Mountain, insular and internal areas represent 70 percent of the Italian land with a population that experiences many difficulties in daily living due to territorial constraints. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to guarantee equal opportunities and services to those who live on the mountains and small islands of the country. Distance…

In this literature review, the authors examined three key areas that were chosen as relevant to the challenges faced by small rural schools, and collaborative practice between schools working in virtual learning environments in New Zealand. The first area was rural education, where definitions of rurality and the demographics and characteristics…

The aim of the study is to identify and examine the distance teaching practices of four teachers in three small, rural primary schools in Finland -- small in the sense that the schools consists of between 20-50 pupils and between 3-12 teachers. The schools have experienced a decline in pupil numbers, thus, they are not able to employ teachers…

The purpose of this case study was to evaluate to what extent individual teachers in a small, rural high school have the capacity and pedagogical skills to teach non-English speaking individuals within a sociocultural theoretical framework. Using a mixed methods approach, this case study measured teacher efficacy and their use of best practices…

In an effort provide access to devices and prepare students for the future, a small rural high school committed to becoming a high-tech school. Data collected the first year using the IPI-T process suggested teachers were typically the users of the technology, students were often disengaged, and teachers were asking students to participate in…

The experiences of regional and rural teachers supporting students on the autism spectrum in their classrooms often differ from those of their metropolitan counterparts. Interventions designed for metropolitan settings may not work the same way in regional and rural classrooms, and teachers outside major centres may encounter challenges in…

One current policy in Thai government education is to enhance teachers' understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educational techniques at every level. This study reports the results of a professional development program to assist 134 in-service teachers from 23 small primary schools in rural of Lopburi Province to…

This case study was developed for educational leadership courses addressing supervision and school improvement. Various data are presented for students to analyze and identify key concerns at a low-performing, rural, racially diverse, K-8 school. It challenges leadership candidates to recognize interrelated problems and solutions in a school.…

The central purpose of this paper is to highlight the research in a context where inclusive education is recognised within current global challenges in education. We aim to present different teaching practices and perceptions of teachers from rural schools regarding attention to diversity, before and during a collaborative action that reinforces…

This article presents an interview with Lyn Huston, who teaches in a one-room schoolhouse--Duckwater School--in Duckwater, Nevada. The school, which has a class of only 15 students, is set on a plot of land between alfalfa farms, an Indian reservation, and a 20,500-acre wilderness area. Huston discusses the challenges that exist when teaching in a…

This research-based thesis project explains the governmental acts and policies, investors, and other stakeholders who have worked to promote, question, and explore the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the classroom. Research suggests that best-practice ICT integration requires using ICT alongside constructivist pedagogy.…

This paper reviews research on small rural primary schools in Finland and analyses it under three thematic foci: the relationship between the local rural school and the surrounding community, the small rural primary school as a learning environment, and the teachers' profession in this context. Over 30% of Finnish primary schools are small rural…

Examination of interviews and surveys provides an overview of the problems and needs of rural school teachers in multigrade classrooms. A review of research and teacher reports in the U.S. and other countries compares instructional methods in multigrade and single grade classrooms. Implications for teacher preparation, classroom organization, and…

Summarizes rural teachers' problems and needs related to teaching conditions, scarce or outdated materials and equipment, cultural differences, and geographic isolation. Demonstrates that the Foxfire approach's core practices are more effective than Miller's "core teaching skills in teacher preparation programs" in preparing teachers to…

Although integration of subject matter disciplines has long been one of the greatest strengths of rural and small schools, the knowledge explosion has complicated the process. Teachers can engage in discipline integration more effectively and efficiently by giving consideration to planning methodologies, lessons, classroom behaviors, and scope and…