The Texas Education Agency's (TEA's) state GEAR UP project--Texans Getting Academically Prepared (TGAP)--has provided interconnected activities supporting early awareness of and preparation for higher education among low-income and minority students, their families, and schools in six South Texas school districts. Over its six years, the state…

English for Academic Purposes literature is often criticized for its very functional interpretation of language (e.g. Benesch, 2001) which ignores the intellectual, cultural, and social side of learning in an attempt to appear "neutral." Furthermore, writing is the EAP skill area which seems to provide students with the most difficulty.…

The United Kingdom and other governments have demonstrated faith in information and communications technology (ICT) as a means of achieving a participative and inclusive society through various high-profile initiatives. It is also claimed that ICT or e-learning can bring about new patterns of power and participation for excluded learners. In this…

This manual is designed for use by both teachers and students in an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) job-search skills program, and is intended for use by students at the upper beginner or lower intermediate language proficiency level. The content can be used as a complete job search skills program, a resource for program development, a…

A variety of assessment methods and instruments can and should be used to evaluate the performance of individuals and groups. Some possible assessments are described, including (1) adaptive testing; (2) anecdotal records; (3) assessment centers; (4) behavioral checklists; (5) behaviorally anchored rating scales; (6) checklists; (7) computerized…

This report describes a study which examined trends and future prospects in the placement and provision of services to children with special education needs (SEN) in Scotland, United Kingdom, in the context of recent policy changes toward increased integration, increased parental choice, and devolved school management. The study involved…

This report provides a progress report on the Art and Technology Integration Project (ATI), a partnership of the Westside and Grand Island Public Schools, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art (NMAA), and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). The ATI project focuses on long-range assessment of the integration of the…

This study investigated whether and to what degree management majors at one small, liberal arts institution actually "used" course knowledge on their job. Phase 1 surveyed all management majors graduating from the institution between 1988-1992, asking graduates to estimate the percentage of useful knowledge gained from each component of their…

In response to the need for instructional materials to help limited-English-proficient Cambodian-speaking adults become self-sufficient in American society, 10 lessons in job search and related skill areas are presented. Each lesson begins with a teacher's guide, which gives an overview of the text, notes on vocabulary and phrases, and a number of…

In response to the need for instructional materials to help limited-English-proficient Laotian-speaking adults become self-sufficient in American society, ten lessons in job search and related skill areas are presented. Each lesson begins with a teacher's guide, which gives an overview of the text, notes on vocabulary and phrases, and a number of…

In response to the need for instructional materials to help limited-English-proficient Vietnamese-speaking adults become self-sufficient in American society, ten lessons in job search and related skill areas are presented. Each lesson begins with a teacher's guide, which gives an overview of the text, notes on vocabulary and phrases, and a number…

This paper on multiage classrooms provides first steps toward a systemic understanding of the defining qualities of multiage classrooms and, from teachers' perspectives, the benefits of such classrooms for students, teachers, and parents. The multiage classroom movement in elementary schools is viewed as not just restructuring, but also as the…

The Instructional and Performance Technology Department at Boise State University (Idaho) offers a master's degree program via distance education to prepare adult students for careers in the areas of instructional design, job performance improvement, human resources, organizational redesign, training, and training management. Most students attend…

In this theme issue of The "OSSC Bulletin" educators speak out about what they think their schools are doing right. The project goal was to select schools with varied socioeconomic backgrounds from different parts of the state, as well as to include at least one rural school and one innercity school. The two elementary schools, two…

The Mathematics Assessment Process (MAP) for the Middle Grades gives teachers and school reform leaders new tools to examine and systematically realign mathematics programs. MAP engages an interdisciplinary coalition within a school in an exploration of mathematics instructional excellence. Through an extensive self-study, a school answers the…