In 1997, Christine Sorenson reported on the Iowa Distance Education Alliance project that developed an instrument to assess student attitudes about experiences in Iowa Communications Network classrooms. This study evaluates graduate students to determine whether distance education may be more suitable for levels of instruction different from those…

Technology and the Internet pervade higher education, forcing universities to change how they deal with growing technical needs of these organizations. Sixty-six professors were surveyed to determine their preparedness for the integration of technology into their curriculum. Findings suggested that faculty did not have the technical skills…

Suggests that distance education instructors need to understand and apply important instructional design elements in order to successfully fulfill their role as instructional designers. Reviews the most recent literature pertaining to designing instruction in distance education. Identifies some key instructional design elements for teaching at a…

A fundamental variable in interactive videoconferencing may be access to technology rather than the distance itself. This study investigates whether providing unlimited access results in improved attitudes and/or improved proficiency with technology. Subjects were two groups of college juniors and seniors enrolled in an educational technology…

Considers the current context for concern about 'political education' worldwide and in the United Kingdom. Analyzes the concept of political education and discusses political education in the United Kingdom, addressing the reasons for United Kingdom exceptionalism. Introduces this issue of "Oxford Review of Education." (CMK)

Discusses the origins of university adult education and the motives of the Oxford and Cambridge teachers who organized and taught the first classes. Surveys the history of university adult education by examining four phases, each associated with a particular form of political commitment. (CMK)

Investigates the presentation of women in a sample of texts for citizenship education in England from 1940-66, focusing on how the texts were gendered according to three approaches. Provides a historical overview on education for citizenship and examines how the texts adopted pedagogic approaches in line with the political culture. (CMK)

Provides a brief historical background on political education in England. Describes four reasons for the development of political education policies during the 1970s, the three types of political education (political literacy, 'new' or 'adjectival' education, and education for citizenship) promoted from 1969-98, and four trends across political…

States that the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland in 1969 led to the examination of the role of segregated education in perpetuating divisions between Catholics and Protestants. Focuses on two approaches to bring children from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds together: (1) establishing programs within the denominationally segregated…

Examines materials provided to adult, part-time students of the British Open University's language courses and highlights elements of the courses that are explicitly political education. Draws on interviews with course creators to explore cultural content and representations of the target culture. Attempts to make explicit the implicit assumptions…

Discusses political apathy and alienation among youth, challenging this negative image. Describes empirical research that demonstrates a high level of engagement by young people in social activism and community activities, focuses on factors influencing young people's participation, and demonstrates that volunteering and campaigning affect young…

Addresses the implications of a research project that examined Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students' understanding of citizenship in United Kingdom primary and secondary schools using a questionnaire and interviews. Explores students' attitudes related to social, political, and moral issues and examines how these affect their…

Reports on a comparative study of civic education in Great Britain, the United States, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Australia, discussing educational policies, practices, and classroom climate. Explores adolescents' political attitudes and behaviors cross-nationally, specifically focusing on political interest, political efficacy, and…

Discusses the background to and the deliberations of the Advisory Group on Education for Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools. Discusses the main recommendations of the Advisory Group in their final report. Reports on four challenges (curriculum, community, global, and individual) that will be faced in the future. (CMK)

Presents a study that draws data from a five-year project that used parent involvement to raise pupil achievement in literacy and numeracy. Focuses on the schools' rationales for why they invested in parental involvement. Relates the data to sociological understandings of how teachers support children's learning and teachers' conceptions of…