Contextual learning--also known as "learning by doing, experiential learning, real-world education, or active learning"--has long been advocated for students. In practice, however, schools often offer the opposite: individual learning, independent of tools, dependent upon symbols, and theoretical. Today the school-to-work movement has…

School culture has recently emerged as a framework for the study and interpretation of the structure and development of schools. This paper reviews a work culture productivity model and reports the development of a culture instrument. The use of second-order component analysis shows areas of generalization across primary factors. The School Work…

This booklet, which is intended for vocational educators/trainers in Australia, explains the principles and techniques of competency-based training (CBT). The following topics are discussed in the first 10 sections: the decision to adopt CBT in Australia; the meaning of competency; teaching and learning to become competent (competency standards as…

This directory contains names and contact information for over 50 social scientists who are available for consultation on policy issues related to poverty in rural America. Part I is organized by topics that are relevant to rural poverty policies and legislation. Under each topic heading are the names; university affiliations; addresses; and…

This paper describes the development of the Teachers' Activity Centers (TACs) in Malaysia. The TACs evolved from Local Resource Centers and District Resource Centers of the 1970s and 1980s. The 350 TACs in the country were initially supplied with basic tools for the production of teaching-learning resources. With administrative reorganization, the…

This guide, which was developed to assist instructors of several Ohio programs for special adult audiences (including programs for displaced homemakers, dislocated workers, single parents who are school dropouts, and adults needing help coordinating work and family roles), contains a series of curriculum modules devoted to selected aspects of…

This educator-oriented handbook by "Virtual Dave" provides an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand guide to the Internet: what it is; how it works; and how one gets there. The book covers the basics of the Internet, with simple and concise explanations geared toward classroom teachers and school library media specialists. Each chapter…

In the mission statement that introduces this annual report, the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction defines the goals of revamping the state's "Essential Skills" program to reflect high academic standards and achievement, develop a fiscally responsible equitable school finance system, and reorganize the state department of…

These three papers were presented at a symposium on evaluation issues on human resource development (HRD) moderated by Hallie Preskill at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "Designing an Effective 360-Degree Appraisal Feedback Process" (David Antonioni) presents a conceptual model for a 360-degree appraisal feedback…

These three papers were presented at a symposium on high-involvement work teams moderated by Michael Leimbach at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "Beyond Training to the New Learning Environment: Workers on the High-Involvement Frontline" (Joseph Anthony Ilacqua, Carol Ann Zulauf) shows the link between…

These two papers were presented at a symposium on instructional technology in human resource development (HRD) moderated by Mark Lewis at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "An Analysis of the Instructional Technology Competencies Required by HRD Practitioners and Sources of Competency Development" (Julie…

This document consists of four papers presented at a symposium on core directions in human resource development (HRD) moderated by Verna Willis at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "Reengineering the Organizational HRD Function: Two Case Studies" (Neal Chalofsky) reports an action research study in which…

This instructional resource provides classroom teachers with information for working successfully with all students by incorporating management tools and strategies to ensure students' success as they move from school to work. The guide is organized in five parts. Part I, Strategies for Learning and Teaching, covers these topics: learning styles,…

This newsletter includes six articles related to the Regional Resource and Federal Centers for Special Education Network and its efforts in the area of standards and accountability. In "Teacher Training and Skills: Necessary Ingredients for Standards and Accountability," John Copenhaver discusses ways in which the Regional Resource and…

This monograph presents a synthesis of the solutions and strategies generated during a June 1995 national forum of state, territorial, and tribal child care administrators on the inclusion of children with disabilities in community-based child care settings. The monograph is organized into sections focused on the five major issue areas discussed…