This article describes VISTA (Video Instruction for Students in the Teaching of Art), a pilot program which presents videotaped art lessons to kindergarten through third-grade children in School District #12, Adams County, Colorado. (Author/SJL)

Describes a pilot project comparing human and electronic library material security systems in high school libraries. (KP)

Describes a pilot project for the home-study component of a first-year general chemistry course at Athabasca University that uses microscaled experiments. Presents four experiments and discusses home-study versus in-lab experience. (JRH)

A new calculation and reporting method designed to improve accuracy in arriving at dropout figures was tested last year by 288 school systems. The study, called the Dropout Statistics Field Test, is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (MLF)

Teachers generally feel that the evaluation models surfacing in response to state and national mandates are monistic, mechanistic, and inappropriate. Based on North Carolina's experience with the Teacher Performance Appraisal Instrument, an alternative instrument comparing teachers' suppositional and propositional pedagogical styles was created.…

Describes and discusses the Intern Studio Project, which consists of the provision of regular open studio time for art therapy interns in a state university graduate program. Psychological and artistic bases for the open studio approach are discussed, and include the relational approach, Hillman's essentialist paradigm, and series and context…

Reports selected findings from a national evaluation of a British pilot scheme for mentoring new headteachers, using questionnaire data collected from 238 new principals and 303 mentors and information from 16 detailed case studies. Mentoring was judged successful by most participants because it offered numerous benefits, including help with…

A computer-based curriculum program called Computers Helping Instruction and Learning Development (Project CHILD) has been tested in 82 classrooms in 10 elementary schools in Okaloosa County, Florida. As part of a sixth-grade follow-up study, students in Project CHILD had a B average in math and language arts versus a C average for students in a…

In July 1992, New American Schools Development Corporation (private, tax-exempt organization) announced selection of 11 designs to serve as models for schools of future. Nationwide competition sought to improve existing public schools with new ideas and money from corporate donations. Winning proposals incorporate concepts such as longer school…

Academic Development Institute study found schools having greatest difficulty engaging parents were those with high concentrations of poor, single-parent families with many children. Project Better Day was designed to identify uninvolved parents whose grade 1-4 children were behind grade level; draw these parents into positive school relationship;…

At a Florida elementary school, the principal and teachers are piloting a curriculum of core knowledge developed over a four-year period by E.D. Hirsch, an advisory board, and a teacher/parent network. An appropriate core curriculum can provide all students with a foundation of knowledge for studying and appreciating the unique qualities of any…

The Communicating about Loss & Mourning curriculum was designed for and field tested on a sample of 25 verbally expressive adults with mental retardation. Findings from a pilot study implementing the curriculum suggest that these individuals have a need for and can benefit from a formal program of death education and grief counseling. (Author/JDD)

Describes the Diagnostic Executive Competency Analysis System (DECAS) developed by researchers at the University of Texas (Austin). Applies assessment center methods conventionally used for selection and screening purposes to formative needs-based professional development activities. Presents DECAS within the framework of the U.S. Multi-Site…

Reviews the International School Improvement Project, highlighting its structure, outcomes, and substance, and identifies some of the major characteristics of ISIP knowledge. Compares this knowledge with knowledge emanating from the effective schools literature and suggests areas for future collaboration. Includes 40 references. (MLH)

Most of the 31 (of 39) teachers of pilot agriscience courses surveyed considered themselves competent and thought the units were important. Most pressing inservice needs were in the areas of biotechnology, computers, and mechanical/physical technology. Teachers perceived a lack of instructional materials for these and other less traditional areas,…