This abstract describes a session that planned to feature participants of the International OAI (Open Archives Initiative) forums, discussing digital libraries and their role in knowledge dissemination and creation, global strategies for interoperability, author self-archiving issues, empowering users, and technology and user processes. (LRW)

Describes a planned session that addressed information policies in the global community that impact information professionals and users worldwide. Highlights include case studies, the European Union's Database Directive on anti-piracy, empowerment of disadvantaged communities, and the development of information policy in Israel. Presentations…

The success of empowerment in a European Union program to promote social inclusion through education, training, and employment was evaluated with responses from 104 participants. More than half said they acquired supportive relationships and confidence; many increased knowledge and skills. Ways to measure empowerment as a process were addressed.…

The National Writing Project's professional development approach reflects a shift from the tradition of theory dictating practice, maintaining that engaging teachers in teaching teachers empowers them to meet the challenges of increasing student diversity. By providing support in risk-free settings, teachers can collaborate as educational leaders,…

EDUFAIM (Educating Families to Achieve Independence in Montana) was designed to integrate state efforts to help welfare recipients attain self-sufficiency through education in nutrition, health, family development, resource management, and housing. Evaluation of 34 participants showed changes in locus of control, depression, anxiety, knowledge,…

Discusses creating an empowering multicultural curriculum, emphasizing that the curriculum a teacher teaches is as good as the teacher's understanding of what is being taught. Beliefs about what is worth teaching and about diverse people, society, students, and academic disciplines have much to do with the substance of the curriculum (SLD)

Discussions with women in rural areas of India analyzed government-initiated development programs regarding availability of information, suitability to women's needs, and perception of problems. Most programs were top down with little input form women; self-help approaches problematized the "self" and did not consider the realities of…

A preceptorship program provided professional development for rural nurses in South Australia, with colleagues acting as mentor-preceptors. The program overcame their geographic and professional isolation and equipped them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to make changes. (SK)

Community auditing is an empowering process enabling communities to participate in research, identify its focus, and have ownership. Comparison with other methods shows how auditing supports real participation, not mere consultation. (SK)

Reports on a survey of youth from two high schools regarding their attitudes towards service. Findings suggest that they had somewhat positive attitudes toward service and believed their participation as volunteers was essential for resolving social problems. Of the youth not participating in service activities, the majority reported that they did…

Explores possible causes of low durability and impact for minority mentoring programs. Recommends designing such programs with a conceptual base to ensure meaningful goals and practices. Emphasizes designing programs based on a cogent definition of mentoring, reflection on roles within mentoring relationships, and consideration of cultural and…

This paper comments on three preceding papers in the same publication on the general topic of self-determination for adults with severe disabilities. The meanings of self-determination discussed are explored as separate social and psychological components of the construct, which leads to a discussion of how the construct obliges caregivers to…

Proposes a framework for characterizing evaluation approaches that consists of the following aspects: context, purpose and social role, phenomena of interest, procedural rules, methods of justification, and sanctions. Illustrates the framework through its application to the debate over the theory and practice of empowerment evaluation. (SLD)

Discusses the benefits of using devolved budget models in further education and the tensions that may arise from their introduction. Addresses resistance to the change and the cultural and management style prerequisites for successful implementation of devolved budgets. (EV)

Seven adult learners in a facilitated learning center appreciated the learner-centered model focused on personal empowerment, literacy development, learning to learn, mastery, and independence/inclusion. Instructional design places learners' knowledge and experience ahead of curriculum and focuses on learning for life, not work. (SK)