White paper

About: White paper is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3852 publications have been published within this topic receiving 51169 citations. The topic is also known as: White paper & White papers.

Teaching critical thinking skills in the language classroom

Abstract: One of the greatest challenges facing educators worldwide today, is that of how to produce learners who are critical thinkers. In South Africa the realisation that critical thinking is both an important life skill and educational concept, gained prominence in 1995 when the White Paper 'Education and Training in a Democratic South Africa' stated: 'The Curriculum, teaching methods and textbooks at all levels and in all programmes of education and training, should encourage independent and critical thought.' These principles were translated into a plan of action when the development of critical thinking skills was adopted as one of the twelve critical outcomes of the South African Qualifications Authority in 1998. This paper confirms that the link between critical thinking and the language classroom is strong. However, there are still very few ideas regarding implementation, particularly in the language classroom. This paper is an attempt at addressing this issue. The major aspects of critical thinking were identified, and a number of ideas for the implementation of these critical thinking sub-skills in the language classroom are given.

The Romanian Language in the Digital Age

Abstract: This white paper is part of a series that promotes knowledge about language technology and its potential. It addresses educators, journalists, politicians, language communities and others. The availability and use of language technology in Europe varies between languages. Consequently, the actions that are required to further support research and development of language technologies also differ for each language. The required actions depend on many factors, such as the complexity of a given language and the size of its community. META-NET, a Network of Excellence funded by the European Commission, has conducted an analysis of current language resources and technologies. This analysis focused on the 23 official European languages as well as other important national and regional languages in Europe. The results of this analysis suggest that there are many significant research gaps for each language. A more detailed expert analysis and assessment of the current situation will help maximise the impact of additional research and minimize any risks. META-NET consists of 54 research centres from 33 countries that are working with stakeholders from commercial businesses, government agencies, industry, research organisations, software companies, technology providers and European universities. Together, they are creating a common technology vision while developing a strategic research agenda that shows how language technology applications can address any research gaps by 2020.

Membership of the ‘new style’ health authorities: continuity or change?

Abstract: The 1989 White Paper ‘Working for Patients’ continued the process begun by Griffiths of managerial reform and the introduction of private sector concepts into the NHS. One of the new proposals was to change the composition and constitution of health authorities, both to avoid the assumed weaknesses of the existing format and to emulate the pattern found in the private sector. The essence of the change was the removal of the representational elements on authorities, both of medical professionals and nominees from the local authority. The health authorities were reduced in size to just eleven members and for the first time executives were included. Previous attempts at reform within the NHS have been judged to have resulted in more continuity than change. This article examines in detail who the new members are and assesses the balance between continuity and change. Despite a high level of continuity of membership, there are signs of more fundamental change. There is a significant increase in the proportion of non-executive members from the private sector and with the inclusion of executives, a stronger managerial role is emerging. The article concludes by assessing what the implications of these changes maybe.

Joining‐Up Government in the UK: Towards Public Services for an Information Age

Abstract: The reform of public services has preoccupied managers for several decades. Nevertheless, it is my contention that the present reform agenda has some plausible claims to be different from much that went before. The vision that has come to the fore in the Australian federal government’s Clients First Program (Information Technology Review Group 1995), in the Clinton/Gore administration’s Access America report (Government IT Services 1997) andthe recent British White Paper, Modernising Government (Cabinet Office 1999) not only promotes the ‘client orientation’ in public administration, but also reflects a belief in the crucial contribution to be made by information and communication technologies (ICTs). This is a vision for an information age (POST 1998). It is being driven by the conviction that public management has too often been modelled on business ‘as it was in the age of US Steel, not the age of Microsoft, Apple, Wal-Mart and Federal Express’ (Gore 1993:xiii).