This second-year project report describes the current status and future planned development of the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), an evolving statewide system which will make possible the electronic movement of educational data between Florida's public schools, school districts, colleges, universities, the Department of Education…

The cost-effective use of communications technologies to extend adult learning opportunities is one way state policymakers can face the challenge of responding to growing demands for essential public services. The major new educational technologies that are available are television, radio, telephone, computers, communications satellites, and…

The effects of innovation on leadership abilities have not been widely investigated. Although diffusion of innovation theory has existed for some time, there is a need for more research detailing the relationship between innovation and transformational leadership. In a survey of organizational members (N = 294), innovation was significantly…

Project-based learning offers the opportunity to apply theoretical and practical knowledge, and to develop the student's group working, and collaboration skills. In this paper we presented a design of effective computer class that implements the well-known and highly accepted project-based learning paradigm. A pre-test/post-test control group…

Manchester Business School employs a distinctive approach to learning known as the Manchester Method which is based on the principle that the most effective and rewarding way to learn and remember is through a practical reflective, live/real project-based approach. This paper investigates the use of a collaboration and information sharing…

In the author's experience, Colombia is among the most misunderstood Spanish-speaking countries. Most of the news about Columbia involves drug trafficking or guerilla warfare, due to the many social and political problems that face the country. It is rare that the public is informed about the culture and people of this beautiful South American…

This study examined scores from 133,906 operationally scored Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) essays to determine whether the choice of composition medium has any impact on score quality for subgroups of test-takers. Results of analyses demonstrate that (a) scores assigned to word-processed essays are slightly more reliable than…

The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions: 1) How well prepared are chemistry teachers in terms of content and pedagogy, 2) What are chemistry teachers trying to accomplish in their teaching and what activities do they use to meet their objectives and 3) What are the barriers to effective chemistry teaching identified by…

The manual contains materials developed for Spanish-speaking parents in New York City's Community School District 3 that may be useful for other bilingual parent populations in need of English language learning. The materials include a message to parents, in both English and Spanish, about the goals of parent involvement and bilingual education,…

Relative costs in specialized occupational fields of study at the California State University and the University of California are evaluated by the California Postsecondary Education Commission. Procedures used by the universities to allocate resources among various technical and specialized fields of study are described. The analysis indicates…

This document contains the proceedings of a research conference on health occupations of education and includes an agenda of the conference, a list of co-sponsors, and 10 papers: "The Need for Research in Education of Human Service Workers" (C. Junge); "Status of Health Occupations Teacher Certification" (C. Chappelka);…

This curriculum guide contains a course in civil drafting to train entry-level workers for jobs in the field. The module contains 12 instructional units that cover the following topics: (1) introduction to civil drafting; (2) map scales and measurement; (3) standard symbols and abbreviations; (4) interpretation of surveyor's notations; (5) legal…

This competency-based module uses the Ocean County (New Jersey) Vocational-Technical Schools curriculum-infused model for infusing basic skills instruction into vocational education. The model demonstrates the relationship of vocational skills to communication, mathematics, and science. The document begins with a philosophy statement; preface; a…

The Literacy Education Action (LEA) program was established in the fall of 1985 under the initiative of the president of the El Paso Community College (Texas). During 1985 and 1986, LEA concentrated on developing its own literacy tutoring program, including recruiting and training volunteers and community members with reading skills below the…

This report is a preliminary analysis of data provided by the 7 North Dakota and 14 Missouri schools involved in the German I by Satellite Program during the 1987-88 school year. In May 1988 each of the 21 schools participated in the first phase of a comprehensive distance learning study, the purpose of which was to identify the factors associated…