One way to achieve a higher level of agreement on the nature of science (NOS) within the science education community is to embrace the two major documents, Benchmarks for Science Literacy (1993) and National Science Education Standards (1996). Both Benchmarks and Standards have many statements on the nature of science that can be used as the basis…

This report presents mathematics benchmarks organized into instructional sequences by topic. Each sequence is based upon an analysis of the order of content as it appears among a set of highly rated state standards. The report is intended to inform and guide state or district curriculum directors or others who, starting from content that is placed…

Discusses seven research-based benchmarks providing a framework for the student-learning-focused reform of teacher education: knowledge and understanding based on previous experience, usable content knowledge, transfer of learning/the learning context, strategic thinking, motivation and affect, development and individual differences, and standards…

Examines the benchmarking of English language teaches in Hong Kong. Contextualizes the benchmarking initiative, which has been put in place to ensure that all teachers in Hong Kong have the necessary competence to teach English. Focuses on the representativeness of the sample used to field test the prototype of the benchmark assessments and to…

Discusses the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM), developed by W. Edward Deming and Joseph Juran in 1940s, and its applications for child care centers. Discusses how TQM focuses on customer satisfaction, measuring performance, benchmarking, employee empowerment, and continuous training. Includes a list of suggested readings on TQM. (MDM)

Explores historical trends in college admissions and financial aid; poses some questions for higher educational policy makers to consider; and offers a benchmark against which to measure practices as the competitive landscape of college admission and financial aid shifts. (Author/MKA)

Describes a benchmarking project developed at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) to compare the design and delivery of the Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) against national and international institutions. Discusses use of the benchmarking process for quality improvement. (LRW)

Reports the findings of 779 one-on-one interviews of employers, 454 questionnaires compiled by participants in NACE roundtable forums, and 302 responses to NACE's "Year 2000 Employer Benchmark Survey." Results reveal that most respondents are intent on building relationships with key college contacts and establishing a stronger presence on campus.…

Advocates the use of springtails (Collembola) in the K-12 classroom as a model invertebrate that can easily be reared and manipulated to demonstrate key concepts in biology. Describes experimental procedures using springtails. (SAH)

Presents a comprehensive view of benchmarking, including best-practice approaches to organizational assessment and improvement in higher education (the Malcolm Baldrige and "balanced scorecard" frameworks) and lessons that can be gleaned from the benchmarking process. (EV)

Considers the role of campus leaders in the benchmarking process and in using benchmarking practices to promote institutional change. (EV)

Although research findings endorse abandonment of traditional skills-based views of literacy, governments are instituting models of literacy learning with psychometric measures and benchmarking. Literacy, learning, and teaching are being taken out of the hands of teachers. (SK)

This paper presents a case study on how benchmarking was used to determine how one organization's Web site compared to Web sites of related schools and professional organizations. Highlights include application of metrics, the Web site evaluation form, functional/navigational issues, content and style, and top site generalizations. (Author/LRW)

This article provides strategies for writing precise goals and short-term objectives or benchmarks as part of individualized education programs (IEPs). Guidelines and examples address: definitions, reasons for clarity and precision, individual parts of goals and objectives, inclusion of time factors in objectives and benchmarks, number of…

A benchmarking study of business school faculty (80 of 250 responded) identified technology uses for course preparation and delivery. Extrinsic factors (institutional characteristics and faculty demographics) were not consistently related to technology use, whereas intrinsic factors were influential. (Contains 22 references.) (SK)