Successful operation of videoconferencing technology for interactive learning demands preparation and scheduling. Well-organized strategies for interaction assist faculty in meeting individual student needs and developing the "social presence" necessary to facilitate quality online learning. Organizations can be proactive by offering…

This document provides the guidelines to develop a state-wide plan for a continuum of services for deaf-blind individuals. This paper extrapolates from the development of a model plan in Kansas a general set of procedures and policies that can be used by other states and proposes a series of steps for developing a plan for deaf-blind services. The…

The major purpose of this study was to identify the instructional needs in agriculture for small farmers in Kansas. Secondary purposes of the study included the identification of individual characteristics of small and part-time farmers for various educational methods, program schedules, and program length. A survey instrument was developed and…

Papers and materials contributed by four panelists are provided from a panel presentation. "Unlocking Potential in Gerontology" (Theodore W. Wischropp) explains the make-up and organization of two consortia involved in the aging projects in Kansas, briefly describes three federally funded grants, and addresses some issues from the…

Developed as part of an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing a continuing education program for nursing home staff at Butler County Community College (BCCC), this report provides an overview of continuing education in the field at national, state, and local levels. Section I introduces the demographic, social, and economic trends that…

This study attempted to identify the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that parents of children in bilingual education programs believe are important for them to play a meaningful role in their children's education. Parent training models, some created specifically for use with language minority parents, have not resulted in increased parent…

Summarized are the recommendations and findings of 1 1/2-year project to prepare a plan to combat mental retardation in Kansas. The study is said to have been based on the principle that needs rather than diagnostic labels should determine services provided. Outlined are mental retardation planning activities at the federal level and preplanning…

Background: Coordinated school health programs (CSHPs) bring together educational and community resources in the school environment. This method is particularly important in rural areas like Kansas, where resources and trained health professionals are in short supply. Rural Stafford County, Kansas, struggles with health professional shortages and…

A project was undertaken to review funding practices for vocational education in Kansas and to present some alternative funding methods for consideration. During the course of the project, a research specialist interviewed various state-level educational staff and an area vocational and technical school director in order to obtain a general…

There is currently a renewed emphasis on planning stemming largely from the accountability movement in education. The accountability factor suggests that current and future educational planning could perhaps differ from past planning. These differences could possibly manifest themselves in a wider inclusion of lay persons and groups in the…

A project studied the feasibility of developing a branch of the Vocational Technical Institute (VTI) to serve special vocational needs of in-school and out-of-school youth and adults. Population figures on handicapped persons in Southeast Kansas were obtained from the literature, educational agencies, and public service agencies. Data were also…

To determine the need for a v"terinary aide training program, a study was conducted to: (1) discover the need for trained veterinary aides, (2) ascertain the type and extent of training needed, and (3) provide a sound basis for developing a post-secondary training program. Responses to mailed survey instruments were received from 159 of 500…

A project entitled Enhancing the State Role in Lifelong Learning was undertaken in Kansas to enhance state-level planning and the development of policies in support of adult education. Because Kansas is one of six pilot project states participating in the Education Commission of the States (ECS) Lifelong Learning Project, a two-year data…

A pilot project investigating the feasibility of year-round recreational programs in rural counties of populations of less than 10,000 is described in this report. (Sheridan County, Kansas, was chosen as the project site.) Part I, the introductory section, briefly defines recreation and its relation to human needs. Part II provides a geographic…

A two-year project was undertaken in Kansas to develop a five-year plan for career education in the state. The first year resulted in (1) a brief summary of previous work done in Kansas since the introduction of the career education concept, (2) establishment of a definition of career education, (3) a description of various resources that can be…