One approach to institutional renewal and faculty development uses a teaching resource center run by and for faculty members, as illustrated in this article by the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. It has improved instruction and raised faculty morale. (Author/LBH)

At a conference for part-time staff of the East Anglian Region of Britain's Open University, role-playing was used to improve counseling skills. Two role-plays of counseling situations are summarized and discussed and the Role-Playing--Observer's Check List, used in the session, is appended. (JMD)

A list of ways that have proven successful for teachers to gain administrative approval to implement desired programs. (HD)

Ways in which the vocational teacher, supervisor, and administrators may assist the student in his or her pursuit of self-improvement. (HD)

The literature is reviewed and data are presented from several studies conducted at two institutions. The data are consistent with previously-reported studies in that faculty participants consistently expressed satisfaction with development services. A conclusion is that improvement depends both on faculty desire and availability of professional…

Presents a decision model for selecting interactive media formats to solve human performance problems in organizations. Training problems and motivational problems are discussed, change strategies and assessment of values and aptitudes are described, and case studies that apply the decision model are included. (LRW)

A questionnaire for students to rate their own study skills was developed and administered to over 5,000 primary and secondary school students in Japan. Scores for study skills and student motivation were calculated and compared to scholastic performance. Individualized suggestions for improvedment were provided and found to be appropriate. (GDC)

Reports results of a 1982 survey of suburban and rural local governments in Maryland, which showed that cable television in rural areas is generally inferior to that in the suburbs, providing less revenue for local governments and poorer services. Advises local officials how to improve their current cable arrangements. (JHZ)

New York's Action Plan, a comprehensive program outlining school reforms to be phased in over the next decade, stresses the partnership of local and state governments. It sets expectations for student performance, increases accountability, addresses quality of instruction, provides extra help where needed, and allows local flexibility. (DCS)

The "Vocabulary Improvement Program for English Language Learners and Their Classmates" ("VIP") is a vocabulary development curriculum for English language learners and native English speakers (grades 4-6). The 15-week program includes 30-45 minute whole class and small group activities, which aim to increase students'…

Between 2001 and 2005, the state of Maine shifted the focus of its statewide high school improvement efforts to include an explicit focus on adolescent literacy. One trigger for that change in focus was a 5-school adolescent literacy initiative previously launched in a rural county under the federal Northeast and Islands Regional Educational…

Findings from an Employee Satisfaction Survey conducted in spring 2000 at Austin Community College (ACC) (Texas) indicate that: (1) staff in many areas need customer service training; (2) telephones are not used effectively by many offices; (3) many areas are not able to respond quickly to the needs of college staff; and (4) 18 highly used areas…

This report describes Biblored, the library network in Bogota, Colombia, that received the 2002 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award. Biblored is a network of 19 libraries that attract about 200,000 users per month and serve some of the poorest neighborhoods in Bogota. The network's success in making information and…

Engaged communication disciplines put the professional development of future faculty at the center of their mission. The communication discipline values effective and competent interaction within varying contexts, including interpersonal, organizations, public and mass communication, as well as performance studies. Its practitioners therefore…

This volume contains four sections corresponding to the four categories in which programs were originally submitted to the National Council of Instructional Administrators for its Annual Exemplary Initiatives Awards presented at the annual American Association of Community Colleges held in April 1999 at Nashville, Tennessee. Section 1, "Award…