Four key criteria used in academic program review (quality, centrality to institutional mission, competition, and demand) are defined and discussed. They are then applied to the process of strategic planning for an unspecified private university. Decision-making matrixes and their use are illustrated. (MSE)

Examines issues of science and technology education in the United Kingdom, focusing on the Science and Technology in Society (SATIS) project which was designed to produce resource units to enrich existing curriculum materials for secondary students. The article discusses criteria for materials development, evaluation of SATIS, and future…

Reviews the restructuring of the Chicago (Illinois) Public Schools. Key choices made about restructuring over 10 years are discussed, and 18 key elements for improvement are identified. It is argued that the reform is on the right track, with potential for substantial impact. (SLD)

One of five articles on professional development schools in this theme issue. Discusses six developmental stages of collaboration--formation, conceptualization, development, implementation, evaluation, and termination/reformation--in the implementation of professional development schools at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, including…

A survey of 56 pharmacy schools gathered information on current content of drug information courses and clerkships and plans to change training methods as the Doctor of Pharmacy becomes the sole entry-level degree. Some schools will modify course or clerkship content, by omitting or shifting objectives within the curriculum. (Author/MSE)

Reports on a three-year study of the operational and formal curricula in the visual arts, music, drama, and dance. Discusses three operational types of art education: (1) the "little intervention" model; (2) the production-oriented curriculum; and (3) the guided-exploration orientation. (CFR)

Describes the Nassau School Library System and the role it plays in enabling librarians at 328 member libraries in Nassau County, New York, to become instructional leaders and key members of technology and curriculum planning teams. Highlights include how the change process was started, examples of practical accomplishments, promotion of library…

Presents a 21-item questionnaire that teachers can use to discover their personal beliefs and biases about how individuals in different cultural, gender, racial, and religious groups learn best. Answers for each question are discussed, and brief descriptions of two research projects testing the impact of teaching to various learning styles are…

Comments on the research finding that, inasmuch as schools are complex organizations, powerfully resistant to change, effective staff development requires focused school effort. The role of school climate and the principal, the relation of theory and application, and the need for evaluation are mentioned. (Contains eight references.) (KRN)

Asserts that, although research can be a powerful resource in guiding and fueling grass-roots social change, the community-based research enterprise often is contentious. Recommends collaborative research studies in which the researchers and practitioners work together from the project's inception. (CFR)

The evolution of the recent discussion of quality assessment and evaluation of teaching in German higher education is chronicled. Concern began in the 1980s over the length of time to degree and has shifted to interest in improvement of teaching quality and overall system effectiveness. (Author/MSE)

Staff at a small elementary school in Quebec collaborated to develop a three-year improvement plan that outlined specific goals in implementing change and focused on the introduction of cooperative-learning strategies. Cooperative learning increased student self-esteem and positively influenced teachers' attitudes toward their careers. (LP)

A study in 12 New South Wales (Australia) high schools investigated differences in motivation for Aboriginal (n=496), migrant (n=487), and Anglo (n=1172) students. A consistent picture of the urban Aboriginal child emerged, and key variables in his decision making (self-reliance, confidence, and goal direction) were identified as well as…

Discusses the need for a commitment to the recruitment and training of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into library and information science graduate programs. Highlights include collaborative efforts between library educators and practitioners, changing demographic trends, educational attainment of minority groups, curriculum changes,…

Discusses changes over 30 years of British teacher education, noting the impact of the 1988 Education Reform Act. Qualitative changes include rigorous national accreditation structures, an all-graduate teacher population, and in-service education of teachers. (SM)