This series presents substantial results from around the globe in selected areas of educational research. The field of education is consistently on the top of priority lists of every country in the world, yet few educators are aware of the progress elsewhere. Many techniques, programs and methods are directly applicable across borders. Topics discussed herein include situated learning and knowing during science laboratory activities; familial networks and their influence on education; classroom discourse; teachers' evaluation styles; school health programs; and competency-based assessment in medical schools.