The British Columbia Telephone Company's systematic approach to curriculum development, which relies heavily on the needs assessment step, is described along with its practical applications. This process allows training departments to focus their resources on the design and implementation of education to solve specific performance problems and…

Provides 10 guidelines to follow in implementing a competency-based curriculum. The guidelines include not imposing the program from above, matching measurement devices to instructional goals, stimulating student support of the program, and allowing for easy adjustment of competency measures. (IRT)

Provides an overview of the present state of library instruction programs through data gathered by the Library Orientation/Information Exchange (LOEX), a central clearinghouse of library user instructional materials and methods. (FM)

Longitudinal research demonstrates that: (1) initial consensual goals are formalized incrementally over time; (2) directions of these changes are influenced by constituencies participating in policy formation as well as broader social movements; and (3) evidence for longitudinal implementation studies needs to be garnered from a confluence of…

Presents a theoretical model of internal-external communications and an example of an implementation procedure based on that model. (Author/IRT)

Recommends a five-year delay in implementation of AACR II to allow projected improvements in library automation to lower costs and increase the benefits of change. Such a delay will allow the adoption of an uncompromised code of cataloging practice at minimal cost. (RAA)

Discusses the management perspectives of the transition to distributed support services for information technology at Rice University (Texas), focusing on the implementation process, changes that were required in migrating from a strong centralized organization to a distributed model, and the challenges encountered in the implementation. (MDM)

The formative/summative evaluation dichotomy suggested by M. Scriven is challenged, and a conceptual typology is presented that crosses improvement and assessment evaluation functions with process and outcome program stages for four basic types of evaluation. This framework accommodates mixed types of evaluations. (SLD)

School programs in social and emotional education seek to increase student self-awareness, help students deal with their emotions and interpersonal relationships, and improve social decision-making abilities. A schoolwide social-education program at a Providence, Rhode Island, academy focuses on overall school climate, specially designed events…

Summarizes a 5-year study examining the implementation of interdisciplinary teaching teams in middle-level settings and teachers' attitudes toward teaming practices. Although teachers' attitudes fluctuated, the agreement level never fell below 72%. Teachers are attracted to interdisciplinary teaming and seem to retain their positive views as they…

A review of qualitative methods used in a predominantly quantitative evaluation indicates a variety of roles for such a mixing of methods, including framing and revising research questions, assessing the validity of measures and adaptations to program implementation, and gauging the degree of uncertainty and generalizability of conclusions.…

Examines ways to change prisoners' violent urges. Suggests that consciousness-raising strategies be used to motivate incarcerated men to change, whereas coercion might be used with those clients who are most at risk of committing acts of family violence. Summarizes the characteristics of violent men and incarcerated populations. (RJM)

Assessed the implementation level of Carnegie recommendations for middle schools in Louisiana and investigated whether implementing these recommendations was related to desirable student and school outcomes, using the Middle School Practices Questionnaire. Implementation results were not promising. However, implementing recommended middle-level…

Cluster communities, voluntary alliances between communities to address common problems, can be facilitated by government financial support; state policies, laws, and regulations permitting collaboration; and educational programs. Education should focus on reconceptualizing "community" and fostering regional belonging. (SK)

Whenever performance assessment has been introduced into statewide testing programs, various potentially paralyzing difficulties have been encountered surrounding test accuracy, reliability, validity, or suitability. Programs in some states have been discontinued or placed in jeopardy. It is uncertain whether educators can overcome these problems…