A multiple-case, "tracer" study was undertaken involving 11 research projects of the "Education et Vie Active" (Education and the Active Life)--a national vocational education program in Switzerland--to assess the importance of contacts between researchers and practitioners. Iterative data from interviews, observations, and…

The first years of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) pilot project to collect benchmark data on college costs and service levels are discussed, focusing on lessons learned, needs identified, current use of the results, and the project's place in the association's long-term research plan. (MSE)

An inquiry-based high school science class was developed to create a learning environment that would facilitate the development of scientific talent in students in a comprehensive high school. The class was designed to motivate students to pursue a sophisticated, substantial, independent scientific investigation over 2-3 years. (JDD)

Trends in European practice that relate to qualitative assessment in the evaluation of the impact of research and innovation are discussed and analyzed. To date, European evaluations have been mainly concerned with quality and direct impact with few assessments of medium- or long-term impact. (SLD)

Discusses the potential of teaching teams and collaborative instruction to support college faculty's action research efforts, and describes the use of such teams at one university, with illustrations from faculty research projects. Lessons learned in establishing and implementing teaching teams, and recommendations for enhancing their…

Summarizes four research projects (commissioned by the United Kingdom's Teacher Training Agency through their Teacher Research Grant scheme) which are of particular interest to science teachers. Issues addressed in the projects include self-esteem and science achievement, science teaching's effects on attitudes toward health and the environment,…

This article presents the mission and conceptual framework of the REACH Institute, which is engaged in a five-year program of research on teaching for understanding with students with disabilities. It describes several common features of the institute research stands in social studies, language arts, science, and mathematics, and emerging themes.…

This study sought to develop a correlate model of 3-year scholarly performance of 296 clinical pharmacy faculty. Participants were surveyed concerning refereed research, grants/books research, and nonresearch scholarship. Eight correlates, including two related to the departmental workplace, emerged as significant factors in scholarly performance.…

A study investigated differences in ways that male and female supervisors (n=7) of undergraduate research in a British university approach supervision and the student-supervisor relationship. Results reveal contrasting ways of working and some differences in use of language to describe and discuss the practice of supervision, suggesting gender may…

Language departments in Britain have responded to the need for finding less costly alternatives for delivering instruction, by introducing autonomous language learning into the curriculum. This article warns that it is neither a cheap nor easy alternative, and that there are important economic, psychological, pedagogical, and practical issues to…

Describes characteristics of effective and enjoyable learning activities, that can be grouped into these categories: (1) Assignments that Matter; (2) Activities that Involve the Researcher; (3) Assessments that Help By Promoting Growth and Showing Care; and (4) (Teacher) Attitude is Everything. A sidebar presents a four-level research question…

Examines efforts by one Norwegian university college to institutionalize research among the academic staff, describing different steps taken by the college's leadership and a group of teacher educators/researchers to establish a research environment at the institution and stimulate research among the staff. Hindrances to establishing a research…

Involving students in community-based participatory research is a useful mechanism for engaging the community and helping it build future capacity. This article describes student involvement in a series of community-based environmental health research projects with migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina. High school, undergraduate,…

A bioprocess engineer should have at least a set of basic design skills. Bioprocess design is a complex cognitive skill, which should be trained in every year of an academic Bioprocess-Engineering curriculum. However, there is little existing learning material to support the initial training of design skills early in the curriculum. For this…

For the past two years, accredited learning has been made accessible to over 40 voluntary and community organisations through a sub-regional partnership of the Central London Learning and Skills Council, six London boroughs, representatives from further and higher education, and the authors' organisation--the London Open College Network (LOCN).…