Futurism,school psychology,and special education: 1984 is nearly here!

This article points out some potentially profitable future considerations for school psychology, general and special education practices on the basis of important features of the past and the present.     

Assessment of the effectiveness of the studio format in introductory undergraduate biology

Kansas State University converted its introductory biology course, previously taught as an audio-tutorial (A-T), to a studio format in 1997. We share with others information about the process involved and present assessment data for the studio format course that address 1) student exam performance in A-T and studio; 2) student course grades in A-T and studio; 3) student and instructor perceptions and attitudes for A-T and studio; 4) student performance in subsequent biology courses for A-T and studio; and 5) gains in student learning for the studio course and other traditional lecture/lab courses. Collectively, these measures demonstrate that the studio format is as effective as or more effective (for some measures) than the A-T approach and traditional approaches in providing an effective learning environment. We discuss the issues involved in comparing course formats.     

The place of language learning in a liberal education: implications for curriculum policy in Ireland

This article attempts to expand, and to add to, one important aspect of the rationale for including the study of languages as part of a liberal education. Following criticism of the profile of the vocational rationale for language learning in Irish curriculum policy, the article develops recent research on the work of L. V. Shcherba to defend the role of language learning as part of a liberal education. The principal argument advanced and illustrated is that language learning has the potential to increase intellectual resources and, secondarily, to enhance literacy. This it achieves by introducing learners to new worlds of thought through revealing different linguistic maps for representing the world and by making them are aware of the nature of language. The argument is supplemented by reference to research in neuroscience that shows that knowledge of languages contributes to cognitive empowerment.     

Volume contents

Volume Contents

Volume contents     

The Language of Schools’ Radio and Television Programmes in Geography

Although increasing attention has been given to the language of teachers, pupils and published materials the language of schools' broadcasting remains largely neglected as a topic of research, study and discussion. British educationists and teachers have access to a burgeoning literature on geographical education but the contribution of schools' television, radiovision and radio programmes and associated publications to the teaching of geography is rarely, if ever, treated as a topic for serious consideration. Not surprisingly, therefore, the language of schools' broadcasting in geography is new ground to explore. Geography has figured prominently in the annual provision of broadcasts during the fifty‐four years of educational broadcasting in Britain. Added to the currently transmitted programmes are the taped broadcasts, audio and video recorded, which teachers may have retained from previous years.     

From program evaluation to intstructional information system

This article describes the emergence of a new and exciting possibility for upgrading teaching and learning in American schools. We call this new phenomenon, instructional information systems (IIS). Instructional information systems are computerized data banks that allow a variety of users to ask important evaluative questions about student learning, classroom function, school management, and district policies. They built on current practice in testing and program evaluation but go way beyond it.     

A comparison among three experimental education programs

The primary characteristics of the three programs are used to compare participants to each other and to a group of students in the regular curriculum: (1) development of logical thought, (2) broader educational development, and, (3) career development, as well as selected academic characteristics (grades academic aptitude). The programs and their evaluations are described. The outcomes claimed for each program occurred more frequently in that program than in the comparison groups. The absence of differences in grades, despite differences in academic ability and in extent of program involvement, is interpreted as further evidence of the insensitivity of grades. The question of generality of the results is explored briefly.