This study documented implementation of the First Steps program, which provides additional support for development of literacy and numeracy among "at-risk" students in Western Australia schools, in twelve schools in different parts of the state, varying in population composition, and with different forms of support in adoption of First…

The 11 chapters in this book describe successful innovative programs of service learning at the undergraduate level. Emphasis is on how different kinds of institutions, facing different internal and external circumstances, have made service-learning an institutional asset. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction: A New Model of Excellence" (Edward…

In response to the increased awareness of substance abuse among youth, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) was enacted to boost drug and alcohol abuse education and prevention programs. A number of initiatives to evaluate these programs were started, and one such assessment, a longitudinal study of school-based prevention programs,…

This document is comprised of summaries of six papers presented at a symposium on the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, a federal grant to school districts intended to promote health and safety in schools and communities. The Initiative was designed to confront school violence, safety, and mental health needs through the provision of a…

This study demonstrates how an institutional research process focused on Ph.D. students contributed to programmatic changes that increased the effectiveness of the program for part-time, adult graduate learners. From 1985-92 faculty in an adult and vocational education doctoral program gathered feedback from students on challenges regarding…

The Texas Effectiveness Study is an evaluation of the effectiveness of special education programs and services in developing life skills related to the transition planning process for Texas special education. One of the three components of the Texas Effectiveness Study is a study of adult outcomes. This component was implemented in the summer of…

In 1998 the National Science Foundation launched the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program, a major initiative aimed at Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduate education. IGERT was developed to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists, engineers, and educators with…

"Citizenship" is a quality that most Americans would agree should be promoted in the schools. "Values education," as we have seen, provokes controversy and the question "Whose values are you going to teach?" An acceptable response is: "Values of citizenship, American democratic values, and the values upon which…

Describes an experiment with 332 students enrolled in an instructional media course at Pennsylvania State University which evaluated the instructional effectiveness of self-paced instruction when units were accompanied by visual aids differing in amounts of realistic detail and the relationship to a student's reading comprehension level. Nineteen…

Fifty-one very bright adolescents participated in a productive-thinking program and a challenging course in either creative writing or the social sciences. The program produced significant gains in verbal intelligence scores. The productive-thinking program also significantly raised scores on measures of creativity. (Author/GDC)

Participants in the Student Model Utilization Review Committee Project at Jefferson Medical College showed greater knowledge and more positive attitudes about utilization review and cost control in the health care field, and one year later they demonstrated clinical behavior that was more consistent with program objectives than did the controls.…

Reports on a service-learning seminar at Stanford University (California) for nine faculty and three administrators designed to stimulate faculty interest in connecting student public service to academic study and provide knowledge and resources for course design. Data are drawn from participants' seminar learning plans, assessments, and follow-up…

Outlines recommended practices for strengthening administrator preparation programs. Preservice programs should emphasize development of reflective skills; ethical and moral leadership qualities; adult learning principles; coherent, integrated curricula; and updated teaching and learning processes. Aspiring principals need more opportunities for…

Describes the Electronic Networks for Interaction (ENFI) Project undertaken at Gallaudet University, a university for the deaf. Explains that the project sought to give students an opportunity to use written English in ways that hearing people routinely used spoken English. Identifies both writing successes and instructor objections to the…

A study compared the changes in students with moderate mental retardation in two school settings (segregated and semi-integrated) in intellectual development, adaptive behavior, receptive language, and academic achievement. While both groups gained in some areas, greater gains were found in the semi-integrated population. (MSE)