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Note from the co-editor: We all know that change is difficult. Educators who have worked in the field of cooperative learning for years have made the ideas of change, cooperative learning, and school improvement practically synonymous concepts in the literature. But changing organizations and teacher practices continue to test the notion of school improvement. We have made tremendous progress in the instructional climates of schools and in the acceptance of cooperative learning as a tool, technique, and philosophy to guide implementation projects and to assess whether organizations are doing business differently--becoming more student/client centered, more satisfying places for teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. We are better able to gauge student progress. In this newsletter we feature several new books, journal articles, and reprints that make more connections between cooperative learning, the importance of excellent teamwork processes, and innovative organizations. School improvement, innovation, teamwork, and organizational structures are themes that permeate this issue. In keeping with the IASCE’s role as a disseminator and evaluator of information and research about practices in cooperative learning, we have brought together a diverse collection of what is currently being produced throughout the world. We call your attention to George Jacobs’ column, “From the Web,” featuring the Hong Kong Cooperative Learning Center, as well as his reviews of books and journal articles that have relevance. Celeste Brody Table of Contents Cooperative Learning: The Missing Ingredient for School Improvement Review of The Innovative School: Organization and Instruction Review of Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies From the Web: The Hong Kong Cooperative Learning Center Review of Project Management and Teamwork (K. A. Smith) From the Journals Executive Board
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for the Online Classroom (R. Paloff and K. Pratt)