A description is presented of an improvement program that focused upon a small, flexible, open primary school. The school had been targeted for improvement because of rather low test scores. Improvement efforts focused on findings from four basic strands of school research: (1) structured learning environment; (2) academic feedback; (3) high…

The model of instruction proposed by Good and Grouws as an outcome of their research is the focus of this report prepared for teachers in Wisconsin. In chapter 1, the topic discussed is "Effective Mathematics Teaching in the Elementary Grades." Sections are devoted to key instructional behaviors, development, seatwork, homework, special…

An overview is provided of the responses made by Maryland's community colleges to growing concerns for accountability and the measurement of educational outcomes. First, the paper reviews the legislative initiatives and agency actions that characterized the state's movement toward a formalized, state-coordinated institutional assessment procedure.…

This study assessed teacher perceptions of research use and barriers to use. Specific purposes were to: (1) assess the frequency of review of the research literature, actual practice of research, and research dissemination by teachers; (2) describe the level of teachers' training in research methods; (3) describe views of the adequacy of training…

Reasons for increased interest in higher education-economic development relationships are reviewed and the nature of the guidance that policy analysts may be able to provide decisionmakers is outlined. Attention is directed to the merits and drawbacks of six possible approaches to increasing higher education's contributions to economic development…

This report summarizes the development, testing, and dissemination of an instructional improvement program called Achievement Directed Leadership (ADL) during the period of National Institute of Education (NIE) funding for ADL, from late 1977 to late 1985. A brief introductory chapter discusses the context and rationale for the work on ADL, whose…

The Urban Development Component at Research for Better Schools, Inc., attempted to attack problems facing urban secondary schools in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania by using the "natural channels" of educational and civic associations to disseminate research and development information and to work collaboratively toward improving…

Effective leadership is critical to the successful development of continuing education programs. Thus, combining the results of research on leadership and program development holds promising implications for improving the process of developing continuing education programs. Most research on leadership can be classified as following the…

An overview is presented of research findings on how teacher expectations of student performance may alter the ways that teachers treat students, and the possible negative effects of such differential treatment on the behavior and learning of students for whom the teacher holds low expectations. A discussion follows on the teaching implications of…

This document reviews the range of findings contained in 10 recently commissioned reports on how Chapter 1 programs are implemented and how successful they are in increasing the achievement of disadvantaged students. Although the conclusions of the reports are not the same, there are some developing consensuses. Findings are discussed in the…

This article focuses on the linkage between the quantitative and qualitative distance education research methods. The concept that serves as the conceptual link is termed "complementarity." The definition of complementarity emerges through a simulated study of FernUniversitat's mentors. The study shows that in the case of the mentors,…

In discussing how the use of research findings can improve teacher education program, a parallel is drawn between preservice education courses for physical education teachers and commercial training courses. A number of design and personnel characteristics that have application in teacher preparation are identified. It is pointed out that…

Considerations in the design and implementation of the technical assistance (TA) system for supporting Pennsylvania's statewide school improvement initiative are analyzed. After a brief introduction, the authors describe the key features of the initiative, called Long-Range Planning for School Improvement (LRPSI). They briefly review recent…

The current state of usage of regression models in analysis of variance (ANOVA) designs is empirically examined, and examples of several statistical errors made in usage are presented. The assumptions of the general linear model are that all predictors are known without error of measurement and are fixed with no replication or sample variation; in…

As part of the preseminar materials for participants at a seminar on dissemination processes and effective schooling, the purpose of this document was to help the participants consider issues in the dissemination, utilization, and implementation of research on effective schools. The document comprises a series of quotes, excerpts, statements,…