Observations of classes taught by a male and a female professor, interviews, and document analysis examined forms of resistance and reproduction in professors' and students' roles. Students benefiting from interlocking systems of privilege have more power in the classroom. Male professor exerted more control than the female. Middle-aged women with…

This study explored what factors influenced learner participation in two sections of a graduate online course at a Midwestern university. Findings indicated that online learner participation and patterns of participation are influenced by the following factors: technology and interface characteristics, content area experience, student roles and…

In higher education, competing demands for accountability and innovation in the face of globalization, technology, and budget cuts cause us to consider how best to prepare learners who will learn for a lifetime. We contend that a shift in our understanding of curriculum design to accommodate learner-centeredness will provide the framework for…

This digest defines the concepts of "whole language,""learner-centered," and "participatory," and discusses their application to adult learning in ESL literacy programs. All three approaches advocate that the learner should inform literacy instruction with his or her own particular input, that learners and their…

This is a digest of a monograph that explores recent theory and research on the importance of college students' effort and involvement in promoting positive college outcomes. An opening section introduces the issue noting that institutions must work to create a climate in which all students feel welcome and able to fully participate. At the same…

This paper describes a shared leadership, quality improvement team approach to classroom management in elementary school classrooms that is similar to the quality and school improvement approaches which are increasingly available to school personnel and community leaders. Contents outline a model approach to cooperative classroom management among…

Guidelines for establishing and implementing residence hall unit agreements with college students are presented, based on the experience of the University of Maryland, College Park. These agreements or social contracts are drawn up by a floor/unit of residents and are put in writing to define for that unit the acceptable range of behavior in a…

The author examines innovative governance patterns in 25 independent schools around the country. Among student concerns are student councils, honor committees, students in advisory capacities, faculty-student senates, all-school meetings, and constitutions. Faculty concerns cover faculty associations, salary scales, faculty representation on…

A high school in the New England area was the setting for experimenting with a potential model for effective prevention and intervention in drug abuse and other areas of social concern. The method used is called Partnership in Research. It breaks with the traditional research model by involving the subjects as partners and participant researchers…

Argues that the students, the primary constituency of the schools, have been omitted from efforts at school reform. Urges that students become part of a partnership with administrators, teachers, and parents through an integrated thematic plan that would make the student the center of the school universe. (FMW)

This article, written by a high school student, describes how he helped his school attain access to state-of-the-art technology and to the Internet. Topics include problems, security issues, teacher training, examples of student Internet projects, technical details of the school's computer system, and how the school encouraged this student's…

In the inclusion style of teaching, learners must make decisions about level of task difficulty. They must decide at which level to enter the presented task and then, for additional sets of trials, decide whether to perform the task the same way, make it more difficult, or make it less difficult. This study examined learner decision making in a…

Active learning is an important element of course design. It has, however, not been integrated in the conduct of class lectures as they have evolved from early, chalkboard-based discussions to newer, multimedia presentation styles. The sophisticated, multimedia presentation styles have forced some rigidity, and have often unintentionally relegated…

The Adaptive Dimension refers to the concept of making adjustments in approved educational programs to accommodate diversity in student learning needs, and to practices undertaken to make the approved core curriculum, instruction, and the learning environment meaningful and appropriate for each student. Adaptation takes into account the shift away…

This booklet is intended to help individuals teaching in extension programs understand the special needs of adult learners and use teaching techniques that have proven effective with adult learners. The first group of chapters deals with the importance of self-motivation to adult learning, the importance of taking the time to outline the goals of…