An evaluation of a youth and economic opportunities agency's improvement program for preschool children is presented. Objectives of the Head Start program include: (1) Improving the child's physical health and abilities, (2) Helping the emotional and social development of the child, (3) Improving the child's mental processes and skills and…

The classroom interactions and activities described in this document are intended to provide experiences that will increase the probability of the occurrence of each of the response constituents of motivation to achieve in learning in school. These materials have been organized into five units; each unit emphasizes one of the five constituents:…

Concern for student improvement and recognition of the importance of individualizing instruction provided the rationale for this project. A definite need was seen for paraprofessionals to help teachers with instruction, not just with clerical work. The project was organized so that teacher aides received on-the-job experience concurrently with…

The role of evaluation in a working model for the diffusion of educational innovations is the central topic of this paper. The working model is a product of the Trent Valley Centre (TVC), a "regional laboratory" type extension center of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. The first objective of the program is to generate the…

In this article, the author proposes and discusses a collection of ten governance habits of boards of trustees that distinguish the average board from those that perform with excellence. They are interconnected, interlocking, and systemic. In the aggregate, the benefits of these habits are greater than the sum of their parts, because they function…

The under-representation of women in physical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (PSTEM) career fields is a persistent problem. This paper summarizes an extensive review of the literature pertaining to the many issues that surround this problem. The review revealed a wide range of viewpoints and a broad spectrum of research…

Courses and programs being delivered at a distance require a unique set of professional competencies. Whether using synchronous or asynchronous methods of instruction, systematic instructional design can help stimulate motivation, increase interaction and social presence, and authenticate learning outcomes. Principles of adult learning, including…

The Transition Class is an alternative model to the traditional college sequence of developmental courses. Offered as an option to prospective students before they complete the college application and financial aid procedures, the 12-week Transition Class is nongraded and free of charge. By taking the class before they fully matriculate in the…

This guide is designed to provide beginning foreign language students with a general guide to language learning success, and to accompany second language textbooks. An introductory section is addressed to both teachers and students. The first chapter proposes that language learners can take charge of their own language learning experience. Chapter…

A study investigated 210 secondary vocational/technical education students' cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to a skill assessment process. Students received feedback on their skill strengths and weaknesses and those skills in which they over- or under-estimated their abilities. Results from hierarchical multiple regression indicated…

A theoretical framework for a psychology of coaching was developed. First, the literature on cognitive approaches to coaching, behavioral approaches to coaching, and combinations of the cognitive and behavioral approaches was reviewed. Next, two studies examined the development and validation of a new measure of private self-consciousness called…

The majority of employment and training programs are designed as one-size-fits-all, leaving approximately 85 percent of participants unsatisfied, unmotivated, or forced back into a job with no chance of advancement. In targeting a clientele of single parents and dislocated workers, an action research project, called Chance to Advance, conducted in…

Research has shown a decline in motivation and performance for many children as they move from elementary school into middle school; however, research has also shown that the nature of motivational change on entry to middle school depends on characteristics of the learning environment in which students find themselves. This Digest outlines some…

Using the Professional Development School (PDS) model of teacher preparation, a Midwestern university created the potential for teacher candidates to become immersed into the environment of an elementary school. The question this study explored was, "Does increased immersion at a PDS site impact preparation of teacher candidates?" Themes emerged…

As demand for school reform have grown in Malta in recent years we have noticed increased focus being given to quality issues. As a result the education authorities, due to two main policy initiatives--the introduction of the National Minimum curriculum and school development planning--are encouraging a decentralised form of governance that…