Reviews of professional literature identify characteristics of effective staff development programs and inservice activities. Purposes for staff development include: pedagogical growth and understanding and discovery of self as well as cognitive, theoretical, professional, and career development. (DF)

Reviews the usage patterns of educational materials distributed to health agencies by the Nebraska Alcohol and Drug Information Clearinghouse. Results of a telephone survey indicated only 30 percent of requestors distributed all material. About a third of the material was wasted. Suggests a rationale for improved usage of material. (JAC)

Studies of educational change have not looked at institutionalization of new programs. This study found four approaches to institutionalizing changes: (1) mandated, stable use; (2) skillful, committed use; (3) vulnerability; and (4) indifference. Teacher-administrator harmony is critical to success. (MD)

Developing and maintaining effective physical education programs requires that teachers continually update their knowledge and skills. Books and journals, conferences, professional organizations, and consultants provide information to help teachers develop effective programs. (DF)

Leading a series of in-depth technical assistance papers on improving the quality in early care and education programs, this brochure is designed to help local communities consider the most effective strategies in designing and implementing programs that improve child care quality. A quality enhancement approach is taken whereby communities begin…

This research investigated the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the Information Technology Office (IT) of the University of Louisville since fall 1992. The study includes a detailed literature review of the relationship between TQM and higher education institutions. It is a qualitative analysis, involving a research methodology of…

This is one in a series of reports to the President and Congress developed by the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) on key contemporary issues in information technology. This report argues that significant improvements in health care would be possible if modern clinical information systems were widely implemented and a…

Educational leadership has been supported by an inadequate knowledge base for administrative preparation and an inadequate research base for program improvement. Over the past 40 years, no new programmatic ideas have been produced in this field. This paper reports on trends to improve the quality of research and theory development in the teaching…

In 1996, as part of the budget review process, Utah State University questioned the legitimacy of the outdoor recreation program in terms of student use, cost, and its role as part of the university mission. A task force was appointed to determine if the Outdoor Recreation Center should continue. This paper discusses program issues investigated by…

This study examined states efforts to retain children in their State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Data were obtained during spring and summer of 2000 through telephone interviews with state program officials from eight states selected based on a variety of demographic and programmatic variables; the states were Alabama, California,…

On March 28, 2003 the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a report titled "Race-Neutral Alternatives in Postsecondary Education: Innovative Approaches to Diversity." The purpose of this report is to describe a number of race-neutral approaches that postsecondary institutions across the United States are using. This staff assessment by the…

This paper is a report of the development of a systematic process for locating instructional design alumni and recruiting them to provide feedback from their workplaces. The purpose is to make alumni part of the process for program improvement. The process for tracking, contacting, and gathering data from alumni is described. In addition, the…

An action research project to utilize the skills of high school business education students tested economic understanding (in budgeting, installment buying, and comparison of prices) of students in a school for disadvantaged boys and a public school. Business education students performed better than other students, but other differences were…

Article provided an outline of some of the factors that influence change with the goal that others may profit from these experiences, or at least, think more deeply about what they are doing. (Author/RK)

Stung by a critical industry report, Oklahoma vocational educators decided that a complete overhaul of their adult program was the quickest way to strengthen their total vocational program. (Editor)