This column introduces issues in research and practice concerned with assistive technology for students with disabilities including delays in transferring research findings into practice and ways to integrate what is known about research, effective practice, teacher professional development, and change. (Contains 14 references.) (DB)

Reports that some universities are starting their own venture-capital funds to develop campus companies, or are investing endowment funds with established venture-capital firms inclined to finance potential spinoffs from campus research. Examples cited are from the University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University (Tennessee), University of…

Addresses the importance of research and development in the field of educational technology, based on reflections of previous articles and a symposium. Highlights include the centrality of design; the enabling capabilities of technology; collaboration; scaling up of projects; the use of alternative research methodologies; and instructional systems…

Reports ongoing developmental research at the Department of Agriculture to build a high-performance knowledge base for four agencies within the Department. Describes data gathering for the information system; planning to support knowledge management practices; theory elaboration through qualitative case analysis; and use of an activity theory…

Comments on the aspects of research and development work relating to environmental education within pre-service teacher education. Explores issues relating to assumptions about the effectiveness of work within pre-service courses. (Author/CCM)

Describes how universities are racing to find ways to use stem cells to fight various diseases--and to be the first to register patents that could be highly profitable. (EV)

Studies how an aerosol technology research group constructed a research agenda for itself and how its activity was changed in the process. Analyzes the development of the production of ultrafine particles and employs the concept of mediated activity. (Contains 29 references.) (DDR)

This is a cross-state empirical study which examines the effects of state research and development (R&D) tax credits on private R&D expenditure in the states. Other explanatory variables include federal R&D subsidies, public services in higher education and R&D-targeted programs as well as other control variables. The statistical result shows that…

Joseph Novak discusses the concept of mapping to capture and archive expert knowledge. He worked in various corporations where he used the concept of mapping for research and development efforts and to create and transfer knowledge and information in corporate environments.

After more than 13 years of business slump in Japan and worldwide, many high-tech companies are struggling to remain competitive. Faced with the need to stay profitable, a common response of such companies in Japan has been to cut their investment in R&D. Heavy cuts in R&D have led to a lack of innovation, with the associated threat to future…

Educational research is not very influential, useful, or well funded. This article explores why and suggests ways that the situation could be improved. Our focus is on the processes that link the development of good ideas and insights, the development of tools and structures for implementation, and the enabling of robust implementation in…

This paper analyses the fall in R&D outlays in Poland and its effect upon the number of researchers employed and on the occupation structure. The reason underlying these adverse changes in employment within sectors, by age and qualification, which have a negative impact on research and development in Poland stems from the lack of demand for…

This article reviews and categorizes empirical studies related to instructional technology that were published in three prominent journals: "Educational Technology Research and Development, Instructional Science," and the "Journal of Educational Computing Research" from the year 2000 through 2004. Four questions guided this review: 1) What…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on a Forum for HRD initiative to proactively engage with HRD practitioners to develop "new commons" in the research-practice nexus. Researchers joined a community of UK university HRD practitioners, negotiated a research project mapping the terrain of HRD practice, explored how research…

This article is based on research and development carried out at the Centre for Outcomes-Based Education at the Open University (OU). It explores the way in which higher education (HE) assessment could meet specific criteria in order to assess the unique qualities that underpin the relationship between practitioner-researchers and the workplace.…