represent the best and latest examples of practitioner thinking, research, and program design and evaluation in the field at the…

Presents a theoretical framework of institutional choice and argues that the theory predicts and clarifies significant issues in educational policy. (RB)

Six lectures are presented in this report of the Symposium on Research and Reform in Teacher Education. The lectures are entitled (a) "Teacher Education--Research and Change"; (b) "Theories of Learning and Teacher Education"; (c) "Is Teacher Training Really Any Use?"; (d) "From Studying Education to Teaching a Class: Problems of Transition"; (e)…

Traces some of the important changes in Extension in the past 35 years. Examines and compares four long-range evaluations of Extension: (1) Joint Committee Report on Extension Programs, Policies, and Goals (1948), (2) A Statement of Scope and Responsibility (1958), (3) A People and a Spirit (1968), and (4) Extension in the 80s (1983). (JOW)

This article discusses the waning interests on research-based models. Some experts and program developers say "research proven" programs are getting a smaller and smaller share of the pie under the 7-year-old initiative now called the Comprehensive School Reform program, as schools opt instead for home-grown and commercial programs with weaker…

This paper, written from an organizational perspective, begins with an examination of the deficiencies of knowledge utilization and educational change literature. It suggests the explication of descriptive and heuristic conceptual dimensions as one approach for facilitating a descriptive perspective of knowldge utilization. The efficacy of three…

Despite declining public confidence in the schools, education does make a difference in both intellectual and monetary terms. A number of changes are needed, however, including better integration of educational research and practice with other social services, and the development of a more useful system of educational research and development.…

The article discusses questions related to the application of educational research to state public policy, including the characteristics of educational policy which influence the use of research-based information; the most effective kinds of research information; and the best methods for communicating that information to policymakers. (JL)

Congress began funding the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) program in 1998 to stimulate whole school reform in low-achieving schools. Schools receiving CSRD funding are required to evaluate the reforms implemented and the student results achieved. In response to interest among educators and researchers, a national research…

Investigated factors in the successful commercialization of public research from higher education and then applied the ideas gleaned from a review of several case studies to the case of a young French university. Findings show the importance of close interaction between academic research and a wealthy local economy, lacking in the case of the…

This paper examines the effect of a formal evaluation process upon educational change--specifically, the adoption of innovative reading programs and practices--at different organizational levels of implementation. Because of the size of the project (62 school systems, 142 designated schools, three sets of categorical funded projects), the…

General extrinsic and intrinsic forces pressing for change in schools are examined, and specific attention is paid to five problem areas that illustrate the complexity of issues facing those who wish to study or facilitate educational change. Extrinsic pressure arises from ongoing societal change in the face of a dichotomy between educational…