The first step to meeting the fundamental aim of any educational institution is to understand clearly what the students need. Needs assessment is a tool educators can use to help meet this goal. Needs assessment data suggest the basis for plans, strategies, and practices that may ultimately lead to school improvement. This chapter reviews issues…

This general overview presents definitions of giftedness, a discussion of stereotypes which affect the gifted, and an outline of the types of programs schools might develop and types of teachers they should select to meet the special needs of these youngsters. (SJL)

Postsecondary institutions have developed expanded, comprehensive career education programs. Needs and problems that should be addressed when developing such programs include assisting students with educational-vocational planning, providing faculty inservice training, improving student support programs, developing work skills related to career…

Presents a set of pirnciples based on "Peter's People and Their Marvelous Ideas" (L. J. Peter, 1979) to explain the inner structures of computer assisted instruction. These principles relate to courseware development and testing, preparing guides, and computer assisted instruction service, languages, and systems. (MBR)

The characteristics of Canadian language immersion, bilingual education, and modified immersion programs are described, and their characteristics are compared with research findings on the characteristics of effective dual language programs. The information provided is intended to assist policymakers, educators, and community leaders in making…

The results of surveys on adult basic education (ABE) student characteristics and program goals are presented in this digest along with recommendations on career development in ABE. Topics include: (1) results of a survey of directors of ABE projects which ranked the importance of 10 goals of ABE (Young and others 1980); (2) statistics from a…

This guide provides information and suggestions for developing programs that meet the needs of older adults at community colleges. Recommended procedures are presented for the following stages of program development: (1) leadership influences, highlighting the process of hiring effective leaders, key leadership skills, and leaders'…

In the United States, illiterate adults account for 20 percent of citizens over age 16. Yearly, 5 percent of these adults without a high school diploma are enrolled in Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses, which offer few appropriate counseling services. In order to study the counseling services available to ABE students in Maryland, on-site visits…

In response to the increasing proportion of foreign graduate students in master's programs for teachers of English as a second language (MATESL), students in the University of Northern Iowa's program were surveyed concerning the appropriateness of the programs' design. In in-depth interviews and on questionnaires, foreign graduate students were…

This digest focuses on the contributions counselors can make to help schools achieve educational excellence and enhance both the quantity and quality of student learning. (BH)

A brief review of what is known about teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults focuses on four areas: characteristics and needs of adult English language learners; program design and instructional practices; ESL teacher preparation and staff development; and learner assessment and outcomes. Teachers are urged to let colleagues,…

This annotated bibliography lists 48 resources intended for elementary and secondary level educators with a student population that includes limited-English-proficient (LEP) students, often over the traditional age for their educational level, who have not had continuous formal education. These students may have limited or no literacy in their…

When foreign graduate students come to the United States for master's-level training as teachers of English as a second language, they return to their homes countries well-prepared with up-to-date teaching theory and practice. However, the teacher education programs in the United States are prepared for the students only to the extent that they…

This teacher's guide provides an innovative program of studies for teaching Japanese at the secondary level, featuring a content-based curriculum, an integrated approach, results (outcomes)-based orientation, and the use of language for effective interaction. This guide provides teachers with suggestions for designing and planning a Japanese…

In recognition of the importance of effective advisory programs at the middle school level, this monograph provides specific suggestions for organizing and sustaining a teacher advisory program and presents sample activities to assist program implementation. Following introductory remarks, the first section reviews aspects of early adolescent…