Discusses the needs of the new majority of students, i.e., part-time students over 25 with job and/or family responsibilities. A pilot project at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, called the Interactive Learning Community, that lends computers with modems to students to supplement in-class activities is described. (five…

This rejoinder to Grant Wiggins on performance assessment suggests that true educational reform will undoubtedly be evidenced by something more substantial than pocket folders bulging with student work. Labeling performance tests "authentic" does not ensure their validity, reliability, or incorruptibility. Such tests are neither replacements nor…

The Texas Scholars Program, a joint business/education venture, is a low-cost program that motivates the "forgotten majority" (lower ranked students) to complete a rigorous academic curriculum preparing them for the labor market or postsecondary education. Since 1989, Eastman Chemical Company business leaders have been…

Deploring standardized testing deficiencies, the author obtained state funding to adapt England's Primary Language Record assessment to U.S. classrooms and piloted the literacy portion throughout California. Now 20 schools and districts across 8 states employ the Learning Record Assessment, accompanied by parental-involvement and…

Argues that middle managers are key to developing successful departments and schools. Discusses results from a pilot project on role changes that shadowed eight department heads in Catholic secondary schools in Birmingham and Manchester, England. Although department heads spent most time on core activities (teaching, coaching, and managing their…

A review of the literature reporting effects on parents of universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) focuses on debates surrounding false positive identification, the evidence base for maternal/parental anxiety, consent, and family cultural/sociodemographic influences on the effective implementation of the UNHS programs, especially the pilot…

This pilot program used videoconferencing technology to create a collaborative cultural exchange between fourth graders in San Francisco and Taiwan in which students from both cities saw an art exhibit and participated in a dialog addressing the content of the exhibit, as well as their own cultural backgrounds. (Author/LRW)

In Qualified Vocational Instruction, one-third of instructional time consists of advanced application of theory in the workplace. Evaluation of a Swedish pilot project suggests that it is successful, but possible future paths (integration, separation, continuation, or liquidation) depend on political choices about the public/private role. (SK)

Describes mentoring as a support mechanism for trainees undertaking new in-service professional qualifications for the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (UK). Presents the selection procedure for mentors, the process of matching them with trainees, the regional network for induction training and support, and the documentation…

Presents the rationale for and the results of a pilot study attempting to document in detail how automatization takes place as the result of different kinds of intensive practice. Results show that reaction times and error rates gradually decline with practice, and the practice effect is skill-specific. (36 references) (CK)

Children of Drug Court clients are at high-risk for substance abuse and other risk factors. This paper summarizes the results of a program needs assessment, process evaluation, and outcome evaluation from the Kentucky Drug Court Strengthening Families Pilot Program. Results indicated overall positive changes for families in the program.…

Describes a pilot project at the University of Nevada, Reno that incorporated information literacy goals into two core courses. Discusses planning, execution, student and faculty assessments of the project, future plans, factors favoring wider acceptance of information literacy, and factors possibly impeding acceptance of information literacy…

Using an ecological conceptual framework, this article describes a health promotion pilot project designed for children, their families, and other community members. The program was based in a full-service community school that evolved from a university-community collaboration. Efforts to increase adults' access to health promotion information are…

The focus of this article is on examining Norwegian teachers' perception of what factors at the school's organisational level have facilitated their participation in a school-based health promotion project. The study is based on 12 semistructured interviews with teachers from two of the pilot schools participating in the European Network of Health…

This article investigates conditions for increasing active participation in on-line communities. As a case study, we use three generations of facilities designed to promote learning in the area of Educational Modelling Languages. Following a description of early experience with a conventional web site and with a community site offering facilities…