Little has been researched about the professional artist's preferred style of thinking, his/her manner of acquiring and utilizing knowledge, and how it affects the learning process. This investigation used a revised method of naturalistic inquiry for the purpose of developing a research method that was responsive to the uniqueness of artistic…

The results of an exploratory study that investigated the range of programs available to limited English proficient (LEP) students in California secondary schools are addressed. The study consisted of several components: a telephone survey to 27 secondary schools that were demographically and regionally representative of California high schools…

The purpose of this paper is to describe current practices in various states used to identify linguistically different students, provide a review of literature regarding recommended practices, and offer alternative practices for identifying linguistically different students. The paper provides an information base regarding current identification…

A Total Quality Management team was formed at Oregon State University to improve the quality of student information publications. The team studied the critical process in detail, identified "customers" of student information publications, defined information to be solicited from the customers, interviewed them, and gathered data for…

The background and purpose of course assessment are examined. The paper includes suggestions for classroom instructors in setting up formative assessment plans based on qualitative research. Focus is on the interview technique. It is discussed as a practical source for evaluating what actually takes place during a course, including the appraisal…

This study used multiple methods to assess basic community needs and attributes of community atmosphere (cohesion, religious involvement, and recreational activities) in two psychometric studies. Part 1 revised self-report community assessment measures, developed multi-item scales for each construct, and tested reliabilities and factor structures…

The beliefs and values of teachers and administrators in one school district regarding their desire and capacity to change and on helping school leaders plan the change process were evaluated, in light of the America 2000/Nebraska 2000 community school campaign. This report summarizes the evaluation focus, procedures for data collection and…

The reprint of a 1984 article on language teaching for communicative competence focuses on the use of small group communicative activities. The benefits and advantages of small group (two to six participants) communications activities are outlined, including the increased opportunities for speaking, less intimidating context, retention of…

This report presents recommendations for the upgrading of higher education information resources in Papua New Guinea (PNG) according to acceptable norms, effective sharing of resources through phased introduction of automation and networking, and the creation of a database of information resources. The report was based on a survey of 41 PNG…

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of the use of computers in the schools within the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia (Canada). Thirty teachers, librarians, principals, and senior district administrators were interviewed to determine the computing background of the interviewees and how they were using…

This paper examines the development of the Merchandising Management Program at Michigan State University and the development of a teaching module which focuses on the shifting economies in eastern Europe, particularly Poland, as they change from command to market economies. An overview of Polish retail trade required the development of a study to…

A writing course (adapted from Eliot Wigginton's "Foxfire" method) for college freshmen and sophomores is taught in a way that is not only important to the students concerned but to their community--a valley in the "rust belt" of Pennsylvania--as a whole. The course differs from the usual writing-in-the-social-sciences course…

This qualitative research, based on interviews with 30 secondary-level cooperating teachers, examines the student teaching experience from the perspective of the cooperative teacher. In the interviews, cooperating teachers identified many changes in their own classroom practices that occurred as a result of their experiences with student teachers.…

Previous studies have examined the day-to-day behavior of principals in an attempt to identify specific, concrete behaviors that help teachers in their efforts toward improvement. But, there is still a gap in knowledge about principal interventions during the period in which decisions are made about prospective changes and reform, and plans for…

The purpose of this two-year study was to document and examine changes in four teachers' beliefs and practices while implementing National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) mathematics standards. Qualitative research methodology was used to develop multiple case studies, which were analyzed individually and across cases. Data came from…