Collaborative Learning (CL) is a form of instruction in which small groups of students work together on tasks utilizing set structures and specific time limits that are controlled by the teacher. At Erie Community College (ECC) in Buffalo, New York, several structured activities for CL have been developed for use in the classroom. In the…

This study explored the dimensional structure of mentoring and other support behaviors that occur naturally among teachers in elementary school settings and contrasted the support networks of female and male teachers. A Teacher Support Behavior Survey (TSBS) was developed based on the content of 512 interviews with elementary teachers on their…

A study was done to explore student perceptions of school environments in multiethnic, New York State middle schools and the impact of those perceptions on teacher efforts to develop social interaction within the schools. Using a survey questionnaire, 804 students from 5 middle schools selected for their multiethnic characteristics participated.…

The purpose of this meeting, one of a series of family impact seminars, was to examine issues surrounding the child care market in the United States. This document provides highlights of the seminar and a background briefing report. The highlights section contains summaries of presentations by the panelists, beginning with Rachel Connelly's…

This learning activity package is designed to help women prepare for the environment they may find while working in a trade. After completing this package, women should have a realistic idea about how well prepared they are to deal with job conditions that tend to be a problem for tradeswomen. Five units address the following topics: (1)…

This guide is intended to help organizational researchers involved in diagnosing organizations and helping them change. Part 1 focuses on defensive routines that limit learning at the organizational, intergroup, group, and individual levels. Part 2 focuses on the case study of a consulting firm at which a climate fostering learning and change was…

This study builds on an earlier one in which the role of institutional researchers in providing computer information systems (CIS) data to administrators was investigated. To examine the relationship between college culture and the role of institutional researchers as either providers of information or interpreters of data, a study was conducted…

Japan's economic success is clear evidence that purposeful investments in the educational quality of the work force pay major dividends in terms of enhanced productivity and increased competitiveness. The key elements of the Japanese system are, in fact, less than 40 years old. The current recession is a reminder of the transitory nature of…

An environmental scan was conducted to assess the demographic and economic conditions in Passaic County (New Jersey) as a way of providing information helpful to Passaic County Community College (PCCC) in its planning activities. The environment scan focused on immigration patterns, job creation and loss trends, business hiring needs, PCCC…

This book contains 17 papers, chosen from those presented within the last 2 years at the annual National Conference on Creating the Quality School, hosted by the Center for the Study of Small/Rural Schools at the University of Oklahoma. The papers are grouped into three sections: leadership for school improvement; classroom practices for school…

This publication describes activities UNESCO is carrying out and the objectives it is pursuing. The following articles are included: (1) "Education and Human Development" (Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO); (2) "Education and the Future" (Colin N. Power, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO); (3)…

It has been difficult to define the work of curriculum directors for a variety of reasons related to educational structures and policies. Through the use of qualitative methodology, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the work of four exemplary curriculum directors in an effort to define their duties and responsibilities, identify the…

This book is designed to accompany "A Good Place to Work: Sourcebook for the Academic Workplace" and represents a tool for colleges interested in supporting faculty morale and the quality of the academic workplace. The Audit, developed from a study by the Council of Independent Colleges, is organized into nine sections, each one focusing on an…

The purpose of a 3-year project was to develop and implement an organizational intervention strategy designed to assist key administrators within the Arkansas Vocational and Technical Education Division in improving the organizational effectiveness of their administrative units. The Organizational Health Instrument was used as a diagnostic and…

Given the moral nature of public schools and the numerous moral dilemmas faced by school administrators, training in ethics should be included in administrator preparation curricula. After discussing the public school as a moral institution, this document explains normative ethics and outlines the differences between moral and nonmoral judgments.…