This paper highlights some of the issues concerning the transfer of Research and Development (R&D) Centers from the Office of Education to the National Institute of Education (NIE). The problems of transition to the new policy and organization are discussed with regard to program objectives and management and problems associated with…

Presents information on Japanese engineering education and productivity which shows that education in Japan has been an instrument to achieve economic ends. Among areas addressed are development of educational policy, industry role, emphasis on engineering since end of World War II, studying in United States, and adaptive approach to…

Identifies administrative, ethical, and pedagogical issues raised by policies which encourage the commercialization of the academic research enterprise, with particular reference to Australian higher education. Provides examples of recent government initiatives which encourage cooperation between universities and industry. Discusses issues related…

We address issues of science curriculum for nonmainstream students--students of color, students learning English as a new language, and students from low-income families--who are often concentrated in urban schools. First, we describe a theoretical framework for equitable learning opportunities with nonmainstream students. Building on this…

There has been a policy push in several countries to encourage more evidence-based practice in education, although current knowledge shows that the relationship between education research and policy-practice is problematic. In spite of this, educational organizations have to respond to the challenges of globalisation with new pedagogic models to…

Research plays a necessary and highly valued role in the process of educational reform which has been modifying Sweden's educational system since the 1950's. The fixed resources available to universities for research and the flexible resources allocated to universities and other agencies by four major funding organizations are described in this…

The use of educational research in policy making (at all levels of education) in the Latin American and Caribbean region is considered with a focus on the contribution of researchers from institutions of higher education to educational development projects, reforms, and innovations as well as to the utilization of educational research results by…

Education reform efforts across the United States are dramatically raising expectations for student achievement. However, the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) found that teachers have not been adequately prepared for the changes in practice needed to meet new student learning goals. This publication briefly examines research…

This document reports on the National Institute for Science Education (NISE) forum on the Evaluation of Systemic Reform in Mathematics and Science. The purposes of the forum were to reflect upon what to understand about the evaluation of reform in the educational system, and to encourage and support continuing efforts to learn more about how…

The 13 papers in this collection, which served as the basis for policy recommendations in "What Matters Most," a major report of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, synthesize important research in the fields of teaching and teacher education. Emphasized throughout is the importance of a significant and sustained…

The increasing use of criteria-based approaches to assessment and grading in higher education is a consequence of its sound theoretical rationale and its educational effectiveness. This article is based on a review of the most common grading policies that purport to be criteria-based. The analysis shows that there is no common understanding of…

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is carrying out a nine year evaluation of citizenship education in England on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study (hereafter, the Study) began in 2001 and is tracking a cohort of young people from age 11 to 18, who entered…

The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) of the U.S. Department of Education supports educators and policymakers in their efforts to solve pressing education problems through a network of 10 regional educational laboratories. These regional educational laboratories try out new approaches to teaching and learning; provide training…

This paper outlines the mission and projected projects for the National Center for Research in Vocational Education for 1996. The activities are organized around two functions: research and development and dissemination and training. Research and development is composed of six substantive areas: (1) the economic context of vocational education;…

The Regional Educational Laboratory Program is the U.S. Department of Education's largest research and development investment designed to help educators, policymakers, and communities improve schools and help all students attain their full potential. Administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), the network of 10…