The results of a field test which evaluated the training effectiveness of a new curriculum in the Naval Apprentice Training Program are detailed. The new mathematics curriculum was designed by Memphis State University to teach fundamental mathematical skills to low-aptitude sailors. The goal was to bring such sailors to at least eighth-grade…

A study was conducted utilizing new postsecondary Interstate Distributive Education Curriculum Consortium (IDECC) curriculum materials to evaluate through experimental research the effectiveness of IDECC's systematic teaching approach. The study was quasi-experiential involving two levels of treatment: (1) the postsecondary IDECC teaching approach…

Because of an expressed need for staff development for vocational education administrators, research was conducted to identify and verify the competencies needed by vocational administrators; competency-based modularized materials were developed to address those competencies; and a variety of competency-based training program strategies were…

A project designed a national curriculum model for Energy Conservation-and-Use Technicians (ECUTs) and developed and tested instructional materials for use in the courses. The two-year postsecondary ECUT curriculum was designed to provide an interdisciplinary technical base (electrical, mechanical, thermal, and fluidal principles) and technical…

A project was conducted to develop three metric education modules for use with bilingual (Spanish and English) students in postsecondary and adult vocational education programs. Developed for the first section of each module, five instructional units cover basic metric concepts: (1) measuring length and finding area, (2) measuring volume, (3)…

This task analysis report for the Robotics/Automated Systems Technician (RAST) curriculum project first provides a RAST job description. It then discusses the task analysis, including the identification of tasks, the grouping of tasks according to major areas of specialty, and the comparison of the competencies to existing or new courses to…

This report recounts the findings of a study of people who purchased "Looking into Painting" materials, a learning package developed by the Personal and Cultural Education (PACE) Sector of the Continuing Education area in England's Open University. The package is not part of any course of study leading to a qualification, and there is no…

To evolve a new methodology and system for teaching physics to students aspiring to become (or to become more competent as) technicians in a variety of technologies, this research and development effort was initiated. The project's thesis stemmed from a notion that the study of physics would be more accepted and assimilated by students if concepts…

A study explored possible reasons why technical and further education (TAFE) students enrolling in vocational education and training (VET) courses in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia do not complete those courses. Findings were based on these two kinds of evidence: evidence obtained from a statistical investigation of the outcomes…

As part of Project IMPACT's efforts to identify and develop procedures for complying with the impact requirements of Public Law 94-482, a case study was made of the Illinois Occupational Survival Skills Project. The purpose of the Occupational Survival Skills Project was to develop curriculum materials to help prepare high school students to…

The changes in teaching, learning, and assessment brought about by the introduction of the National Certificate in Scotland were assessed. Data were collected through interviews with and a survey of 511 teaching staff (398 responses) and 1,646 students (1,277 responses) in a number of colleges throughout Scotland and a survey of 344 employers (68…

The Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) was designed to encourage adults to participate in higher education. Students enrolled in SWAP in 1991-92 and former SWAP students in their first year of higher education in 1991-92 were interviewed twice by telephone, near the beginning and toward the end of their SWAP course or first year. (The number…

These conference proceedings contain eight research papers on current findings, trends, and issues on health-related topics that have an impact on health occupations education. Presentations include "Update on Health Occupations Education" (Catherine B. Junge); "Reliability Considerations in Measuring Health Occupations Performance" (James Noel…

Research for Better Schools (RBS) has operated INROADS, a career development program for minority youth, for 13 years and the High School Academies, a work-study program aimed at potential high school dropouts, for 14 years. RBS found that a new approach to educational research and development was needed when working in partnership with the…

Under the Idaho state system for curriculum development in vocational education, Technical Committees made up solely of industry personnel are responsible for drawing up task lists for each program. A Technical Committee Report is prepared on completion of the Committee's assignment. This report presents a task list that reflects current trends…