A study of 270 sophomores taught in either a block scheduling or traditional scheduling format showed significant results for English and biology. Block schedules significantly predicted pretest to posttest differences in Educational Testing Service subject scores over and above those of students following traditional schedules. (Contains 16…

Investigates the application of a relevance ranking technique, cover density ranking that is based on term proximity and cooccurrence for information retrieval on the World Wide Web that augments coordination ranking when one to three search terms are used. Compares cover density ranking with standard ranking methods and discusses implementation…

Discusses implementation at Conestoga Elementary School in Gillette, Wyoming, of an electronic portfolio system to store both two-dimensional information, such as writing and drawing, and full-motion video sequences for each student. Notes that teachers, parents, and students can access the portfolios, which reside on rewritable optical disks; and…

Considers aspects of managing change as illustrated in 25 British secondary schools that have implemented antibullying policies for pupils. Despite staff ownership, problems arising from the subjectivity of policy interpretation and contextual pressures are likely to affect outcomes. Analysis of questionnaire and report data shows that policy…

Presents the three phases of the implementation and operation of the Integrated Information Center (IIC) at the University of Minnesota from 1990-93. Competition between the IIC and information centers at the two schools the IIC was intended to serve--the School of Management and the Institute of Public Affairs--is addressed. (JAK)

Evaluated a critical-thinking skills-training program for inservice training of classroom teachers in Georgia using responses from 700 questionnaires. Modeling of the strategy being taught, knowledge and enthusiasm of the trainers, and material relevance contributed to the high quality of training. More follow-up to the training would be extremely…

Conversation Rebuilding (CR) help students formulate acceptable utterances in a foreign language by starting with rough approximations, using words students know, and zeroing in on utterances a native speaker might produce. This article examines how this technique can be implemented in intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) and describes a prototype…

There has been little litigation since the Family Medical Leave Act's inception in 1993. This article highlights FMLA's scope of coverage, leave requirements, notice and verification, special rules for employees and local education agencies, employment and leave entitlements, and enforcement. Employers violating the FMLA may have to reinstate and…

The "clearness committee," a Quaker practice, might provide an avenue for educators grappling with crises and seeking clarity about their worries and concerns over time. A Lewis and Clark College seminar held in April 1998 dealt with an administrator's fears about carrying on following a former student's suicide. Steps for freeing one's…

Discusses lessons learned in the implementation of James Comer's School Development Program including: (1) leadership; (2) overcoming resistance to change; (3) time required for change; (4) creating a supportive climate; (5) staff commitment and staff time; (6) personnel and staff training; (7) parent involvement; (8) connecting school and…

When introduced a decade ago, development planning was regarded as a strategy to help (British) schools manage change. Recent evidence suggests that schools exhibiting "best practice" in development planning have transcended this usage and now employ development planning to enhance pupil achievement. This paper examines the latter,…

Summarizes results of a nationwide survey to determine secondary principals' attitudes toward selected aspects of block scheduling. All 69 participants (from 10 states) expressed full support for block scheduling. Many principals expressed concerns about student maturity, sequential course offerings, and time spent on homework. Schedule…

Benchmarks for early childhood education must provide sufficient clarity and direction, pertain to both kindergarteners and preschoolers, specify what knowledge students should be learning, be developmentally appropriate, and reflect student progress. Implementing standards requires educators to address two equally important challenges-teaching…

Describes an elementary school study that investigated how to successfully implement the Accelerated Reader program, an electronic reading management program designed to replace standard book reports and raise students' motivation to read quality literature and help them become better readers. Topics include student attitudes; teacher attitudes;…

This article discusses probable explanations for the weak effects in some meta-analyses that have investigated the effectiveness of social skills training (SST) for students with disabilities and offers specific recommendations for designing and producing more effective SST interventions. Treatment integrity issues, assessment issues, and…