Global warming, deforestation, destruction of the oceans, hunger, poverty, human rights abuses and war crimes will, at best, be redressed by empty words and token gestures unless the public imbibes massive doses of caffeine. Unfortunately the public's attention seems to be focused elsewhere. Blackberries, cell phones, social networks on the…

In this article, I shall evaluate critically the democratic citizenship education project in South Africa to ascertain whether the patriotic sentiments expressed in the "Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy" (2001) are in conflict with the achievement of reconciliation and nation building (specifically peace and friendship) after…

The Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) phenomenon has happened very quickly and is also a shift in discourse. This article aims to slow things down and go through the last year or so with a bit more care than we're usually able to do in order to do a "close reading" of the year of the MOOC. Author Aaron Brady ventures an opinion to say…

A central question in online human sentence comprehension is, "How are linguistic relations established between different parts of a sentence?" Previous work has shown that this dependency resolution process can be computationally expensive, but the underlying reasons for this are still unclear. This article argues that dependency…

This paper argues that there is converging evidence for the pedagogical value of planning, repeating, and recycling activities in the language classroom. The paper is divided into three parts. Part one reviews field research done on this topic in Britain and finds some support for the proposition that planning fosters more complex language use and…

Between 1986 and 2004, textbook prices rose 186 percent in the United States, or slightly more than six percent per year. Meanwhile, other prices rose only about three percent per year. This paper examines the economic reasons why textbook prices have escalated so briskly and what reasonable alternatives are available that might slow down these…

Suggests that people think about information as a process rather than a substance. Argues that in order to do this, schools need to slow down and do less, but do it better. Asserts that too much content coverage gets in the way of developing critical thinking skills. (NB)

In this article, the author discusses how today's student generation has a spectacular hunger for life and more life. They want to study, travel, make friends, make more friends, read everything (superfast), take in all the movies, listen to every hot band, keep up with everyone they've ever known. They live to multiply possibilities. The author…

Suggests that teachers or researchers ought to slow down, trust their intuitions, and keep solutions open longer as they approach and attempt to solve educational problems. Shares, through three studies and one poem, the similarity in the thinking and writing of research problems and the composing of a poem. (MG)

Discusses ways to help nonnative speakers of English understand better in the classroom: (1) use a multisensory approach; (2) provide outlines or notes; (3) assign related readings in advance; (4) paraphrase and limit vocabulary; (5) avoid complex grammatical constructions; (6) slow down; (7) remember that abilities vary; and (8) encourage…

Discusses the historical and social context of instructional grouping and the assumptions behind it. Offers an alternative approach--a single curriculum with flexible grouping--in which the difficulties children experience with reading are viewed not as signals to slow down, but as signals to enhance and accelerate instruction, by any of several…

Presents letter writing intervention that attempts to reestablish priority of digital language. Contends that, by having couples in therapy write letters to each others, much analogic communication is removed. Notes that letter writing allows couples to exchange new information and slow down speed with which they respond to each other, giving them…

When small art images are incorporated into the curriculum, students are afforded opportunities to slow down, observe minute details, and communicate ideas about art and artists. This sort of purposeful art contemplation takes students beyond the day-to-day educational practice. It is through these sorts of art activities that students develop…

Gives historical background of basic writing. Contends that elite language instruction has included some and excluded others. Discusses "tracking." States that formal education offers a top-down, business-oriented agenda: basic skills, vocationalism, work discipline, and citizenship. Considers basic writing a containment track below…

Discusses the importance of spiritual leadership in turbulent, uncertain times. Describes several spiritual principles--for example, life is cyclical; all life is interconnected. Offers six suggestions for personal health: Start day peacefully, learn to be mindful, slow things down, create own measures, expect surprise, practice gratefulness. (PKP)