A study comparing Open University (OU) and conventional university (CU) student performance in economics shows OU students even with CU students in microeconomics and higher in macroeconomics. The research was controlled for both test-wiseness, previous experience, and representativeness of OU students. (MSE)

The perceptions of Black and of White students toward each other in team-organized and traditionally organized schools were compared. Although Whites appear to have more negative perceptions of Blacks than Blacks of Whites, closer contacts of Whites with Blacks in the team-organized schools improve perceptions. (CJ)

The academic success of students with previous open school experience who entered structured or traditional schools was impeded. (MM)

This essay explores the relationship between curriculum theory and classroom practice in order to show why a theory-practice gap exists. The idiosyncratic nature of organizations and individuals alike is cited as the weak link in control-oriented curriculum theory, while emancipation-oriented theory underestimates the need for order and control.…

Shares experiences of one teacher and two administrators attempting to implement critically oriented, democratic practices in their school systems. Examines three specific events and interrogates them through scientific, critical, and postmodern lenses. Presents five suggestions to unshackle practitioners from educational traditions that neglect…

It would be kind to say that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) was dawdling in its analysis of the data on charter schools that were collected by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). ED collected the data with the regular NAEP assessment in 2003 and placed the regular data on its website in the fall of 2003. The American…

Purpose: The paper sought to clarify the concept of learning organisation/community; to identify the barriers that are perceived to obstruct the creation of learning communities out of traditional schools; to identify how principals go about the task of converting their schools; and the special characteristics of leadership required to transform…

In answer to economic needs and social demands, a structural innovation was introduced in secondary education in most West European countries, mainly in the 1960s. Contrary to the traditional schools, organized in vertical categories, the so-called comprehensive schools brought together all branches in one school. There was protest against this…

This paper presents the development and validation of a two-level hierarchical cost model for tertiary education, which enables prospective students to compare the total cost of attending a traditional Baccalaureate degree education with that of the same programme taken through distance e-learning. The model was validated by a sample of Greek…

Utilizing conventional laboratory-science classrooms for a flexible science program is done by unitizing the science program and by team teaching. (BR)

Farley's theory of arousal and stimulation-seeking proposes specific educational alternatives for high and low arousal and hyperkinetic children. This study tested the prediction that open classrooms provide children at the lower end of the physiological arousal continuum with enough external stimulation to reduce their overt seeking of…

Determines the intercorrelations among measures of intelligence, achievement, self-esteem, and anxiety among elementary pupils who were enrolled in two different styles of instruction: a traditional self-contained structure and an open school using the Westinghouse PLAN system of computer-backed individualized instruction. (Author/RC)

This paper provides an analysis of alternative schools that may help understand their problems and kindle future interest, together with guidelines as to how these schools might be more effectively organized. Two case studies are provided to illustrate the importance of authority patterns in these schools. (AM)

This study investigates the moral development of thirty 5-year-old children in Montessori and traditional preschools. Data for the study were derived from five sources: an intelligence test; a perspective taking task; an altruism/helping task; an altruism/sharing task; and an interview for exploring moral reasoning. Two 30 to 45 minute sessions…