The objective of the research study was to determine if dimensions of the innovation diffusion process could be identified empirically. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 300 educational practitioners in various roles in Kansas and Ohio. The data resulting from the 82 percent response are divided into two categories. One category…

There is a conflict between the traditional concept of journalism education--characterized by devotion to the five "w's," the inverted pyramid news story form, the style book, and copy reading symbols--and a newly emerging, philosophy of communicologist-dominated journalism schools--characterized by increasing specialization in space exploration,…

This summary lists the conclusions drawn from future-oriented inquiry into the societal context of education used to guide the analysis of goals and NIE program alternatives. Areas of concern specifically identified were (1) policy-oriented research on the societal context of education; (2) decentralized approaches to increase the effectiveness of…

Change may result from product advocacy, laissez-faire competition, or change-process advocacy. The National Institute of Education (NIE) has adopted the last posture, whereby the agency advocates a strategy of implementing change by sponsoring a sequence of activities including need and capability assessments, trial of alternatives, evaluation…

In the first paper of this set, a paradigm which was developed in communication and diffusion research is adapted to define the educational innovation process in the form of producer-product-dissemination-users-adoption. Dissemination and adoption are subject to a number of factors, which can be further detailed. Previously innovation was seen as…

An analysis of the findings of a 1973 survey of research/information needs for promoting innovation in community colleges is presented. This survey was made of institutions which had previously expressed interest in information assistance. Analyses are made by topic area, region and topics by region. These tentative conclusions were reached: (1) a…

The eight projects of the 1971-1972 operations of the Institute are described in this first annual report. Scientists from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska have designed and developed each project, working on a performance contract basis to facilitate and improve the quality of the application of educational technology. Each project is…

Nontraditional higher education is a movement toward increasing the options open to an individual in the pursuit of post secondary education. Its major emphasis is in recognition of individual differences and making institutions more flexible in response to them. This paper describes many programs and proposals throughout the country, giving…

The Institute on Training for Change in Student Personnel Services was designed to meet the need for imaginative and innovative approaches to student personnel services in light of contemporary realities. Six papers presented at the Institute concern perspectives on the nature of man, strategies for change, student development, towards a positive…

This study is designed to provide more comprehensive information on Soviet higher learning emphasizing its increasingly close alignment with Soviet national planning and economy. Following introductory material, Soviet curriculums in higher education and schools and statistics are reviewed. Highlights include: (1) A major development in Soviet…

This report explores the need for cost-benefit analysis in non-traditional education for the disadvantaged and presents practical suggestions and steps needed to carry out an effective analysis, based upon the experiences in the Community College of Vermont. Steps in such an anslysis include: (1) understand the informational needs of the various…

Reported is a teacher-developed project in individualized instruction in elementary science made up of a re-organization of existing curriculum materials with a four theme framework - Energy, Matter, Life and the Universe. This program is based on the assumption that freedom and activity will lead to new understanding in science through discovery…

This report summarizes the recommendations of a study on higher education in Massachusetts, reviews in tabular format the estimated costs of adopting the recommendations, and briefly comments on the recommendations. Recommendations concern six areas: access to higher education and equalization of educational opportunity; public higher education;…

This document reports the findings and recommendations of a study of a number of high level policy issues in Massachusetts higher education. Findings indicate: (1) Massachusetts is not doing all it could to provide equal access and opportunity to its citizens. (2) The present physical plant of public higher education is probably adequate to meet…

In this final working paper of the National Seminar on the Diffusion of New Instructional Materials and Practices conference participants make some general observations about the whole process of diffusion that would be useful to others who are developers or users and who participate in dissemination and implementation activities. Consideration is…