Institutional research (IR) offices on campus are not all alike, any more than campuses are all alike. They may differ in their reporting line, range of responsibilities, level in the campus hierarchy, and work emphasis. Institutions differ in complexity (number and level of programs, colleges, and schools), size of the student body, affiliation,…

ACCESS is an organizational framework to help educators plan instruction that prepares students for high-stakes tests and promotes self-regulated literacy learning. ACCESS stands for tasks that are authentic, that require collaboration among students, that challenge students, that culminate with an end product, that allow self-direction by giving…

Previous studies have reported working memory deficits in autism, but this finding has been inconsistent. One possibility is that deficits in this domain may be present only when working memory load exceeds some limited capacity. High-functioning individuals with autism performed the CANTAB computerized test of spatial working memory. Individuals…

Responsibilities placed on a governing body are profound--starting with governors' own performance and the achievement of the pupils. In recognition of the weight of duty placed upon them, every governing body has, by law, to appoint a clerk who is not a governor. Committees of the governing body may be clerked by governors, but the main meeting…

The authors of this article state that, as literacy coaches negotiate complex tasks in their work with teachers, they assume dual roles. The authors review the evolution of International Reading Association (IRA) standards, paying particular attention to the roles of literacy coach and literacy coordinator. The authors then present data on the…

The article describes a structured approach to teaching sign language to severely disabled students through task analysis. The approach emphasizes four basic principles from developmental and behavioral theories: (1) environmental influence, (2) imitation, (3) reinforcement, (4) practice. A functional sign vocabulary of 250 words grouped according…

Describes the importance of information technology literacy as a precursor to information literacy. Discusses the differences between the two literacies; instructional systems design; a methodology for identifying task knowledge to build an information literacy curriculum; and mental models that can be used to facilitate acquisition of task…

Explains Gilbert's Behavior Engineering Model that can enable the success of novice performance engineers by prompting appropriate front-end analysis and describes a performance improvement project conducted in the customer service department at an insurance agency. Discusses task clarification, employee self-monitoring, and public posting of…

In this article, the authors consider optimal decision making in two-alternative forced-choice (TAFC) tasks. They begin by analyzing 6 models of TAFC decision making and show that all but one can be reduced to the drift diffusion model, implementing the statistically optimal algorithm (most accurate for a given speed or fastest for a given…

Information gap activities are partner tasks that improve interpersonal communication skills. One student has information the other student needs, hence a "gap" exists that students seek to close through communication. As students gain experience and language skills, they create language that is more meaningful. These are activities that…

A method of water learning (teaching low level motor coordination in water, rather than on land) has been developed for stimulating the growth and skills of severely handicapped students. The model, which attempts to elicit natural developmental responses to the environment, incorporates task analysis of developmental preswimming sequences…

Presents a concrete example of a work task, a doctor treating a patient with schizophrenia, to clarify conceptual issues concerning relevance. Outlines how work task, work situation, perceived work situation, task complexity, information need, information seeking and topicality, situational relevance, relevance assessment, and work task…

Discusses cognitive models of instruction that can help develop new models of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) that include cognitive task analysis to identify mental models; constructive assumptions of learning; working memory and long-term memory; retrieval of new knowledge and skills from long-term memory; and support of metacognitive skills.…

Discusses computerized testing and certification and proposes three levels of certification testing, each one corresponding to a different notion of competent performance, from basic knowledge to expert performance. Declarative and procedural knowledge are defined; performance-based tests are discussed; and testing for problem-solving ability is…

Discusses the importance of situational factors in training program development, particularly in programs intended for professionals in the fields of mental health and social welfare. Proposes a methodological manner for selecting situations relevant to future tasks that revolve around the role the professional is expected to fulfill. (Author/LRW)