The mid-term evaluation of the Partnership for ODFL in the Pacific Project was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Learning to examine the initial two years of the five-year activity. The evaluation was undertaken by Standard of Proof, the MFAT MERL panel, providing specialist services in monitoring, evaluation, measurement and research and…

Driven by stable or declining financial resources many school districts are considering the costs and benefits of a seven-period day. While there is limited evidence that any particular scheduling model has a greater impact on student learning than any other, it is clear that the school schedule is a tool that can significantly impact teacher…

A plan devised to help students cope with rising education costs has also benefited Colorado State University by trimming more than 9 percent of its labor costs. (Author/MLF)

This paper presents a case for the implementation of year-round education, arguing that education needs to effectively and efficiently utilize school facilities. The paper focuses on the cost of implementing and operating year-round schools--the impact on support services, transportation, facilities, and maintenance. Data are based on a review of…

Instructional System Technology in recent years has been characterized by an increase in individualized instruction and the modularization of the curriculum. In traditional systems the learners are forced to take blocks of instruction the size of entire courses and these are much too large. The courses can now be broken down into conceptual…

Reviews the background and features of digital multimedia instruction, and discusses the benefits and limitations. Applications and future trends are described, and the major areas of applications--education, training, and entertainment--are identified. (Author/AEF)

A study of Montana's vocational education facilities, course offerings, instructional practices, and faculty demographics was conducted in the fall of 1988. Data collection was accomplished through a survey instrument mailed to a random sample of vocational-technical teachers stratified on kind of school (secondary and postsecondary) and size of…

This report is designed to provide the preliminary information that must be considered by policymaking management in deciding the future of the quinmester program. The major sections present (1) a status report of the administration of the secondary quinmester program; (2) a review of the 1972 summer quinmester program; (3) a description of the…

Suggestions are given for innovation in planning international exchange and study abroad programs that maximize an institution's flexibility and reduce cost. These include flexible program length and intensity, flexible planning and contracting options with the corresponding schools, direct negotiations, reciprocity arrangements, and using…

Among the advantages of year-round operation of schools over conventional 9-month operations, the documents in this annotated bibliography cite savings in cost and space, increased flexibility of scheduling, and higher teacher salaries. Various year-round plans are discussed and recommendations offered for implementation of a year-round schedule.…

Drawing on the experiences in a wide range of countries, this book highlights the advantages and problems of multiple-shift educational systems. Practical suggestions are offered for more effective operation of schools caught in the conflict between extending access and minimizing unit costs and maintaining educational quality. Following an…

This paper addresses the concept of blended learning, an approach that has been gaining popularity in recent years with the advancement of computer-mediated training solutions. It begins with an effort to define blended learning and a description of its historical context. A discussion of blended learning as a learner-centric approach follows,…

Interviews with school board members and administrators produced a list of suggestions for balancing a budget in hard times. Among these are changing calendars and schedules to reduce heating and cooling costs; sharing personnel; rescheduling some extracurricular activities; and forming cooperative agreements with other districts. (MLF)

This report describes school operation changes in scheduling, curriculum, decisionmaking powers, and individualization of instruction that are concurrent with the adoption of differentiated staffing. The author defines differentiated staffing, explains where and at what levels it has been utilized, provides descriptions of results achieved, gives…

This report summarizes the results of academic, career and technical, adult education, and developmental education programs that were reviewed during fiscal year 2006. It highlights and summarizes accountability activities and initiatives described by Illinois' 48 community colleges in their Accountability/Program Review Reports for fiscal year…