This paper addresses the issue of developmental education in the community college. Across the country, states are increasingly discouraging four-year institutions from offering remedial education. The City University of New York and the California State University system are phasing out remedial instruction. In the 1999-2000 academic year, public…

In this issue of Forum Focus, we focus on what researchers and policy makers are doing to help governments take stock of their efforts to make sure that every young person is "Ready by 21"--ready for work, ready for college, ready for life. "Research Update" reviews efforts to establish a coherent set of youth development…

This book is a hands-on activity resource for kindergarten and first grade that makes phonics instruction easy and fun for teachers and children in the classroom. The book offers methods for practice, reinforcement, and assessment of phonetic skills using a poem as a foundation for teaching short vowels. The poem is duplicated so children can work…

Intended for teachers of kindergarten and first grade, this book offers hands-on activities that make phonics instruction easy and fun for teachers and children in the classroom. The book provides methods for practice, reinforcement, and assessment of phonics skills. A poem is used to introduce the phonics element of this book, rhyming words. The…

This report discusses the objectives and outcomes of a project that investigated the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems by students with severe communication disabilities. The first objective of the project was to conduct five investigations to identify skills that contribute to the communicative competence of students…

This paper is a report of a project that was undertaken to produce a self-teaching manual for students wishing to acquire technical skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Such skills are required in the analysis of locational data such as those found in aerial photographs, satellite images and digital maps. The self-teaching manual…

The effective use of technology in the classroom has become a focal emphasis in K-12 schools. Because of this emphasis, teacher education programs are expected to provide future teachers with an education that includes teaching specific content areas as well as an opportunity to become computer literate. During two semesters, pre- and…

This collection is designed to help educators find outstanding curricula, multimedia resources, and other educational materials that can enhance biodiversity teaching in a variety of settings. The curriculum materials were reviewed by teams comprised of classroom teachers, content experts, and environmental educators. The materials listed in this…

This book offers trainers and human resource managers an alternative approach to train people more effectively and capitalize on multimedia-based tools. The approach is based on computer-based training and virtual learning theory. Chapter 1 discusses how to remedy problems caused by bad training. Chapter 2 focuses on simulating work and creating…

North Carolina's legislature mandated changes in principal preparation programs and funded a program for Principal Fellows to receive loans for a full-time, 2-year program toward initial administrator licensure. This paper examines data from three innovative components in one university's program under that mandate: extended internships,…

This monograph, one in a series describing innovative educational practice, presents a case study of the Tools of the Mind project. This project, the result of collaboration between Russian and American education researchers, used the Vygotskian approach to create a series of tools or strategies for teachers to use in supporting the development of…

This book contains hands-on language arts activities for K-3 children. Activities in the book help develop skills in the six language arts while continually reinforcing how much fun learning can be. The book's teacher-friendly format breaks down each activity into the following components: objectives, materials, preparation, procedure, summary,…

The North Carolina State Board of Education, as part of the Quality Assurance Program established a computer proficiency requirement for diplomas issued to the high school classes of 2001 and beyond. The North Carolina Tests of Computer Skills (multiple-choice and performance) must be administered at the end of grade eight with subsequent…

In a project designed to provide training for entry-level job skills in high tech industries, a combination of narrative and technology was employed to aid learners in developing the necessary soft skills (dependability, responsibility, listening comprehension, collaboration, et cetera) sought by employers. The EnterTech Project brought together a…

This volume is designed for use by facilitators in school settings and youth agencies in which "Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum" is being implemented. The "Family Guide" kit contains background information on the program, techniques for leading a successful family group, and participant handouts in this volume,…