This paper explores the issue of how vocational education and training (VET) is actually used in the labour market, in particular the match between what people study and the jobs they get. This match is pretty poor in most occupational groups with the exception of the trades. However, the paper concludes that the mismatch reflects the generic…

This study describes the multifaceted components of an assessment process. The paper explains a novel approach in which an advisory council participated in a "fun," hands-on activity to rank-order learning outcomes. The top ranked learning competency, as identified by the advisory council, was the need for students to gain a better…

The Malaysian Ministry of Education has implemented the use of English as the medium of instruction at primary school level beginning 2003. These students are the main group of people affected by this change in policy. Besides, the implementation of the approach also raises the readiness of students in the rural areas. Therefore, the aims of the…

It has been proposed that it is possible to decompose changes in variability of human motor behavior into 3 independent components: covariation, task tolerance, and stochastic noise. The authors simulate learning to throw accurately and show that for this task the proposed analysis does not give an unambiguous answer to the question of what the 3…

Purpose--The paper aims to provide a theoretically-based set of skills and practices that develop organizational members and leaders while building organizational capacity. Design/methodology/approach--The paper advances four arguments about learning and leading, drawing on classical and contemporary scholarship of organizational learning theory…

The purpose of this study is to apply the attribute hierarchy method (AHM) to a sample of SAT algebra items administered in March 2005. The AHM is a psychometric method for classifying examinees' test item responses into a set of structured attribute patterns associated with different components from a cognitive model of task performance. An…

Due to the declining state of the current economy, a greater demand is being placed on student affairs professionals to provide evidence of the success of their programs, their impact on student learning and development and overall contributions to the undergraduate learning experience. It is a growing imperative that student affairs professionals…

Problem behaviors early in the preschool year have been negatively linked to a variety of school readiness outcomes, including language, literacy and mathematics, both at the end of preschool and later on as children transition to elementary school. In order to inform preschool intervention efforts, the current study extends this research by…

"Recognitional capacity"--the ability to recognize when procedures apply--is needed in order to perform tasks; this capacity cannot be replaced by higher-level procedures. As a result, guidebooks that attempt to provide step-by-step procedural accounts of task performance face an insurmountable barrier. User guides that attempt to show…

Levels of skill in the use of computers are defined. "Computer literacy" means a fundamental ability of computers. "Computer competent" implies being able to use the computer as a tool--professionally. "Computer fluent" implies knowing several computer languages, and "computer geniuses" are those who change the field. (MLW)

Describes a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) workshop held as a staff development activity for managers. The process is designed to help practitioners articulate their skills and job functions. (SK)

The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) in Tulsa, Oklahoma held the VICA Skill Olympics at their ninth annual conference. The event comprised 30 leadership development and job skill contests. Competitors from 1,200 trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations took part. (Author/DS)

A study was conducted to see if females have difficulty following written instructions. Male and female students were graded on accuracy of a geometric figure construction and the length of time taken to complete the figure. Females did better than males in all areas except speed of completion of tasks. (CT)