Demographic and social changes, increasing economic interdependence, and educational reform movements are causing major changes in vocational education. Essential work force skills and the standards to account for their achievement are being debated. The 1980s'"Excellence Movement" focused on strengthening academic requirements,…

This paper presents a study that examined the effect of an attribution induction on students' performance on a subsequent achievement test. The study was conducted to determine whether an instructor might inculcate desirable attributions as part of a regular classroom interaction and thus improve academic performance in at-risk students. College…

This paper presents a study of two intellectually gifted students (ages 6 and 14) who have cerebral palsy and are unable to communicate orally. Results of participant observation, interviews, and document analysis revealed that: (1) gifted students who have cerebral palsy and do not speak exhibit indicators of cognitive ability that are similar to…

The present study extends a previous study of student teachers' teaching potential to first-year teachers and includes variables addressing commitment to a teaching career and efficacy. Respondents consisted of 126 first-year teachers who completed questionnaires at student teaching, graduation, and one year following graduation. Seven tables are…

These training standards for motorcycle mechanics are intended to be used by apprentice/trainees, instructors, and companies in Ontario, Canada, as a blueprint for training or as a prerequisite for accreditation/certification. The training standards identify skills required for this occupation and its related training program. They are designed…

The assertion that girls and boys in single-sex schools outperform their peers attending coeducational schools was investigated in this study with particular reference to physics achievement. The relationship between the school, the home and the student's performance in physics was also explored tentatively using multilevel analysis. The average…

An investigation of the process for career progression in the federal white-collar work force examined the nature and extent of any barriers women may confront in that process. It included data from three sources: U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Central Personnel Data File; 19 focus groups with 144 senior level and senior executive men and…

This document reports on the work of a task force charged with formulating recommendations on the kind of preparation an incoming student should have to assure successful entry to and completion of the freshman year of study at the State University of New York (SUNY). In addition, the task force was asked to specify what program of study and forms…

The Workforce Virginia 2000 Advocacy Council committee recommends that for Virginia to respond effectively to the growing global challenge, it must take positive action aimed at improving the productivity and skills of its work force and establishing high performance work organizations. Virginia must shift to a high performance work organization…

Good performance criteria can and must help define educational goals and serve as an instructional tool in the classroom. The rationale for considering instructional usefulness when designing performance criteria begins with the proposition that clearly stated performance criteria are excellent instructional tools. It is also apparent that…

The fact that college grades are poor predictors of future job performance is a cause for concern. A more important issue is assessment, for course grades cannot measure many of the work-relevant skills that a college education provides. Selection tests are one effort to identify and establish those characteristics of applicants that predict…

A study explored the causes cited by British primary school students for instances of relative success and failure in class work in a free-response setting. The study involved 157 7-, 9-, and 11-year old students in 2 primary schools. Because the 7-year-olds were reluctant to talk about their own work, children were asked to talk about the reasons…

This descriptive study attempted to identify those factors that college students with disabilities view as important to their academic success. Thirty-six college students with disabilities (in the areas of mobility, vision, hearing, and learning) were individually interviewed concerning: (1) demographic information, (2) beliefs about academic…

The current wave of school reform, with its emphasis on the learner, affords the opportunity to create environments that can foster excellence. The ability to support the development of excellence is threatened by commonly held beliefs that excellence depends on innate ability and that anyone who works hard enough will succeed, irrespective of the…

This document reports the outcomes of a series of meetings held in Florida to provide an overview of modified occupational completion points (MOCPs), to share examples of successful district practices, and to develop plans for implementing MOCPs in the state. Part 1 explains that MOCPs are student performance standards adapted for use with…