This resource guide offers suggestions and resources to help provide successful school experiences for students who are blind or visually impaired. Individual sections address: (1) the nature of visual impairment, the specific needs and expectations of students with visual impairment, and the educational implications of visual impairment; (2)…

This handbook was designed to help adult literacy education teachers to understand the plastics industry, develop a curriculum, and teach basic skills classes in a plastics company. The book contains four main sections. The first section, on the basics of plastics, contains a brief history of the industry, an elementary description of the…

Definitions and short explanations of key concepts in the field of instructional evaluation are presented. Evaluation is defined as the process of determining the value of programs, projects, materials, and personnel. It is distinguished from research in that the aims of research are less time- and situation-specific, attempting to uncover…

This article explores issues involved in using assessments as a means of defining standards and encouraging efforts to meet them. It compares the European examination system with the present American testing system. It also considers issues that must be faced in defining learning domains in ways that do not encourage narrowly focused training on…

This guide is intended for teachers, parents, and community workers in many countries and provides concrete advice on meeting the needs of children with specific learning disabilities. The guide begins with a definition of learning disabilities and identifies seven areas of disability. It then considers in more detail five areas concerned with…

Twenty professors who teach courses required for elementary certification at two state universities in southwestern United States were interviewed regarding the preparation of preservice teachers for diversity in classrooms, using a semistructured interview protocol. Transcripts of the interviews were reviewed, looking for definitions of…

Intended for teachers of young children exposed to violence in their communities, this paper presents an introduction to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including its definition, symptoms, causes, and providing a supportive classroom environment. The definition discussed is based on that of the Fourth Edition of the Diagnostic and…

This paper presents a historical background and definition of Tourette Syndrome (TS), a review of the literature, and a view of the TS person as stigmatized in society. Social processes are examined through the eyes of the TS individual, and the impact of education on the TS person is examined. TS is viewed as the presence of motor or vocal tics,…

The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities brought together a total of 61 educators, employers, helping professionals, people with learning disabilities, family members, and government policy leaders in a conference designed to identify issues and develop a strategic plan to improve employment opportunities for people with…

A study was conducted to develop a conceptual framework for tech prep programs based on the perceptions of personnel involved in the planning and implementation of local tech prep programs. A structured conceptualization process called concept mapping was used to develop a pictorial representation of stakeholders' perceptions of tech prep. Using a…

Designed to help early childhood and elementary educators in Iowa integrate multicultural, nonsexist, and global (MNG) perspectives into the existing curriculum, this paper discusses issues surrounding their integration and provides two extensive bibliographies of curriculum resources. First, the paper reviews the definition and purposes of MNG…

This module presents a real-world context in which written communication skills are used as part of a daily routine. The context is the work of law enforcement officers, and the module aims to help students see the significance of written communication skills in completing documents as part of job requirements. Materials in the module, most of…

This study investigated whether words that are glossed (defined) in a second language text correspond to the words that readers of differing ability find difficult. It examined: (1) whether marginal glosses provide assistance to students of first-, second-, and third-semester college French in their comprehension of authentic text, as measured by…

This guide to special education funding in Alberta (Canada) describes the types of special education funding available, explains how to apply for special education funding, and discusses how applications for special education funding are monitored. An overview presents a chart of special education funding for 1997/1998 that shows funding and rates…

Many state and local entities are developing and using performance assessment programs. Because these initiatives are so diverse, it is very difficult to understand what they are doing, or to compare them in any meaningful way. Multiple-choice tests are contrasted with performance assessments, and preliminary classifications are suggested to…