The Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics studied underrepresentation of women in scientific, technical, and vocational training in nine African countries, identifying barriers and targeting four areas for change: national policy, elementary/secondary education, vocational-technical training systems, and private sector employment. (SK)

Although curriculum issues still command reformers' attention, researchers recognize that academic success is tied to home and community support. Alliance for Achievement is a school-community management program that addresses the relationships among schools, homes, and communities based on locally defined and commonly held educational values. The…

Describes how a North Carolina school system's integrated English/Social Studies pilot program helped ninth grade students develop more awareness of their local, state, and national community. Notes that the program features research, writing, and literary analysis, as well as a planned program for the "common good." (PRA)

Discusses the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) and describes a pilot project at the Open University (United Kingdom) that introduced credit for APL in one course. Steps in the assessment process are outlined, including constructing a student portfolio; and workload, staff development, and costs are considered. (LRW)

In 1995, a racially and socioeconomically diverse school in suburban Illinois opened with new curriculum and instructional approaches and supportive technology. Change occurred rapidly, leadership was crucial, vision directed staff efforts, and negativities were minimized. Staff made important decisions, everyone learned and taught, and teachers…

Describes three pilot projects carried out with a special version of a computer-assisted language-learning activity, known as SEQUITUR, that seeks to develop awareness of cohesive devices and coherence features by displaying the start of a text and offering possible continuations. Usage logs of responses given by native and nonnative speakers of…

Three self-instructional science modules were developed and pilot tested in the Jamaican secondary education system for the concept mapping, cooperative grouping, and laboratory approaches. Formative evaluation revealed that the modules enhanced teachers' understanding of the Reform Of Secondary Education (R.O.S.E.) methodology; however content of…

In a 5-year evaluation of the $6.6 million Challenge 2000 Multimedia Project, technology-using students surpassed nonparticipating peers in developing critical 21st-century job skills. Multimedia Project students outperformed comparison students on content mastery, sensitivity to their audience, and coherent design capabilities. Standardized test…

Articles in this special section by middle-school educators describe the multi-age team (MAT) experiment at a Georgia middle school from 1993 onward. In 1992, a project inspired by "Turning Points" recommendations addressing teacher and administrator empowerment was launched at another Georgia school. (MLH)

Relates the results of pilot studies of Internet use in academic libraries to the education of users in a digital library environment. Interviews users and information professionals and reveals a need to develop user education programs that emphasize types of digital collections, interfaces, hardware and software requirements, and…

Details the research methodology for an evidence-based evaluation of a pilot long-term crime reduction program for at-risk 4- to 12-year-olds in England and Wales. Considers the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of intensive interagency cooperation to identify at-risk children so they and their families can be provided with consistent services…

Investigates the performance of dyslexic students in two modes of written assessment: coursework and examinations. In examinations, students were allowed additional time and were offered the option of using a word processor instead of handwriting. Findings suggest that dyslexic students are still disadvantaged in examinations, despite the special…

National Board certified teachers should work with select colleges of education in developing better teachers. Such teachers have many of the same goals as colleges of education--developing competencies and measuring these via student performance. Ashland (Ohio) University's pilot project is a model college-school partnership. (MLH)

Presents evaluations of three video-based distance education programs--Star Schools, the governor of Wyoming's pilot distance learning project, and the Ohio SchoolNet Telecommunity. Discusses some common findings and implications for the future of video-based distance learning, including what can be done to make distance education courses more…

The Key to Key Skills Project made portable to other universities an intranet system, developed at Leeds Metropolitan University, to support students' Key Skills. The system was piloted and evaluated in three partner institutions (Sheffield Hallam University, Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Plymouth). The evaluation revealed…