"Notes & Reflections" offers practical information--ideas, strategies, tools, and resources--about topics of special interest to professional developers who are working to improve school performance. Today, professional development services to schools are provided by variety of people: teacher leaders; principals; and district, regional, and state…

Conveniently designed for hanging, this colorful flipchart ensures that you have, at a glance, the latest information for preventing safety problems in today's inquiry-intensive learning environment. The front page has space for you to enter emergency phone numbers. A final checklist acts as a quick reference on some of the most important safety…

This document is a chapter in "The Principles and Practice of Educational Management," which aims to provide a systematic and analytical introduction to the study of educational management. The structure of the book reflects the main substantive areas of educational leadership and management, and most of the major themes are covered in the…

This paper presents a model for studying the freshman year experience and identifying predictors of overall satisfaction with the first year in college. Results are based on a survey of 268 freshmen attending a private, selective college in the northeast. Findings confirm the importance of social experiences. Three of five significant predictors…

The Open Source Teaching Project (OSTP) is an attempt to apply a variant of the successful open source software approach to the development of educational materials. Open source software is software licensed in such a way as to allow anyone the right to modify and use it. From such a simple premise, a whole industry has arisen, most notably in the…

The movement for developing and implementing adult English as a Second Language (ESL) content standards is gaining momentum in the United States as more emphasis is placed on learner outcomes, accountability, and professionalism in the field. Additional research is needed to investigate the impact that adult ESL content standards have on…

This annual report highlights many recent achievements in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system. The ERIC system encompasses the world's largest and most frequently used education database as well as a network of 16 subject-specific clearinghouses, several adjunct clearinghouses, and three supporting service components. ERIC…

Linking information to education users goes beyond information organization issues, such as abstracting, indexing, and information filters. It is a social issue as well. This paper focuses upon the social dimensions of education information, as expressed in partnerships needed for the United States Educational Information Network's (USEIN)…

In May 1996, the New Jersey State Board of Education adopted the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The standards define all concepts students are expected to achieve in seven content areas (including mathematics and science) at grades 4, 8, and 12. They also describe what all students must learn as they move from school to work and include the…

This guide identifies major U.S. Department of Education programs and resources that are available to support school, community, university, and state efforts to invest in good teachers and good teaching. Part 1 places the issue of teacher quality in the context of broad trends in public education and presents some key challenges identified by the…

In order to expand career guidance and counseling in elementary and middle schools, the availability of resources and materials that support career development activity was investigated and exemplary career guidance and counseling programs were identified. Results of the study revealed the following characteristics of effective programs: (1)…

This book provides an illustrated introduction to a wide range of learning technologies from multimedia PCs to the Internet and the World Wide Web. The book covers choosing a computer, creating images for Web pages, making OHP slides, using desktop video conferencing. The book contains activities, case studies and notes, and provides advice on:…

The question of the provision of libraries to support primary and secondary education in South Africa has been overlooked by most education departments and educators and is not a focal point of current education planning. The present provision of library services by the different education authorities is generally poor; school libraries have long…

In the midst of an information explosion, it is increasingly important for educators and students to learn how to effectively use new technologies. Technologies impacting education are examined, including school LANs (Local Area Networks), the Internet, and multimedia, and the best use of these technologies in an educational setting is…

This report addresses university outreach efforts at Michigan State University (MSU) and sets out strategic directions for strengthening such efforts. The report focuses on three messages: (1) that faculty, staff, and students are engaged in a significant amount of outreach, although these activities may not always be so labeled; (2) that outreach…