Investigates three policy issues in two school districts: classification of students for various educational services; the impact of these practices on reading instruction; and implications of the classification-reading relationship for providing quality education for all students. Finds that broad discretion in program implementation adversely…

Some typical teacher concerns about technology education are explored. Answers reflect the belief that implementing technology education does not require entirely new instruction methods. Concerns explored include (1) use of the project method, (2) specialized equipment, (3) problem-solving, (4) needs of special students, and (5) teacher skills.…

This final article in a series on management of instructional development projects focuses on what the project manager can do to ensure that the follow-up evaluation is as effective as possible. Highlights include the development of evaluation tools, implementing the chosen evaluation strategies, and analyzing and reporting the findings. (LRW)

Discusses the use of political power within an organization to effectively implement training and performance improvement solutions. The nature of organizations is discussed; political strategies dealing with co-workers, bosses, committees, and the red tape of bureaucracies are described; and methods to increase chances of success are suggested.…

A practicum course for prospective teachers of the gifted was designed, implemented, and evaluated. The 209 teachers found the practicum teaching, observations of their teaching, and papers they wrote to be effective learning experiences. Observers' ratings of the teachers indicated that a majority performed well in the practicum. (Author/JDD)

Conflicts often are symptoms, not causes, of organizational problems. As school budgets shrink, the budget process becomes a battlefield. A systematic approach to revising the budget process involves clarifying the school vision, identifying leadership, clarifying participants' roles, organizing processes, exploring history, implementing change,…

Following 2 years of planning with community members, local university staff, district administrators, teachers, and parents, the Wichita (Kansas) Public Schools Board of Education drafted, approved, and funded a state-of-the-art middle-school conceptual model that was implemented in fall 1989. The pilot project process promoted teacher and…

A program was implemented in Oregon to screen infants at risk for hearing impairment, based on a birth certificate question concerning family history of hearing loss and subsequent parent notification of the need to have the infant's hearing tested. Preliminary results concerning efficacy of the program are reported. (JDD)

Describes the planning and implementation of outcomes accreditation at Maine West High School, in Des Plaines, Illinois, from its beginnings in 1988-89 to the present. Indicates that the school discovered that changes in student achievement follow changes in teacher behaviors and that increases in student learning are based on instructional…

Discusses components of the emerging virtual library. Highlights include adopting technology to enhance library services; navigation problems; shared resources and services; costs; implementation challenges, including library instruction programs; control over intellectual content; technical design issues; and a brief overview of current virtual…

The Cognitive Enrichment Network Educational Model (COGNET) is a comprehensive elementary school approach to assist children in becoming effective, independent, life-long learners, by using mediated learning to address each child's personal and cultural characteristics and social milieu. This paper describes the COGNET approach for nurturing…

Discusses the costs of producing durable educational software in an academic environment and describes an optimized software life cycle that has been implemented at the University of Cambridge (England) Engineering Department. Topics addressed include needs assessment; specifications; program design; implementation and testing; feedback; and…

Discusses the benefits derived from an intergenerational program in a child-care or preschool setting. Describes the planning and implementation of such a program, designed to foster a positive emotional relationship between grandparents, or other older adults as surrogate grandparents, and preschool children. (BB)

A case study of the implementation of a school's environmental education program revealed that planning ahead and teacher participation in decision making are imperative. The implementation of a sound environmental program requires that teachers understand the philosophical and pedagogical nature of environmental education to relate it to their…

Reports on the state of strategic planning for education and training in service industries, manufacturing, retailing, and entertainment organizations. A questionnaire surveyed 200 training managers in organizations of over 5,000 employees headquartered primarily in the Pacific Northwest and revealed that strategic planning is becoming a priority.…