This paper describes the Open University's Postgraduate Certificate in Education, a postgraduate preservice teacher training program in the United Kingdom. The program provides access to the teaching profession for those who cannot train by conventional routes. It is characterized by: distance education; school-based partnerships; an explicit…

This tech prep competency profile covers these occupations: manufacturing technician, computer-assisted design and drafting (CADD) technician, quality technician, and mechanical technician. Section 1 provides occupation definitions. Section 2 lists development committee members. Section 3 provides the leveling codes---abbreviations for grade level…

This digest is intended to help teachers select good resources to use in their instruction by providing a checklist to evaluate online educational materials. The following major topic areas to consider when evaluating World Wide Web-based materials for use in instructional settings, as well as sub-questions in each area, are outlined: (1) Judge…

The Veterans' Administration new Primary Ambulatory Care and Education (PACE) program at the Sepulveda (California) VA Medical Center, departs from traditional VA medical education models by shifting focus of care from inpatient to outpatient settings. The program uses an interdisciplinary team approach and stresses managed primary care. Aspects…

Explores the differences between information and referral agencies and online community networks from an information policy perspective. Analyzes which has control within the following six facets: agency ownership and governance, funding, information flow, access, ownership of information, and quality control. Confirms distinctive roles, and…

Surveys of Australian college faculty, conducted in 1977 and 1993, provide data for tracing trends in workload. While time devoted to teaching and research have remained stable, changes at the margins of academic workload are considerable. These tasks are largely generated by demands of institutional competition, accountability, and quality…

Discusses Hong Kong's growth as an international center and the role of education in achieving its status. Examines challenges faced after return to Chinese sovereignty from the perspective of higher education, particularly in light of a recent expansion initiative. Issues discussed include maintenance of quality and language standards, efficient…

The variety of ways in which agencies of the state influence the British university curriculum, and in some cases extra-curricular activity, is examined. These sources of influence include expansion, structural changes resulting from retrenchment, promotion of market values, intervention in professional education, quality control, and research…

Discussion of the emergence of nontraditional doctoral pharmacy programs looks at three areas of particular concern: (1) faculty time required; (2) availability of physical and financial resources; and (3) assurance of program quality. Challenges to creating quality programs, development of standards, documentation of quality, treatment of prior…

Estimates costs of (1) full public funding of part-time and full-time programs for children under five who live in poverty; and (2) public and private funding for full-time programs for children under five who are not poor. (LB)

Argues that perception studies and ranking are lacking in validity and reliability because of small sample size, simplistic statistical analyses, and the evaluation of quality by educators. It is asserted that quality control is more valid when evaluated by the customers of education, i.e., the students. (11 references) (EA)

Teaching portfolios, now largely used for evaluation of college teaching, can also be viewed as a form of action research, opening their use to other purposes, including examination of institutional, faculty, and student needs and demands; the dynamics of race, gender, and sexuality in structuring classroom interactions; and the relationship of…

Discusses issues of quality in public libraries in light of changes in services resulting from social and economic changes. Highlights include quality strategies, the customer service revolution, anticipating new markets, defining library values and missions, information technology, training staff for the future, funding, partnerships, and…

International university co-operation is in a constant state of metamorphosis. Its future rests upon extraneous forces such as globalization and internationalization and also upon those who make policy decisions. Many international university organizations are auditing their programs and initiatives to such a degree that the cost effectiveness of…

In the United States, there were more than 500,000 enrollments in online courses in grades K-12 and more than one-third of public school districts offered some type of eLearning during the 2005-2006 school year. Research has been done on several virtual schools in North America; however, little information is available about current K-12…