New publications

The authors illustrate 'the many differences between most contexts for a child's successful acquisition of their first language in the home and local community and their often much less successful acquisition of an additional language in a more formal educational setting'. Section Two covers five major policy-related reports published in recent years. It also discusses 'the four main voices in Australia's languages debate': language professionals, immigrant community organisations, Indigenous community organisations, and those working in diplomacy, trade and security. (Adapted from the report's text. The full report is available online.)

The author, an influential race theorist, dissects the role of racism across the education system, from national policies to school-level decisions about discipline and academic selection. Drawing on evidence from national statistics to classroom observations, the text examines racial inequality throughout education systems. The study critically explores a series of key issues including how assessment systems produce race inequality; how policy makers have betrayed earlier commitments to race equality; and how 'model minorities' are created and used to counter anti-racism. Adapted from publisher's description.

A Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe, this document aims to 'warn against certain tendencies to pass off a belief as science', and notes that belief should remain separate from science. It argues that creationism and intelligent design, neither of which are scientific theories, should not be included in school science syllabuses. It argues that the teaching of evolution is of fundamental importance, and should occupy a central place within curriculums. It urges that member states defend and promote scientific knowledge; strengthen the foundations of the teaching of science; make science a more attractive and comprehensive discipline; oppose the teaching of creationism as a scientific discipline; and promote the teaching of evolution as a fundamental scientific theory in schools. The full Resolution is available online.

The fourth edition of this text has been revised to reflect new developments in language teaching. It provides an overview of topics relevant to English language teaching, such as a detailed discussion of English as a world language; an evaluation of new technologies in the classroom; a range of practical ideas reflecting current methodological practice; and an increased focus on issues such as teacher development, learner autonomy and context-sensitive teaching. A DVD contains extracts from classrooms and discussions between the author and the teachers. Adapted from publisher's description.

Commissioned by the British Library, this study drew on literature and longitudinal studies to identify how today's young people are likely to use and access digital resources in five to ten years' time, and the potential impact of these approaches on the provision of information services. A unified web culture, the semantic web, the increased prevalence of e-books, and digital publishing environments are highlighted as potential changes that will influence library and information services, as well as young people's use of technology. Today's research libraries need to adopt a flexible way of managing and catering to young people's research habits and approaches by designing appropriate systems. The library profession needs to ensure that digital media skills are on the agenda, and that library content is user-friendly and open and available to a wide variety of users. The full report is available online.

A debate is occuring about the nature of modern schooling in Asia, as it responds to the challenges posed by the knowledge economy. The authors argue that the future of Asian societies depends on a transformation that requires a fundamental restructuring of schools while maintaining their long-held cultural values. The broad policy contexts in which these transformations are taking place and the practical strategies that are needed to meet this objective are outlined. The text provides an overview of educational issues in Asian societies, and establishes a broad theoretical framework in which these issues can be understood. It contextualises issues by providing country case studies, and acknowledges the role of culture in influencing educational priorities. Adapted from publisher's description.