Evaluated Wisconsin's Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program of class-size reduction through a quasi-experimental, comparative-change design. Results for 1996-97 and 1997-98 are consistent with the positive effects shown for Tennessee's Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio program (STAR). (SLD)

Describes innovative strategies that schools and universities are using to save money and reshape operations. Focuses on ideas in energy efficiency and facilities improvement, direct purchasing, energy management, retrofitting buildings, ceiling insulation upgrades, automation systems, electric demand programs, facilities programs, warranty…

A pilot program engaged adults aged 55-84 in mental fitness activities to stimulate creative thinking, problem solving, memory, mental flexibility, risk taking, and confidence. The changes in their knowledge, skills, and attitudes support mental fitness as a critical component of healthy aging. (SK)

A greater challenge than collecting and organizing data is transforming data into easily accessible, useful information that staff members can employ for school improvement. A New Hampshire district developed four guiding principles. They prioritized instructional change, instituted staff training, stressed communication of results, and invited…

Boston's Diploma Plus program helps 16- to 22-year-old dropouts gain the skills and confidence necessary for graduation, continued education, and work. The program establishes high expectations, enlivens teaching and learning, measures progress by actual performance, and builds in continuous assessment and challenging postsecondary experiences.…

Developed a model and an operational measure of collective teacher efficacy and tested the measure in a pilot study involving 70 teachers. Also used the instrument to study collective teacher efficacy and academic achievement in 47 urban elementary schools. Results show collective teacher efficacy to be positively associated with student-level…

Describes a pilot study at the Open University of the United Kingdom that used a computer mediated communication (CMC) tutor group for a distance learning course. Highlights include the role of the tutor; benefits perceived by students; comparisons with face-to-face tutorials; and tuition issues. (LRW)

Describes a pilot mediation program that offers an empowering alternative to problem resolution used by mental health consumers receiving treatment at an inpatient psychiatric center. The training program uses mental health clinicians and consumers (peer advocates) to act as assistants in mediating disputes between consumers and between consumers…

Reports results of a pilot study that examined the level of information and concern that users possess about copyright in electronic resources and what methods users would prefer to use to obtain copyright management information in electronic resources. Results show that few users are willing to devote more than 10 minutes to locating copyright…

In 1989, an ambitious Princeton University senior had an idea. Inspired to bridge the educational gap in the United States, Wendy Kopp formed a pilot program where enthusiastic grads like her would flood inner city schools and clean up the proverbial neighborhood. She even gave it an imperative and patriotic moniker: Teach for America. Seventeen…

A 12-week pilot project on physical activity was introduced in a day habilitation setting to a group of 12 older adults with intellectual disability and a variety of physical and behavioral conditions. Our purpose was to determine whether (a) this intervention would positively impact physical function in this population, (b) consumers would choose…

Scenario writing is a method to promote creative thinking and a proactive approach to dealing with the future. ATEE's Research and Development Centre "Curricula in Teacher Education" has adapted this method for use in teacher education. A Comenius funded course on Scenario writing was run over five days with teachers, teacher--educators,…

As a result of advances in GIS, students from a range of disciplines (epidemiology, public health, medical sociology, and anthropology) are seeking to learn how to apply a mapped, spatial perspective to issues of disease and health. This paper describes a pilot program whose intent has been to develop an interdisciplinary, skill-based course in…

Children with visual impairments who are gifted may be one of the most underserved student populations in our educational system (Johnsen & Corn, 1989). A paucity of current research exists concerning appropriate practices for recognizing these students in publicly funded school settings. In 2004, the American Foundation for the Blind reported…

This article describes a 34-week pilot project aimed at improving health care service delivery for adolescents by offering youth a distinct role as advisory board members who help shape policy, provide feedback, guidance, and direction to a school-based health center (SBHC) program in Boston. Freshmen were recruited to participate in a Youth…