A special advisory and its "Checklist for Action" from the CASE National Task Force on Higher Education and the Public Interest is reprinted. The advisory explains how the Task Force has laid the groundwork for action and what its members propose as higher education's steps toward improved performance and communication. (MLW)

A visual analogue mood scale was developed that included an option indicating subjects didn't understand the meaning of an adjective in an item. The item content significantly affected responses, raising questions about the adequacy of recently proposed affective taxonomies that were based on restricted samples of emotion-descriptive adjectives.…

Reports on the various ways teachers use textbooks to make assignments for discussion and offers a checklist for teachers interested in analyzing their own use of text in discussion. (HOD)

Describes Pasco County School District's development of a district-wide evaluation system that articulates library media specialist performance appraisal and building-level media program evaluation, relating both to uniform program purposes, missions, and goals. Program evaluation results utilizing this new system are discussed. Program evaluation…

Enumerates procedures for design of library science programs: designation of broad aims of librarianship; task analysis; elucidation of curriculum design concepts; selection of educational goals; learning experiences; addition of subject content; designation of program structure; planning of ancillary elements. Checklist of recommended procedures…

To assist educators interested in developing alternative student teaching centers within the United States or abroad, the article provides a "how-to-do-it" listing of activities in order to deal with expectations and responsibilities prior to and during student teaching in alternative sites and evaluation and program follow-up. (MH)

"Notes & Reflections" offers practical information--ideas, strategies, tools, and resources--about topics of special interest to professional developers who are working to improve school performance. Today, professional development services to schools are provided by variety of people: teacher leaders; principals; and district, regional, and state…

"E-Learning QUICK Checklist" walks readers through the various factors important to developing, evaluating and implementing an open, flexible and distributed learning environment. This book is designed as a quick checklist for e-learning. It contains many practical items that the reader can use as review criteria to check if e-learning modules,…

Three review formats are enclosed in this publication, along with two basic service checklists and a comprehensive program review guide. These formats were developed to serve as tools to be used locally by school district personnel and Boards of Education in the development of quality policies and procedures to serve homeless children and youth.…

This report summarizes Year One and Year Two study findings and describes findings from Year Three of the assessment of school readiness with a strategic sample of children entering kindergarten in fall 2004. It is the intent of the Minnesota School Readiness Studies to use results to inform school administrators and teachers; parents; early…

This handbook is designed to help teachers create a transition portfolio that will accompany the student with mild to severe disabilities to new classrooms and schools, and convey special needs, accommodations, and other vital information to a new team of teachers. It offers practical details on gathering critical information and tips on what to…

This information packet provides an overview of learning disabilities. Information includes the following: (1) the definition of learning disability; (2) incidence of learning disabilities; (3) criteria used to decide whether a person has a learning disability; (4) common causes of learning disabilities; (5) the importance of early identification;…

This guide for parents and service providers contains information on autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children and is the product of a review of research-based programs and models and requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The document begins with discussion of the definition of ASD, possible causes of ASD, and…

Play is more than just fun; it is a powerful teaching tool that helps young children learn. With this practical, activity-filled guide, teachers will have ready-to-use strategies for weaving individual learning goals into play throughout the school day. Created for use with children ages 2 to 5 who have special needs--but equally effective for…

This document contains a set of guidelines, forms, and checklists, for student teaching. It is a guide for students, teachers, faculty, advisors, and administrators at Mankato State University, Minnesota, and in the public schools. All of the ideas within the document can be adapted for use in a variety of clinical experiences or student teaching…