Superintendents and principals can have a positive and decisive impact on student achievement and higher graduation rates. Their essential leadership can illuminate the path to excellence for faculty and students. In upgrading curriculum and instruction, school leaders need to keep abreast of practices proven effective in other districts and…

The author provides a personal account of the actions taken by several teachers at Naperville High School to individualize a traditional Freshman English course through learning modules and a credit/no credit grading system. (Editor/SJL)

Describes the design and construction of a technology laboratory for high school students, stressing the involvement of industry for funding, supplies, and help with construction. Curriculum development based on the new lab is discussed; instructional modules are explained; and changes in class enrollment are described. (LRW)

Describes a four-year Illinois project to identify twelve topics that can be developed into instructional modules for teaching occupational survival skills. Topics include working in an organization, understanding self/others, motivation, interpersonal relations, on-the-job communications, creativity, authority/responsibility, problem solving,…

Josephine County School District (Oregon) provided the Applied Communications modules to vocationally oriented students at its three high schools. The project's goal was to improve the communication skills of high school graduates. Each high school presented the program in a different manner; all offered English credit. Hidden Valley High School…

This module presents information to administrators and teachers planning to use telecommunications in the business and office curriculum in grades 9-12. It accompanies three modules designed for use in three courses in which a unit on telecommunications can be taught. The module addresses four major needs. The first section discusses required…

This research assessed Australian high school students' understanding of light, developed materials to conceptual change with respect to the concept, and evaluated the effectiveness of teaching strategies utilizing the materials. After instruction, students were able to construct significantly more scientifically acceptable answers. An appendix…

A competency-based automotive mechanics curriculum was developed at Big Bend Community College (Washington) in order to provide the basis for an advanced placement procedure for high school graduates and experienced adults through a competency assessment. In order to create the curriculum, Big Bend Community College automotive mechanics…

The intended, perceived, implemented, and achieved curriculum of high school biology classes in Israel was studied using a variety of data sources and research methodologies. The intended curriculum was identified by analysis of commonly used laboratory manuals. The perceived curriculum was captured by procuring the views of teachers and students…

Describes ICEA (Iowa Chemistry Education Alliance), a consortium of high school chemistry instructors and university faculty that developed concept-oriented modular units for the high school chemistry curriculum and provided teachers with opportunities for peer collaboration. Discusses the ICN (Iowa Communication Network) that has synchronous…

To introduce students to the world of robotics and industrial automation, robotics was introduced to students enrolled in electronics classes in the industrial arts program at St. Amant High School (Louisiana). Three robots, three host microcomputers, and necessary software were purchased. The electronics instructor installed the three robots…

The effects of a 3-week summer workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and seven seminars held in the following academic year on the learning environments of 40 participating teachers' high school biology and chemistry classes were assessed. In this 1988-89 program, the 40 teachers visited 10 industries and agencies to observe…

This document contains 45 integrated physics, mathematics, and technology curriculum modules developed by teachers at 5 Illinois schools. An introduction discusses the collaborative project, in which teams of one mathematics, physics, and technology teacher from each school developed innovative instructional delivery models that enabled the three…

This document describes a demonstration program that developed secondary level competency-based instructional materials for industrial automation mechanics. Program activities included task list compilation, instructional materials research, learning activity packet (LAP) development, construction of lab elements, system implementation,…

Phase II of the Iowa High School Industrial Arts project sought to revise industrial arts content to include the infusion of new technologies, structured mathematics and science content, and a less project-oriented approach to teaching. The project identified a philosophical basis and a content structure; set priorities for development and…