Gender disparity in education has usually been experienced as disadvantaging girls. Although this continues to be the case in many places, the phenomenon of boys' underachievement--both in terms of participation and performance--has also become an issue in a number of countries. This book reviews the research on boys' underachievement and presents…

This assignment pack is designed for students and tutors working in open, flexible, or distance learning in Britain. Each of the six sections contains the following: (1) a detailed contents page that identifies the assignment under an activity heading, an individual title, and indication of the relationship to the City and Guilds of London…

This essay traces the history of the school reform movement from colonial times to the present. Public school reform tends either toward equalizing educational opportunity or higher academic achievement, but seldom both. The essay asks the question: Can public school provide equal educational opportunity and be excellent too? By tracing the…

Adolescents have a strong need to feel that they belong. This book relates the story of a nontraditional high school, at which the author was a part-time staff member during the 1987-88 academic year. Data were gathered from participant observation and from interviews with 23 teachers and staff members, 42 students, and 6 educational…

Resource-based learning (RBL) is one of the most useful, successful, and acceptable approaches to curriculum delivery, easily adapted to different styles of teaching and learning. It brings together all of the resource elements--tutor, learning resources, and student--into a learning partnership. Two essential aspects of RBL are its…

This paper presents a framework and model for design of open-ended learning environments (OELEs). First, an overview is presented that addresses key characteristics of OELEs, including: use of meaningful, complex contexts; provision of tools and resources; learner reflection and self-monitoring; and social, material, or technological scaffolding.…

The rapid development of modern information and communications technologies has opened new possibilities for establishing and delivering distance learning. In addition, the new learning paradigm based on cognitive learning theories can emphasize the quality of the learning process. The open learning environment that utilizes modern communications…

Starting with the contention that we need to restore a wider range of choice to parents in their children's education, this paper lists and reviews the varieties of public education currently available throughout the country, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. These varieties include magnet schools, alternative schools, independent…

This final report presents an evaluation of the Designing and Implementing Programs for the Little School Component which is a program designed to develop, implement, and disseminate a program of individualized instruction at the Howard D. Woodson Senior High School. The purpose of the program is to improve academic achievement and student…

The ongoing work life of four classes of elementary school children from relatively affluent families was examined for approximately 2 years by a participant observer/classroom teacher in an attempt to identify possible causes of student alienation, i.e., negative, unproductive or disruptive behaviors. Examples of such behaviors include hostility,…

Described are the investigatory procedures, research and development, and achievements and conclusions for each of 12 work assignments for the 13-month period from January 1, 1974 through January 31, 1975 relating to the University of Mid-America (UMA). UMA is a regional consortium, comprised of the University of Kansas, Kansas State University,…

The enrollment of learners is significant to the State University of Nebraska (SUN) and the University of Mid-America (UMA). SUN is the pilot state delivery system and UMA is the regional course development, delivery coordination, and research agency; both view current enrollment as an indicator of future response to courses developed by the UMA…

In a speech on the development of formalized systems for distance education, the British Open University is highlighted. Three themes are addressed: (1) objectives, methods, and evaluation of Great Britain's Open University, (2) examination and comparison of similar institutions in other countries, and (3) development of guidelines for initiation…

The architectural characteristics and the educational program of a new open plan Sri Lanka school are the subjects of this case study. The school is open both to the pupils as well as to the rest of the community, a departure from the traditional Sri Lanka school building. The study begins with a discussion of scope and objectives followed by a…

This paper presents an evaluation of a 3-year Title III project carried out in the Vigo County School Cooperation, Terre Haute, Indiana. The project involved the evaluation of three differing instructional methodologies utilized in three elementary schools which also differed in the socioeconomic background of the students. The Dixie Bee school,…