This issue of the Courier contains articles loosely connected to each other by the underlying theme of developing people's capacity to improve the quality of their lives. The following articles are included: "Development of Human Resources--A Basic Needs Approach," by Mohiuddin Ahmad; "Rural Poverty," by the United Nations Food…

A study was conducted to determine how job clubs help two-year college students with learning disabilities improve their job-seeking skills and knowledge of the world of work in preparation for making a successful transition from school to work. The approach was based on a previous demonstration project in which job clubs showed promising results…

Principles and characteristics of program quality review are described as one means of evaluating values-based outcomes of day programs for persons with mental retardation. Program quality review may be distinguished from other evaluation systems in its focus on program outcomes--what actually happens to the people in the program--rather than on…

This paper reports on the degree to which teacher educators have addressed the current calls for reform in teacher education. The data were taken from the Institutional Questionnaire of the Research about Teacher Education (RATE) Project of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The 90 respondents, each representing…

Microcomputers have revolutionized distance education in virtually every area. Used alone, personal computers provide students with a wide range of utilities, including word processing, graphics packages, and spreadsheets. When linked to a mainframe computer or connected to other personal computers in local area networks, microcomputers can…

This document reports on a needs assessment conducted to determine demographic, occupational, and educational data in Pennsylvania, results of which were to be used to update the state's comprehensive vocational education plan. Answers to three major questions were sought for Pennsylvania and its 67 counties. The questions and their subtopics were…

These appendices accompany a study that was conducted to determine whether the state and federal performance standards for Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs have influenced Service Delivery Area (SDA) and service provider decisions about program design and implementation practices in ways that have affected the clients served, the types…

A study examined the relationship between vocational-technical education (including guidance) and apprenticeship. The existing literature was examined, and key issues in this relationship were identified. These issues were then validated through personal interviews with a sample of state guidance leaders. The information gathered during these…

A training evaluation system should address four major areas: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. The training evaluation system at GPU Nuclear Corporation addresses each of these areas through practical approaches such as course and program evaluation. GPU's program evaluation instrument uses a Likert-type scale to assess task development,…

An accountability model has been derived from a research based staff development model used in secondary school classrooms. This accountability model contains four components: (1) baseline/pretest; (2) inform; (3) guided practice; and (4) post-test observations. In the first component, teachers are observed; individual profiles of behavior are…

This document presents in detail the master plans for the 1983-84 school year of the District of Columbia public schools. Priority areas were identified as instruction, management improvement, planning, quality assurance, resource development, and community relations. General statements of long-range objectives and achievement indicators are…

During 1981-82, a study was conducted by personnel in Occupational Education at North Carolina State University to determine the elements that affect an institution's ability to respond to the training needs of industry. Fifteen community/technical colleges, representing 43 percent of the total enrollees in the system, and 30 major industries in…

In 1986, an academic program review of the biological sciences programs of the universities in the State University of Florida System was performed by a team of 13 consultants. This report of that review includes: (1) the background of the review; (2) a statement of the status of biological science instruction; (3) a review of the 1978 assessment…

An evaluation was made of the international cooperative training programs for developing countries that have been in place in Israel for about 30 years. Of special interest were the dairy courses for English- and Spanish-speaking students. Methods used in the research included study of the course records, interviews with all people involved in the…

In 1988, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted to determine the effectiveness, quality, and image of Patrick Henry Community College's (PHCC's) nursing program. The study was initiated in response to faculty and administrator concern about the low passing rates of nursing graduates on the state licensing board examination. The…