A theoretical basis and practical guidelines for developing a wholistic program in environmental values education (EVE) are provided in this guide. Part I approaches EVE from a philosophical perspective and provides information related to the nature of human values and behavior, EVE strategies, and the development of a positive environmental…

This monograph contains five studies of participation in adult education. The first paper, "Participation in Organised Adult Education: A Review of the Literature" by R. J. Sumner, examines a selection of studies conducted in England, the United States, and Australia. Chris Duke's paper which is entitled "Participation…

Teachers and administrators in a midwestern school district met to assess the reasons for negative attitudes toward the district's staff inservice program. They agreed that the program's goals were too broad, the sessions were (for the most part) designed to motivate teachers to try but not to master a particular teaching skill or strategy, the…

The factors that determine course completion and achievement in college distance education were investigated using a sample of 25 courses offered through the Independent Learning Program at the Pennsylvania State University. The main objective was to develop a multivariate model to explain and predict outcomes of distance education. Additional…

A method for drawing inferences from complex samples is based on Rubin's approach to missing data in survey research. Standard procedures for drawing such inferences do not apply when the variables of interest are not observed directly, but must be inferred from secondary random variables which depend on the variables of interest stochastically.…

A discussion of points raised by Dell Hymes in his article "On Communicative Competence" leads to a proposal for a clearer and more comprehensive theory of communicative competence based on two models, a matrix of discourse analysis and a model of communication interaction. Pedagogical implications of the theory are considered, including the…

To be responsible, educational administrator training programs must take the context of practice into account in program design and execution. Adaptation in content, instructional processes, and support systems are required. The University of New Mexico's Spanish Language Master's Program, which has graduated 127 students, provides a model for…

Alternative models of rural school improvement consortia were identified through a review of research literature in order to determine what existing models were applicable to rural school consortia in the northwest United States. Organization structure of rural school collaboratives and characteristics associated with successful functioning were…

This guide describes successful linkage activities and programs and discusses ways in which vocational educators and administrators can develop more effective linkages with labor unions. The first two chapters outline the purpose and procedures of the feasibility study on which the guide is based. Provided next are descriptions of 24 linkage…

In light of the current increase in elementary and secondary school attendance coupled with a simultaneous decrease in college-age population between now and the end of the decade, this study assesses (1) the role of economic factors in determining the number of teachers certified and (2) the responsiveness of teachers in the "reserve pool" to…

The Ways to Improve Schools and Education Project (WISE) seeks to enhance school staff knowledge and skills through appropriate staff development adapted from local business and industry. Project WISE FY84 is an outgrowth of project accomplishments in FY83, which included a pilot test of collaborative school-business partnerships at three sites.…

This paper describes the Denver public schools' Standards of Excellence Program, a research-based means of developing and implementing school improvements while reinforcing existing practices characteristic of effective schools. Researchers have identified four indicators of school effectiveness that can be observed, measured, controlled, and…

This paper focuses on local (school district level) facilitators, or individuals with major responsibility for implementing federal or state-sponsored school improvement practices. It covers who they are, what roles they play, and how they contribute to various outcomes. The sample is from the Study of Dissemination Efforts Supporting School…

The Configurational Theory of Innovation Diffusion, Planned Change, and Development, or the CLER model, can be an effective tool for planning change events such as those involved in developing or improving a vocational education program. The C in the CLER model stands for configurations and configurational relationships among and between the…

The Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) conducted an assessment of microcomputer-related needs for basic mathematics in the four-state areas of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia in 1984-85. The primary input came from teachers from each of the states who participated in a needs conference in their home state. When each of the…