After reviewing the literature on interaction in distance education/online learning contexts, I offer some suggestions for balancing students' and teachers' needs for greater interaction with the economies of scale often achieved in such learning contexts. Specifically, I suggest that instructors' use of threaded online discussions and student…

Physical activity levels in girls decline dramatically during adolescence, most profoundly among minorities. To explore ethnic and racial variation in attitudes toward physical activity, semistructured interviews (n = 80) and physical activity checklists (n = 130) are conducted with African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian middle school girls in…

This study uses mixed methods to identify the factors linked to varying levels of academic performance among Latina/o students enrolled in an alternative high school. Results from the quantitative analyses suggest students who had highly educated fathers and who reported high levels of English literacy are very likely to be classified as academic…

The work of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is guided by a 5-year strategic plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide focus for the activity of this small agency and its eight staff members in order to increase productivity and impact in the areas of its statutory authority. The mission and goals were accepted by…

The documents enclosed in this report provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the progress made in developing a network organization capable of supporting nanoscience education for the public on a national scale. There is a logic to the studies that were done and to the reports that are included in this notebook. The following are the…

As the focus on school improvement at a state education agency moves from mostly a compliance approach to playing a greater role in capacity building, the agency's leadership needs to rethink student and learning supports. That is the focus of this report. Given that almost half of the chief state school officers have assumed their position in the…

An exploration of health professionals' perceptions of the concept of shared learning and of the belief that shared learning can improve professional relationships in practice. A shared learning event was arranged as a forum for information exchange within an NHS trust. Ten per cent of total staff (87 people) attended. Questionnaires were…

This paper draws on data gathered from a five-month phenomenological study of middle school students' perceptions of the effects of computer-based technologies on a learning community in an online synchronous environment. Twenty-four eighth-grade students participated in the Web Pen Pals project, a university-secondary telecollaborative…

A sequence of four objectives is the basis of this in-service training module designed to assist community college vocational educators and counselors in carrying out legislation concerning handicapped students. The workbook first presents a list of terms and definitions needed to familiarize educators with the terminology relating to educating…

A project was conducted to develop and implement a coordinated program of supportive services for the physically and sensorially limited adult at the postsecondary level. Phase I consisted of removing architectural barriers, establishing an advisory committee, staffing the project, preparing the budget, and purchasing needed equipment. During…

The "Formative Evaluation of the Canada Student Loans Program" was undertaken to assess issues of program relevance, design and delivery and for the purposes of examining the early impacts of changes made to the program since 1998. The evaluation also reviewed the Performance Measurement Strategy contained in the July 2002 Results-Based…

This "Student Workbook" contains 24 lessons of resource material that is intended for use in university courses on bicycle and pedestrian transportation. The lessons span a wide range of topics including an introduction to bicycling and walking issues, planning and designing for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and supporting elements and…

"Technology Supported Learning and Teaching: A Staff Perspective" presents accounts and case studies of first-hand experience in developing, implementing, or evaluating learning technologies. This book highlights the many areas in which practitioners are attempting to implement learning technologies and reflects themes of current topical interest.…

The new information and communication technologies (ICT) affect currently most spheres of life, including all educational levels. Their effects are most likely to grow in the future. However, many predictions in the last few years as to the sweeping impact of the ICT on restructuring the teaching/learning practices at universities and their high…

American Indian students face numerous barriers to higher education. Yet enrollment of native students continues to increase, in large part due to the success of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) in creating a culturally relevant and supportive atmosphere in which students learn and grow. Organizations such as the American Indian College…