Nova Scotia University (NSU) is inarguably a leader in distance education. The purpose of this article is to examine the success of Nova Southeastern University's early implementation of distance education through Rogers' (2003) four main elements of diffusion of innovations. Rogers argued there are four elements involved in the diffusion of new…

This report provides a detailed account of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program's experience establishing and supporting research-practice partnerships (called "research alliances") during its 2012-17 contract cycle. The report adds to the growing literature base on researcher-practitioner partnerships by sharing how the…

Presenting a plan for disciplinary action, this article emphasizes planning and communication by teachers, principals, students, and parents. Development of a good plan for discipline, excellent academic planning and instruction, love and respect for students, and constant utilization of psychological principles of learning and behavior should…

Summarizes results of an NASSP-sponsored, 3-year study of the K-12 transition process in 7 demonstration centers representing various types of school districts. Findings showed that middle school transitions were crucial. The most critical elements of this transition process are communication, cooperation, consensus, and commitment of school…

Describes a case study of a Communication Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) program and reports a limited, preliminary assessment of the teaching effectiveness of 25 UTAs. Concludes by identifying various benefits and drawbacks of such programs and offers recommendations for departments interested in developing similar programs. (RS)

This report discusses issues having a major impact on "Study Talk," the Queensland component of an Australian language development project. After first outlining the procedures and organizational structures used to set up and conduct "Study Talk," the report briefly describes methods used to evaluate project operations and…

The success of the national-service campaign may hinge on whether community agencies and those that they serve are involved in the process. Critical areas are the use of language that people can understand; public meetings; outreach that stresses diversity; funding; planning; action context; management; training; and evaluation. (SLD)

Describes a teacher empowerment project implemented in one middle school from the perspectives of individuals who were expected to lead teachers into leadership: an administrator, a middle school specialist, and an evaluator. Their different perspectives emphasized the personal nature of the project and the importance of enhancing communication.…

Barriers to progress in educational reform exist inside and outside the education system. Some arise where new practices encounter traditional expectations and boundaries, but others go much deeper than education, such as poverty, racism, local political conflicts, and human resistance to change. The following five categories of barriers are…

A social learning model of the mentoring process is presented that features bicultural competence and effective communication. The model suggests how mentors can cooperate with families and teachers in the promotion of high-risk minority children's bicultural competence. Mentoring is a term increasingly applied to describe relationships between…

This review focuses on characteristics of effective school library programs which significantly affect student achievement and which have the support of educational decision-makers. In schools with good resource centers and the services of a teacher-librarian, students perform significantly better on tests for basic research skills. The evidence…

A three-year project to develop and implement a regional planning and communications model for vocational education was conducted in the River Hills Region of southern Indiana. The project attempted to facilitate communications and coordinate the efforts of educational institutions, community agencies, and employers in providing efficient…