Background: The outcomes of a pilot program of staff development in communication support in the context of observed changes in student behaviour states and interactive abilities are reported. Participant reports about the impact of the program on their professional practices are included. Method: Six teachers and six teacher aides in special…

DARE is a preventive drug education program intended to combat drug use by students before it commences. The elementary school program is the core curriculum of DARE. It is designed to help those enrolled to develop skills that will allow them to resist the pressures to use substances such as illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Students are taught…

This project was designed to solicit parental perceptions of Caroline Street Elementary School (Saratoga Springs, New York) in terms of Effective Schools, a method of assessing school improvement. Families (n=334) were asked to provide their perceptions regarding correlational characteristics identified as vital to successful school programs:…

As part of a review of its Psychology department, William Rainey Harper College in Illinois conducted a study of 400 students who had taken at least 3 courses in the department from fall 1989 to fall 1993. Questionnaires were sent to the students in spring 1995, requesting information on their perceptions of the effectiveness of courses in the…

In fall 1995, William Rainey Harper College in Illinois conducted a study of former students in the Materials/Logistics Management (MLM) program to determine their evaluation of their educational experiences in the program. The sample consisted of 298 former MLM students from 1990 to 1995, including 119 students who had earned 48 credit hours but…

As part of a review of its Information Center, Facilities Rental and Reservation Center, and Computerized Area List and Labels System (CALLS), William Rainey Harper College (WRHC), in Illinois, conducted a survey of staff and students to determine their perceptions of the quality of these services. Surveys were distributed to a sample of 300…

There is a great deal of rhetoric concerning the prevention of violence and related problems faced by youth. A conference speech, this document advocates that rhetoric must be replaced by an examination of available data and experience with school-based prevention programs. This is especially important in light of a growing emphasis on "Safe…

A practicum was designed for parents to acquire the understanding, skills, resources, materials, and wherewithal to support the emergent literacy development of their children on exiting the Head Start program to be successful in kindergarten. A simple, cost-effective, comprehensive, multidimensional project including Parent Workshops, a…

A study was undertaken at Glendale Community College, in California, to determine the effectiveness of a 2-week summer macroeconomics course. To gather data, the instructor maintained a diary of topics covered and problems encountered, surveyed all 20 students upon completion of the class regarding their experiences and satisfaction, and compared…

The Transfer Tracking System at Maryland's Frederick Community College (FCC) is designed to monitor the effectiveness of the college's transfer function by keeping track of student requests for transcripts to be sent to other institutions. Using this system, a study was undertaken at FCC to determine outcomes for the college's transfer function…

This paper describes educational units for preservice teachers that pertain to specific practical motivational techniques for the preservice teachers to use in their classrooms (grades K-12). The units are designed so that students will be able to name four motivational techniques, select the strategy that exemplifies a motivational technique, and…

During the 1993-94 school year, the Office of Research and Evaluation of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) (Texas) conducted a districtwide evaluation of instructional technology. The evaluation consisted first of an accurate count of all computers in AISD schools, and then of an in-depth evaluation of the integrated learning systems…

This paper provides a program evaluation of the K-12 social science program in the Des Moines (Iowa) public schools. The program attempts to provide a balance between American and World Studies, History and Current Issues. It emphasizes multicultural and non-sexist learnings and includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to survive in…

In 1991-92, a study was conducted to refine and implement a system for evaluating the California Community Colleges' vocational education special projects funded under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. The study focused on the 110 projects funded in 1988-89 and 1989-90, assessing their achievement of federal and state goals.…

A follow-up study of 15 project offices (involving 50 administrative and support staff responses) was conducted to determine the progress of the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation projects in addressing previously identified training and technical assistance needs, as authorized by Title 1, Part D, Section 130 of the Rehabilitation Act of…