A study examined the relationship between different types of learning climates and the levels of academic achievement in extra-mural classes in Nigeria. Investigated during the course of the study were the following six types of learning climates: open, autonomous, controlled, familiar, paternal, and closed. To determine what, if any, relationship…

Although classrooms vary in design and populations, there are certain features that are common to virtually all classrooms. These include the crowding of pupils, the compulsion of school attendance, and the expectation that teachers will foster literacy. The manner in which these features are dealt with in a classroom constitutes the core problem…

This paper, a teacher's informal account of her own professional growth and teaching experiences over a 10-year period, focuses particularly on her experiences as a participant in a non-credit seminar on children's thinking and on the impact this seminar had on her teaching. The seminar included wide-ranging questions of philosophy, teaching…

In the last decade, the Office of Education has granted several billions of dollars to local educational agencies (LEAs) in an attempt to stimulate, and sometimes force, educational improvements. This paper was presented at a symposium considering experiences accumulated in a recent national study of federal change programs as they have (or have…

Southeast Alternatives describes six elementary and secondary schools -- the result of a 1971 proposal for Federal funding for experimental schools to bridge the gap between experimentation and actual school practice and for evaluation of the effort. Discussion of the mechanics of implementation, including organization, governance and finance, and…

The steps which led to the establishment of the Open University in Great Britain and the intentions of its founders are first described, with particular attention paid to the needs it was intended and not intended to meet. Following this is an examination of the evidence to date of the University's success in reaching its target student…

Students and faculty of the New City School are housed in a single open room of a reconditioned building in an industrial area of St. Paul. Students come from St. Paul's neighborhood high schools, night school, and Open School. They may attend a nine-week session in the morning or afternoon for 2 1/2 hours. The eleven permanent staff members are…

This report examines some of the many varieties of alternatives now available, their problems and pitfalls, and their hopes for the future. After defining alternative schools, the report discusses the rationale for having alternatives and then summarizes the range of alternatives available at both the elementary and secondary levels. Separate…

The Minneapolis public school system is philosophically committed to providing for and encouraging the development of individual differences found in the highly diverse population the schools serve. A demonstration program offering a number of educational options to the heterogeneous population of the small geographically unified area of Southeast…

Two studies combining teacher questionnaires, classroom observation, and pupil interviews were conducted to contrast formal and informal teaching practices in open plan and conventional classrooms. Study I sampled 12 teachers of classes including second year junior pupils (8-9 years of age); Study II sampled 30 teachers, including 13 with mixed…

The main reason for this study was to provide information to the district about the new architectural and programmatic features of its schools, particularly as they affect the quality of student achievement in the different types of schools. An additional purpose was to obtain information that would help teachers and principals improve some of…

This third national conference on open learning and nontraditional study attempted to demonstrate cooperative efforts across the country and to show how open learning and nontraditional study relate to unified efforts to achieve common goals. Topics discussed at the conference included: (1) the national overview, (2) military training programs,…

This book is designed to give planners of open and distance learning programs the technical information needed to determine the cost of programs and analyze the behavior of costs. The following are among the topics discussed: budgets; classification of resources (human resources, premises and accommodation, and equipment and furniture); a basic…

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…

In the 21st century learning should be continuously available. This book traces the evolution of year-round school schedules from 1840-1980 in the United States and documents the many innovative educational programs of the past. It also describes the status, philosophy, calendars, and strategies of the 1990s and offers forecasts for continuous…