The underlying methodological approach of the CEFR is defined as being "action-oriented" and task-based (Council of Europe. 2001. "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment." Cambridge University Press: 9), although it explicitly leaves room for a variety of approaches, since the CEFR…

In global terms, the world is facing chronic teacher shortages "that will persist beyond 2015 for future decades to come if current trends continue" (UNESCO, 2013). UNESCO reports that the East Asia and Pacific Region need to fill an additional 57,000 teaching positions to achieve universal primary education standards. The closing of the…

To address the needs and interests of primary stakeholders in a writing program, this article presents a model of "grassroots" assessment that involves instructors from all ranks as well as students in the development, facilitation, and interpretation of assessment results. The authors describe two assessment plans that measured student…

While formative workplace based assessment can improve learners' skills, it often does not because the procedures used do not facilitate feedback which is sufficiently specific to scaffold improvement. Provision of pre-formulated strategies to address predicted learning needs has potential to improve the quality and automate the provision of…

A common problem for Chinese teacher trainers is coping with a passive class with silent trainee learners, when trainees tend to be unresponsive and avoid interactions with the trainer. This is especially true when a trainer seeks interactions in the process of training, such as asking questions to the class as a whole or expecting at least one…

School librarians play an important role in developing a technology plan for the school library program that reflects teaching and learning for today's education. The school librarian's leadership in the overall process and the written plan itself can influence future strategies for teaching and learning with technology that can go well…

A strategic plan guides a college in successfully meeting its mission. Based on the strategic plan, a college can develop a human resource plan that will allow it to make management decisions in the present to support the future direction of the college. The overall purpose of human resource management is to: (1) ensure the organization has…

Documents a case study in which needs assessment and a change model were applied in such a way that the needs assessment process served as a change strategy. States that, in this case, both the results and the needs assessment process contributed to the organization's change goals. (Author/CH)

This article describes both a short- and long-term strategic marketing planning approach for the parks and recreation manager. Both plans involve a needs assessment, objective development, marketing plans, and evaluations. Also discussed is a continuum of stragetic program options ranging from developing new programs to terminating existing…

Defines and discusses 10 program-development, research, and policy-analysis needs that are crucial for the continued success of the supported-employment program for individuals with disabilities. These include the following: consumer choice and self-determination, meaningful employment outcomes, employer needs and perceptions, natural supports,…

This paper presents a summary of systems change research as it applies to planning comprehensive early childhood service systems. It explains the inter-agency model developed by the Collaborative Planning Project for Planning Comprehensive Early Childhood Systems at the University of Colorado. The model attempts to address system issues such as…

The need for a "third dimension" of formative evaluation in reformulating the goals and design of new education programs is argued. The methods developed to meet this need in the context of the recently completed Florida Linkage System (FLS) project are briefly described. (Author/GK)

In 1993, the Michigan legislature passed a bill that allowed school districts to adopt early elementary school program initiatives. These initiatives established nongraded, continuous progress programs for grades 1 through 4. An overview of how the state coordinator helped school districts implement this multiage, nongraded model is presented in…

A State University of New York program is described in order to illustrate how self-assessment can serve two purposes: accreditation and sound institutional growth. In order to establish systems of self-assessment that support growth, the institution must identify and understand the obstacles it faces. (Author/MLW)

This article describes the development of a program for college students with learning disabilities at Randolph Macon College (Virginia), focusing on recognition of the need for change, the political realities of change, and the resulting continuum of services offered to these students. (DB)