This report focuses on key findings, recommendations, and cross-site analysis of a study of vocational education practices that support welfare reform by preparing individuals for workforce entry. An introduction describes study methodology. Chapter 2 provides an overview of differences between vocational education under the Carl D. Perkins…

This study is a consolidation of the findings acquired in the course of three parallel surveys conducted in France, Italy, and Spain on the impact of new technologies in the telecommunications and administration/office sectors. Data are from an ad hoc interview questionnaire directed at the people in charge of functional areas of the firm and…

This paper reports case study findings that reveal diverse patterns of library and information services in five selected rural communities in Thailand. The case study involved site visits to examine documents, archival records, and library collections, to conduct individual focus groups and interviews, and to schedule observations. The patterns of…

Nineteen papers address aspects of professional education in institutions of higher education from a British perspective. Papers are grouped into five sections addressing: the reflective practitioner, learner autonomy and action learning, assessing capability, professional bodies and the needs of employers, and values and models. Following a…

A new conceptual framework for comparative analysis of distance higher education systems, called the Systems Analysis, Typology and Shaping Mechanism (SATS), was used to compare the structures and functions of the DE systems of Australia (which includes external studies and open learning components) and China (which includes correspondence…

The impact of labor hire companies (employment agencies) on Australia's apprenticeship system was studied. Three data collection strategies were used: literature review; survey of a random sample of 200 labor hire firms in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia; and case studies of four recruitment and labor hire firms and…

This paper describes the process and procedures that three Rowan graduate students of school psychology, in collaboration with two faculty members, utilize to plan and deliver school psychology services. Overall, the cases show how school psychologists can influence the academic achievement of not only an individual child but also a whole class,…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) examined worksite-based activities currently in place to help recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) develop the skills required for successful transition to unsubsidized employment. Data were collected from the following sources: (1) data reported by states to the Department of Health and…

This issue contains eight articles that represent information on a variety of highly specialized topics involving communicative sciences. Articles include: (1) "The Reliability of the Kay Elemetrics Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP) for Acoustic Analysis of the Normal Voice" (Ann Marie Cimino and Christine M. Sapienza), which focuses on the…

This report summarizes the educational highlights of a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Service, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture aimed at boosting the use of locally produced fresh food in school feeding programs. The workshop was designed to provide a forum for…

A study investigated implications of the increase in non-standard forms of employment (casual work, working through labor-hire companies, and work that is outsourced) for vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. Data sources were published statistics on growth of non-standard work; research on reasons for the growth and the business…

The impact of competency-based training (CBT)on the role and responsibilities of instructors across Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector was examined. The study focused on the following: quality and nature of CBT instruction throughout Australia; ways VET instructors have adapted their practice to accommodate CBT; and staff…

The Community School District Six Laptop Project (New York, NY) was created in order to increase access to technology for families in a low-income area with a large immigrant population. As part of the project, the sixth-grade students in this study received IBM ThinkPads. Trends that appear in the literature on integrating technology into the…

This case study examined: (1) what market research is required for planning for the implementation of "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning," the 1998 national guidelines for effective school library media programs; (2) what issues need to be addressed and what target audiences are required to effect change, as well as…

There are many sources of professional development for K-6 teachers that help them learn how to use computers, but much less is available on how to use computers in classrooms to enhance learning. Members of the Department of Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Melbourne (Australia) have developed CLICK! (Computers and Learning…