This report examines the educational status of ethnic and racial minorities in Alaska and draws attention to the ways demographic changes in Alaska may affect these groups. The Alaska Native population, as opposed to other ethnic minorities, is the focal point of this study. This is the largest minority group in the state and the one experiencing…

This paper explains a college-level journalistic writing project based in Kotzebue, Alaska (called Chukchi News and Information Service) which publishes primarily Eskimo, Indian and Aleut student writing in newspapers and magazines throughout Alaska. The first part of the paper discusses the philosophical underpinnings of developing a publishing…

The reflective inquiry approach to teacher preparation is based on analysis of teaching "cases" and is particularly relevant for teachers in Alaska's rural multicultural schools. Students learn to ask ethical as well as pedagogical questions and to reflect upon larger issues imbedded in the details of school life. (Author/SV)

Finds most successful students in University of Alaska-Fairbanks rural field-based teacher-education program over a three-year period show worst performance when conventional standards for course completion are applied. Reviews implications for innovation and change in higher education. (NEC)

The Alaska Family Practice Residency (AFPR) is a graduate medical education training program for family physicians headed for rural and remote practice sites. Located in Anchorage and affiliated with the University of Washington family practice residency network, the program has an integrated curriculum aimed at preparing family physicians to…

Using a "teaching case" format, this report tells the story of a married couple, Caroline and Rick, who travel to a village school in rural Alaska for their student teaching experience. Although each student teacher engages in innovative teaching practices, the faculty of the school perceives them to lack dedication to the teaching…

Dwindling education budgets threaten a drive by Alaska natives to obtain secondary and higher education. There are calls for expansion of rural educational services to provide greater access to Western education. Learn Alaska Network, a state-wide audio-conference and instructional-television system is described. (MLW)

To address the shortage of qualified early interventionists for young rural children with disabilities, the University of Alaska Fairbanks developed a Master's program that used distance education at remote practicum sites during fall and spring and on-campus instruction during the summer. The program has fostered university-rural community…

A 3-year project to provide rural Alaska teachers with access to the University of Alaska-Anchorage's Special Education Program used distance education in learning applications as well as in developing a knowledge base. Previous Alaskan distance education programs had been criticized as "second class" compared to traditional on-campus…

This final report summarizes the activities of TIME (Training in a Manila Envelope), a federally funded project designed to replicate the Child Care plus+ model of inservice training by providing: (1) a course on inclusion directly for child care providers and other early childhood professionals in rural areas across the nation; and (2) training…

Spurred by the inclusion trend, adapted physical education (APE) has emerged as a fundamental education service for children with disabilities in recent years. Although only 15 states have a certification or endorsement in APE, the Adapted Physical Education National Standards examination has produced certified APE educators in 21 additional…

The Rural Alaska Native Adult program of Alaska Pacific University is specifically designed for adult Native learners. Courses in business administration, human services, and teacher education are offered to rural Native adult students via an interactive Internet-based format after an initial 1-week residency. The Internet component is facilitated…

In the spring of 2001, the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education included a web-based instructional component in all distance education classes. This component aims to mediate access and equity issues in providing postsecondary education to rural Alaska residents. The number of courses offered through distance education had been…

Based on a literature review and the 20 years experience of an Alaskan teacher and administrator, some recommendations are proposed to improve education in rural Alaska school districts with Alaska Native students, particularly Yup'ik Eskimos. Currently such school districts have an education system similar to that found throughout the United…

This report presents recommendations resulting from a study conducted during 1993-94 assessing rural secondary education in Alaska. Components of the study included a survey of 800 randomly selected rural households, a survey of boarding school graduates, an assessment of rural university student achievement, and other related research. A task…