Describes efforts by the Motorola Training and Education Center (MTEC) to develop and implement a model for applying the concepts of quality/continuous improvement to the design of courseware. MTEC's role as change agent is discussed; the use of an instructional systems design model is explained; and problems are identified. (LRW)

Describes the Best Village Competition of Trinidad-Tobago, instituted in 1963. Through competitions, concerts, and exhibitions, it has succeeded in involving nearly every resident in programs that fortify local culture, artistic expression, athletic achievement, and public health while promoting national unity. (DM)

Describes steps in a process-improvement project for reserve book services at the University of Arizona Library: (1) plan--identify process boundaries and customer requirements, gather/analyze data, prioritize problems; (2) do--encourage divergent thinking, reach convergent thinking, find solutions; (3) check--pilot solutions, compare costs; and…

Suggests ways that librarians should become actively involved in educating the public about supporting the library media center. Discusses activities for improving public relations in the school library; actions to improve visibility at the district level; involvement in the community; and active participation at state and national levels. (AEF)

Examines factors that contribute to the development of an organizational culture. Discusses the vision/mission; training; technology, equipment and supplies; and decor/appearance. Describes how one library created a staff-friendly environment through increasing communication between departments and cross-training to provide interdepartmental…

Reviews 11 articles on education, including: (1) "A Strategy for Helping Students Learn How to Learn," by M. McClanaghan; (2) "What Works in School Improvement?" by A. Harris; (3) "Just a Matter of Time," by F. Smith; and (4) "Selected Pre-Writing Treatments," by Brodney, Reeves, and Kazelskis. (NB)

The frequency, origin, and interpretative implications of elevation differences on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) clinical and restructured clinical (RC) scales were examined. Two large clinical samples consisting of 1,770 outpatients and 2,438 inpatients were used for this study. Three potential factors…

Practitioners teaching new Internet users often report that adult learners are disappointed by their first experiences of the World Wide Web. This article focuses on problematic experiences of developing new web-based literacy practices, particularly for adult learners, and how they can be addressed without attributing difficulties to learners'…

Student learning portfolios have become increasingly popular in educational administration preparation programs due to their many uses and range of applications. Here, Norton documents the nature and extent of its usage nationwide. (Contains 7 tables.)

One of the traditional problems in courseware development that is recognized as hard to solve, is the communication and co-operation between various disciplines in project teams that are working on a courseware product [Alber (1996) "Multimedia: a management perspective." California: Wadsworth; Boyle (1997) "Design for multimedia learning." UK:…

Multiple matrix sampling is a data collection technique that ensures accuracy and efficiency in group performance. It has been widely used in large-scale curriculum evaluation since the 1980s. However, the design does not always fully embrace the dynamics of local evaluation demands. The purpose of this study is to introduce a modified matrix…

This article describes research instruments that facilitate the description of teachers' beliefs and practices and their use with further education (FE) mathematics teachers. They consist of linked questionnaires aimed at both teachers and students, validated by cross-referencing with more open questionnaires and with classroom observation. They…

This study examines the role of language in reducing poverty in Botswana through adult-education programs. Because language is the medium through which human beings communicate and grow intellectually and socially, it should form the basis of any discussion involving the relation between development and education. In order best to respond to…

The U. S. is losing its competitive edge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Thomas Friedman warns that America is not producing enough young people in STEM fields that are essential for entrepreneurship and innovation in the 21st century (The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, 2005). Blue ribbon…

If professional learning communities offer opportunities for improving the teaching and learning process, then developing strong professional development school (PDS) partnerships establish an appropriate framework for that purpose. PDS partnerships, however, can be less than effective without proper planning and discussion about the aims of those…