Responses from 21 nursing students and 7 peer mentors indicated that most participated to practice clinical skills; mentees received considerable help in reducing anxiety and increasing self-confidence; timing and organization of mentoring sessions were a problem; and mentors also made personal gains. (SK)

Since 1987, Indiana Middle Grades Reading Network, funded by Lily Endowment, initiated a variety of projects designed to promote young adolescents' reading. A Reading Bill of Rights was developed to create communities of readers. Some valuable lessons emerged: attention must be given to teens' reading needs; schools must be central; students need…

Analyzes 22 skill standards pilot projects to determine whether a strong focus on business needs thwarts education reform. Findings indicate that the majority of standards appear to clash with the goals of broader education reform, although a small number of the projects could have positive results. (GR)

Profiles mentoring programs sponsored by the Australian Library and Information Association. Topics include informal support as well as structured training sessions; group mentoring for new graduates; the use of e-mail; peer circles for newer professionals; and a facilitated mentoring pilot project in Queensland. (LRW)

A study was conducted of the construction of meaning related to new roles and relationships initiated by the Supportive Supervision Model, an approach to teacher supervision and evaluation. Results with 22 educators piloting this approach reveal that organizational members construct paradox differently, and the construction of paradox guides…

Recommends the study of architecture as an early introduction to the interdisciplinary study of history, geography, economics, sociology, and art. Maintains that this study can increase interest in local history and citizenship. Profiles pilot programs that have incorporated architecture into social studies instruction. (MJP)

Documents a pilot study of the perceptions of two L1 Xhosa acting students and their teachers about learning to act in L2 English in an L1 English university drama department in South Africa. Seeks to identify perceptions of "good acting," and the degree to which these are contingent on perceptions of "good English" in theatre…

Includes five articles that discuss digital reference in elementary and secondary education; the need to understand the technological environment of digital reference; question negotiation in digital reference; a pilot study that evaluated chat reference service quality; and collaborative digital museum and digital library reference services. (LRW)

Results of a survey of teacher education institutions which participated in a series of pilot accreditation visits by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) provided information on changes that occurred as a result of NCATE's redesigned assessment process and the influence the process had on the institution. (IAH)

Describes a simulation of OCLC's TAPECON retrospective conversion service and its impact on an online catalog in a large university research library. The analysis includes results of Library of Congress Card Numbers, author/title, and title searches, and hit rates based on an analysis of OCLC and locally generated reports. (three references)…

Explains two phases of Tennessee's statewide efforts to strengthen parent-school partnerships. One phase I program is based on Purkey's "Invitational Education" concept aiming to increase parent and community involvement. Phase II models include "Active Parenting,""New Parents as Teachers," and an "Operation…

The TransParent School Model linking telephones with computers enables teachers to communicate daily with parents regarding children's learning activities, homework, and ways for parents to support the child's study at home. Electronic mailboxes can expand the system's message-storing capacity. Includes eight references. (MLH)

Great Britain's General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) is an innovative further education program that is empowering students and outstripping enrollment projections. In 1992-93, GNVQ was piloted in five vocational areas: business, health and social care, leisure and tourism, art and design, and manufacturing. Under GNVQ, assessment by…

The impact of the Employment Action Pilot Project on employable immigrants on welfare in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), was studied with 24 immigrant clients, 15 single-parent female immigrants, and over 300 comparisons. Significant differences were not found between program and comparison groups. Impacts other than cost-effectiveness are discussed.…

Considers the theoretical issues of portfolio approaches to writing evaluation, especially as related to use in a large-scale setting such as a high school. Focuses on several key issues: standardization of portfolio contents, scoring procedures, the authenticity of student writings, and logistics. Describes a pilot study of the feasibility of…