Researchers at AAAS and BSCS have developed a six-week unit that aims to help middle school students learn important chemistry ideas that can be used to explain growth and repair in animals and plants. By integrating core physical and life science ideas and engaging students in the science practices of modeling and constructing explanations, the…

The concept of competency-based (CB) curriculum was applied to the College of Pharmacy in March, 1975, after extensive study of the idea. Establishment of a CB curriculum was viewed as a project with several components: competency identification, validation and evaluation of competencies, assessment of the presence of competencies, instructional…

The emergence and purpose of formative evaluation as a tool for curriculum developers is described. It is pointed out that formative evaluation seeks to establish the merit of instructional materials during their development, to modify and improve the design of instructional materials, and to establish their worth so they may be adapted for use in…

The Satellite Technology Demonstration (STD) adopted a coordinated approach called the "courseware team concept" to effectively merge content and video production expertise in television programing. To encourage involvement and participation by the entire staff in the production of a television series, a system was designed to avoid an…

The Program Component of the Satellite Technology Demonstration (STD) developed the programing for a television series on career planning for junior high school students. A program called "Time Out" was designed, developed, and implemented to be broadcast throughout the Rocky Mountain States. A staff of educators and communicators…

A two-phase study investigated the employment opportunities for visually impaired computer programers and the practicality of training them at a community/junior college. Activities during phase 1 included an employer survey to determine employment opportunities, a department chairperson survey, a blind programer survey, development of profiles…

Reports are given on activities of the Scottish Council for Research in Education. Included are the Chairman's Report and those of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, Communications Committee, and the Research Committee. Summaries are presented of research projects involving: (1) primary school teaching strategies; (2) students' awareness…

The National Literacy Mission Authority has begun pilot testing an innovative open distance education program for newly literate individuals in 20 districts of India. Using open and distance education where literacy is at its infancy is feasible because newly literate persons can manage to read printed material and have the motivation to read and…

This report describes the activities and recommendations of the Chancellor's Energy Task Force, which was established to give emphasis and direction to systemwide energy education efforts within the Hawaii community colleges. Part I describes the activities of the Energy Conservation on Campus Committee, which resulted in campuswide plans to…

Several different provincial agencies in Alberta, Canada, cooperated in initiating a safety education project that was piloted in the County of St. Paul. The project tested the feasibility of integrating safety into the general curriculum; the usefulness of existing safety resources from different agencies; and a diagnostic approach to health…

The "Time Out" series designed by the Satellite Technology Demonstration (STD) used a variety of formats, vehicles, and characters to explain career concepts to junior high school students. A science fiction set with a futuristic approach, called the Time Control Center (TCC) used vehicles to move forward and backward in time to access a…

A course in diagnostic and prescriptive reading instruction was delivered by satellite to a group of educators, and cognitive, affective, and classroom practice changes were observed. Participants were kindergarten through third grade teachers in the Appalachian region. The course consisted of 12 half-hour color videotaped lessons, 12 pretaped…

The structure and content of continuing education and independent study programs currently being offered in North America (particularly in the United States) were examined from the standpoint of the feasibility of adopting similar practices and developing similar programs at the University of Queensland in Australia. It was discovered that there…

Undertaking of a systems approach to curriculum development for solar training led to (1) a feasibility study to determine the role of the community college in solar energy technology, (2) a market analysis to determine the manpower need, and (3) a task analysis for development of a curriculum for training solar energy technicians at Navarro…

Development of an Outward Bound program for the Colorado Springs School District was divided into seven phases covering nine years. Phase I (1967-1969) was a feasibility study at the community level, using professional Outward Bound staff. During Phase II (1970-1971), an organizational plan was developed that involved students, teachers, and…