Developing a blueprint for success requires that teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community members focus on the purposes for investing in technology. Planners must define universally shared technology goals, establish program accountability measures, budget for staff development, and ensure district leadership and support for…

To prepare 21 study-abroad students for a trip to Kenya, Iowa State University's Study Abroad Center, in conjunction with Kenyatta University, developed an orientation-program model focused on academic development, multicultural development, and cultural assimilation. Sessions covered informational resources, orientation, study-abroad courses, and…

Discusses issues related to young gay and lesbian students in high school English classes. Offers two examples of addressing gay issues in class, and discusses reading and writing around gay issues. Lists several strategies English teachers can use to reduce stereotyping and create an open environment for self-exploration and expression around…

Investigates the effect of orientation of depth cues on the magnitude of perceived depth in pictures. Finds that, for each test drawing, the orientation with the far point above the near point provided greater depth perception than any other orientation. Discusses possible contributions of observer experience and height of visual field. (DSK)

Describes a comprehensive summer program for freshmen at a large research university. Freshmen enroll in common courses, are housed together, attend workshops on using university resources, and receive the assistance of an upper-division mentor. Evaluation suggests that freshmen who participate in transitional programs are significantly more…

An introductory course for college students with disabilities, The Learning Journey, provides guidance on support and resources available, raises self-confidence, and demystifies the university. The course seeks to help students become independent learners in the mainstream. (SK)

According to a former community relations director for a Washington State district, there are three key elements of effective public engagement: choosing a focus, acknowledging that employees are a school system's first public, and using feedback loops. Employees are school ambassadors whose words and actions can either build community support or…

Examined goal-directed behaviors for a group of children with Down's syndrome and a control group of children. Maternal and child behaviors were recorded during joint play. Found that children with Down's syndrome are less likely than normal children to show increases in independent goal-directed play behaviors following a joint play session with…

Investigates differences in interpersonal influences on career decision making between gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) and heterosexual college students. Results reveal that GLB students reported having more career role models than did heterosexual students. GLB students perceived less support and guidance from others in their academic and career…

Details process for orienting and evaluating child care facility boards of directors. Includes service commitment letter delineating board member roles, sample board training agenda, and forms for assessing the board's overall performance and for self-evaluation of members. Asserts that success of member recruitment, orientation, training, and…

A school's fundamental beliefs and vision about teaching and learning must be incorporated into its goals, strategies, policies, processes, cultural practices, management behavior, accountability systems, and stakeholder roles. Superintendents should work with community members to pin down core beliefs, make supportive changes, and obliterate…

This taxonomy of learning tasks new employees must complete has four categories: individual (attitudes, expectations), people (relationships, supervision), work tasks (knowledge, skills, abilities), and organization (culture, roles). Learning tasks are accomplished through three types of intervention: orientation, job training, and workplace…

Interviewed 16- to 23-year-old non-heterosexual women regarding development of their sexual orientation. Found that a majority failed to report at least one of following: childhood sexual orientation indicators, stability in same-sex attractions, or awareness of same-sex attractions prior to conscious sexual questioning. Lesbians reported greater…

Using a sample of 59 college women (26 athletes and 33 non-athletes), examined whether women higher in identity achievement would describe more mature life plans, ones with greater complexity and stronger commitment to life goals. For athletes, identity achievement was positively associated with life plan commitment, while identity achievement and…

Goal setting can be an effective way to help beginning counselors focus on important developmental issues. This article argues that counselors and supervisors must consider issues related to goal-setting theory and understand the process by which goals are set so that optimal learning experiences are created. (Author/MKA)