The last 10 years have witnessed numerous attempts to evaluate the merits of new theoretical approaches--ranging from Actor Network Theory to "post-structural" Political Economy and inhabiting a "post-Political Economy' theoretical space--to the explanation of global agricultural change. This article examines Convention Theory (CT)…

Over the past decade and a half, state governments have assumed greater responsibility over demand-side management (DSM) operations. Whereas DSM programs formerly were initiated primarily by utilities or state public utility commissions, they are now becoming increasingly state-initiated and incentivized through funding mechanisms or…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a site-based technology coach program over the course of three years on teachers' perceptions of their implementation of NETS-T in a Tennessee school system. The study was a causal comparative study in which ten elementary schools had a site-based technology coach and ten elementary schools…

Achieve, through support from the Noyce Foundation, examined ten sets of international standards with the intent of informing the development of both the conceptual framework and Next Generation Science Standards. Achieve selected countries based on their strong performance on international assessments and/or their economic, political, or cultural…

This national study documents current processes and practices used in the master's level rehabilitation counseling practicum such as type of supervision provided, training setting, activities related to rehabilitation skill development, written documentation used during practicum, and use of microskills training. Results are described in relation…

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to putting sustainable development at the heart of all it does. In May 2009, the Assembly launched its latest scheme, "One Wales: One Planet," which sets out a clear definition of sustainable development as enhancing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities,…

Review of cost-effectiveness studies suggests that rapid assessment is more cost effective with regard to student achievement than comprehensive school reform (CSR), cross-age tutoring, computer-assisted instruction, a longer school day, increases in teacher education, teacher experience or teacher salaries, summer school, more rigorous math…

Over the objection of officials at the statistical wing of the U.S. Department of Education, the independent body that sets policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has approved a policy that significantly narrows the grounds for excluding students with disabilities and English-language learners (ELLs) from the exams.…

In his 2005 State of the City address, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino directed the Boston Public Schools (BPS) to "provide all 4-year-olds in the city with full-day school within five years." There were several reasons for this commitment, including an emerging consensus that early childhood education makes a positive difference in long-term…

This article surveys efforts at the national and international level to define and assess accomplished teaching with particular attention devoted to how assessments of accomplished teaching connect to student learning. The author finds that most assessments are based on aspects of teaching that, presumably, come together as accomplished teaching.…

Four-year-olds are still learning through discovery of materials. They are excited to share what they have been doing with their parents. And although they are capable of working together under the direction of the teacher, they are much more excited to share individually. This article illustrates how family day in the 4-year-old music class can…

In a society where technology plays an ever-increasing role, students' ability to understand the underlying science and make smart social and environmental decisions based on that knowledge is crucial. "Welcome to Nanoscience" helps biology, chemistry, and Earth science teachers introduce the revolutionary fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology…

The improvement of teacher education in Russia to make it more appropriate to current conditions must involve changes in both techniques and the presentation-of-self of the teacher. The development of the schoolteacher as the carrier of socially and professionally significant abilities is a key task of pedagogical education today, one that is…

Learning about foreign language (FL) cultures is becoming an important objective in the FL curricula and national standards of different countries throughout the world. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of the cultural portfolio project on: (1) students' concept development in their perceptions of the target language culture and…

This article reports a study on the China-Canada-United States English Immersion (CCUEI) Moral Education and Social Studies (MESS) curriculum materials for elementary classes (Grades 3-6) with the aim of learning how the curriculum addressed the dual goals of MESS content and English language learning. An analysis comparing the CCUEI third grade…