The Simplifying Conditions Method (SCM) is a set of guidelines for task analysis and sequencing of instructional content under the Elaboration Theory (ET). This article introduces the fundamentals of SCM and presents the findings from a formative research study on SCM. It was conducted in two distinct phases: design and instruction. In the first…

This study examined the educational situation of prisoners enrolled in courses at the FernUniversitat (the German distance teaching university). A survey questionnaire, developed with the help of imprisoned students, was administered to approximately 200 student prisoners. Of the 99 returns, 95 were found usable to base the results of this study.…

In spring 1996, William Rainey Harper College (WRHC), in Illinois, undertook an evaluation of its preschool facilities, or Child Learning Centers, at the main campus and at WRHC's Northeast Center. Telephone surveys were conducted of 21 former student teachers to determine their evaluation of the Centers and of the learning experience the Centers…

Major ongoing supported employment studies conducted at the Rehabilitation Research Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University are profiled in this newsletter. The training center involves individuals with disabilities in the design, implementation, and interpretation of the research. The first research study examined the opinions of 110…

A study was conducted at Florida's Saint Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) to determine employers' perceptions of SPJC graduates' technical and performance skills and to identify employers who might be available to participate in college programs or provide opportunities for student training or placement. Surveys were mailed to 146 businesses…

This study compared the satisfaction levels of 40 adult nontraditional students (N=40) attending one of three types of postsecondary institutions: (1) a proprietary school, (2) a community college, and (3) a university. A survey was administered to such students enrolled in the Travel and Tourism programs at Bryant and Stratton Business Institute…

This study surveyed 823 graduates of Nova Southeastern University, Florida, who received bachelor's degrees from July, 1995 through June, 1996. The survey focused on student attitudes toward their experience at the university. Surveys were returned by 284 graduates. Results are presented separately for the two main programs the College of…

This interim report on the implementation of Australia's Child Support Scheme and its short-term effects analyzes the entry experiences of a sample of the first 6,000 registered Child Support Agency cases. In November, 1989, after 18 months of operation, commonwealth authorities had established an infrastructure that facilitated the continued…

The University of Oregon developed a rural personnel preparation training program for early intervention personnel. The program was centered in a targeted rural area in Oregon for each of 3 years and graduated 8 students per year for a total of 24 trainees. The content of the program was designed to develop competencies in infant and child…

A survey was conducted of adults' participation in Scottish schools in order to update the statistical picture and investigate the schools' views of the advantages and disadvantages of making provisions for adults. Data were gathered from a random sample of 80 schools (20 percent of secondary schools) throughout Scotland with 20 or more adults…

This report outlines the methodology developed by a project undertaken to gather data on client satisfaction with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) services in South Australia. These findings are reported: a system of collecting client satisfaction information is feasible and practical and such a system can be instituted largely at the…

The purpose of this project was to identify academic advising strategies that would be appropriate for the small, private college setting; to develop an academic advising system; and to implement the system through a trial model at Practical Bible Training School in Binghamton, New York. The model consisted of preservice and inservice training for…

In order to gather current data about the General Educational Development (GED) program at Seminole Community College (SCC), Florida, a random sample of 1982 GED examinees were surveyed to determine the examinees' assessment of the quality of instruction, course materials, and learning laboratories at SCC; the center(s) used most often and for…

An evaluation was conducted on the effectiveness of Energy and Man's Environment (EME), a nonprofit energy organization which conducts energy programs in 15 states around the United States. Three research questions were addressed: (1) Who is the consumer of EME workshops and the user of EME materials? (2) How do participants view EME workshops.…

This volume describes the second-year evaluation of the Michigan Day Care Provider Training Project. Following the first chapter's introductory summary of the project's objectives, development, and first-year evaluation, chapter 2 discusses evaluation methodology. Chapter 3 analyzes those dimensions of the training process that were new in the…