Mainstreaming: the genesis of an idea

The origins of the mainstreaming movement are explored. Problems of definition are discussed and followed by a delineation of three major forces which induced the genesis of main‐streaming. The first is research based evidence dealing with the rationale for special classes, the efficacy of special class placement, philosophical attacks on special classes, the issues of labeling and classification, and criticisms from minority groups. Litigation which challenged long established practice is considered as the second major force. Court cases dealing with the right to education, assessment procedures, appropriate educational placement, and due process are reviewed. Finally, legislative mandates are a third force considered as bringing change to special education. Specifically, the ramifications of PL 94‐142 are explored. The analysis of antecedent events is considered important for appreciating the past, understanding the present, and aiding future planning.     

Ability stereotyping in mathematics

Ability is a concept central to the current practice of mathematics teaching. However, the widespread view of mathematics learning as an ordered progression through a hierarchy of knowledge and skill, mediated by the stable cognitive capability of the individual pupil, can be sustained only as a gross global model, and is of limited value in describing and understanding the particular cognitive capabilities of individual pupils in order to plan, promote and evaluate their learning. In effect, individual pupils, and groups of pupils, are subject to ability stereotyping; characterisation in terms of a summary global judgement of cognitive capability, associated with overgeneralised and stereotyped expectations of mathematical behaviour, and stereotyped perceptions of an appropriate mathematics curriculum.     

A brief history of the Open Discovery Initiative

Key points

• The Open Discovery Initiative (ODI) was created in 2011 to improve participation among content providers in the then‐novel web‐scale discovery services.
• The issues addressed by the ODI included metadata standards, content indexing, and availability of licensed content in discovery services.
• After adoption of the recommended practice in June 2014, a new Standing Committee has been formed to address unfinished business and implementation.
• A challenge for the ODI is finding the right balance between the needs of commercial partners and library customers.

     

IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY IN THE NEWSROOM?

In an attempt to produce more news stories, faster and on different platforms, the national Danish Broadcasting Corporation, DR, has introduced a new workflow. This new workflow is based on principles and practices known internally as “the news engine,” and it has brought with it changes in regards to both the news products, the news processes and the individual news producers. This article is based on newsroom observations, interviews with employees and content analyses, and it shows how the practice of journalism at DR News has been altered in several ways after the implementation of the news engine. The changes in DR News have become the inspiration for other television stations, and the study concludes by discussing how this particular workflow affects the profession of journalism. Rather than a proletarianization of the profession, this study points to a polarization where some journalists experience a deskilling and a decrease in autonomy, while others experience an increase in autonomy as part of a process of reskilling and multiskilling.