The relevance of soil physical measurements on the macroscale for the description of biological processes on the microscale — introduction to round table discussion
Abstract The scale of physical measurement in relation to the activity of soil organisms depends on the objectives of the study. It is suggested that while it is always important to explore detail at all levels of scale, most practical problems relating to the physiology of the organisms and to their effects as populations in the field, are most appropriately studied at a macroscopic level using macroscopic physical measurements with all the conceptual difficulty that this approach entails. Conventional technology is available for these measurements, but there is a clear need for closer collaboration between biologists and soil physicists to ensure that full advantage is taken of complementary and focussed skills.
How can good educational practice move be~ond pockets of excellence to reach a much greater proportion of students and educators? While many children and young adults in school districts and communities around the countrt have long benefited from the tremendous accomplishments of successful teachers, schools, and programs, replicating this success on a larger scale has proven to be a diJficult and vexing issue. In this article, Richard Elmore addresses this problem by anal’tzing the role of school organ izat ion and incentive structures in thwarting large-scale adoption of in novative practices close to the “core” of educational practice. Elm ore then reviews evidence Jrom two attempts cit large-scale school reform in the past — the progressive movement and the