This article outlines major aspects of the planning of large conferences. These major aspects are a well-planned and well-structured organizational system and a detailed budget. Although conferences sponsored by voluntary associations are emphasized, many of the same principles apply to other types of large conferences. (CT)

Three employee assistance programs designed to combat employee drug abuse are described and evaluated. The author also provides guidelines to consider when designing a substance abuse program: consult all departments that can make a contribution; keep abreast of technical support; and seek outside help if there is no help available within the…

It is well documented that college students arrive poorly prepared to succeed in science and mathematics courses. Reasons for this include: (1) lack of student conceptual understanding in science; (2) inability to think critically; (3) little interest in science; and (4) a lack of self-discipline and study skills. The purpose of this paper is to…

In recent years there has been a strong interest on the part of universities, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia, to increase the percentage of their engineering faculty with doctoral degrees. Since there are relatively few doctoral programs in engineering in these countries, many universities would like to upgrade their current…

This paper is a report of the development of a systematic process for locating instructional design alumni and recruiting them to provide feedback from their workplaces. The purpose is to make alumni part of the process for program improvement. The process for tracking, contacting, and gathering data from alumni is described. In addition, the…

Results are reported from a study designed to determine whether children's use of literature during free-play time could be increased by implementing changes in the kindergarten classroom's program and physical design. (MP)

The author defines school climate, summarizes the rationale for climate improvement from evidence on improved student behavior, and outlines the climate improvement process originally developed by the Colorado League of Schools for Climate Improvement and now the basis for an ASCD staff development kit. (Author/SJL)

Describes how the field experience for students of educational administration at Northwest Missouri State University was restructured, by defining responsibilities, adding a research component, and clarifying the evaluative process. (SR)

The success of corporate instructional design projects depends on how well the practitioner performs in the field under specific circumstances. Benchmarking is one of the major business strategies for continuous improvement. A thorough inquiry into how exceptional corporate instructional designers function lends insights into the instructional…

Rapid prototyping involves abandoning many of the linear steps of traditional prototyping; it is instead a series of design iterations representing each major stage. This article describes the development of an instructor-led course for midlevel auditors using the principles and procedures of rapid prototyping, focusing on the savings in time and…

Many black women in the United States experience unique stressors that often impede their ability to interact and cope effectively in their psychosocial environment. The study in this article examined factors affecting the ability of black women to cope with everyday stressors and to master situations that induce psychological distress. Using an…

Research on mentoring in higher education is increasingly widespread. This article aims to provide insight into different kinds of mentoring programs and the research conducted to determine the effectiveness of these programs. A review of the literature revealed multiple definitions of what mentoring means, how programs operate, and types of…

This study positioned the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2002 as a reified colonizing entity, inscribing its hegemonic authority upon the professional identity and work of school principals within their school communities of practice. Pressure on educators and students intensifies each year as the benchmark for Adequate Yearly Progress…

This article systematically reviews research on the achievement outcomes of four types of approaches to improving the reading success of children in the elementary grades: reading curricula, instructional technology, instructional process programs, and combinations of curricula and instructional process. Study inclusion criteria included use of…

The purposes of this paper are to explain the development processes of an intensive summer program for English language learners and to discuss course improvement strategies based on the evaluation outcomes. This 60-hr partnership program between local schools and a university was developed to improve the language proficiency of increasing numbers…