Clinical interviews with nine fifth graders revealed that experiences play a pivotal role in their understanding of pests. They lack well-developed schema and language to discuss pest management. A foundation of core biological concepts was necessary for understanding pests and pest management. (Conatains 34 references.) (SK)

Changing the culture of a college is the first and most critical step toward successful change. The Community College of Denver (CCD) has created a culture that is sustained by a heartfelt shared belief in the primacy of student success, and that has produced remarkable improvements in student success outcomes. (PGS)

Applies an established model of organizational alignment to distance education in postsecondary institutions and recommends performance-oriented approaches to support growth by analyzing goals, structure, and management practices across the organization. Presents performance improvement strategies such as benchmarking and documenting workflows,…

Identifies and discusses the myriad perspectives on measures of quality and benchmarking in distance education. Reviews the standards or benchmarks of quality that have been promulgated by various stakeholder groups. (EV)

Interviews with eight preservice elementary teachers regarding benchmarks related to agricultural technology for food and fiber showed that those from rural areas had more complex understanding of the trade-offs in technology use; urban residents were more concerned with ethical dilemmas. Pesticide pollution was most understood, genetic…

Focus groups of recent business graduates and their employers identified six categories of total quality skills needed in the workplace. Analysis of these skills and the benchmarking process for learning outcomes assessment at Alverno College was used to design a curriculum for developing performance-based skills. (SK)

Discusses a controversial benchmark study by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1998 that supported a form of affirmative action for minority-owned small businesses, focusing on some of its questionable methodology and conclusions. Examines program specifics, the benchmark study, data collection and evaluation problems, and who is doing the…

Includes "Introduction" (Childe); "Local Universities as a Resource for Local SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)" (Edmondson); "University of Sheffield's Technical Audit Programme" (Lowe, Ridgway); "Benchmarking as the Gateway to Knowledge Transfer for SMEs" (Nelder, Skandalakis); and "Assessing the Likely Effectiveness of Intervention…

Draws on comparisons between the Australian and U.S. Title I programs in schools, and in particular examines the implications for English-as-a-Second-Language learners of both programs.(Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on ESL Literacy Education) (Author/VWL)

Drawing on research conducted in Victorian schools in Australia, this article highlights the kinds of achievements that can be made by English-as-a-Second-Language learners that will not be recognized by the benchmarking of ESL students. Discusses the impact that policy decisions can have on individual students. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on ESL…

Examines the problems of developing a framework and testbed for quantitative assessment of image retrieval effectiveness. To better harness the extensive research on content-based retrieval and improve capabilities of image retrieval systems, this article advocates the establishment of common image retrieval testbeds consisting of standardized…

This paper explores ten common themes concerning assessment practice in Australian education across the six states and two territories. The themes are: (1) a strong curriculum base influencing assessment, (2) the incorporation of school-based assessment in all certification, (3) preference for standards-referenced assessment, (4) respect for…

This paper provides some conceptualisation on educational quality, which could be the basis for comparison with available indicator sets. In a second section standards and benchmarks and methods to define these are discussed. A third section covers the theme of the use and usefulness of education indicators and results from educational monitoring…

For institutions of higher education, accreditation and re-accreditation are facts of academic life. Since accreditation standards now include distance education and related support services, librarians and library administrators involved with distance learners and distance education programs need to know the published guidelines and methods for…

One can chart the shifting cultures of colleges and subsequent changing roles of the further education (FE) professional from the late 1980s through to the present day with some degree of accuracy. Up to around 1992 a paternalistic model of management prevailed, one which saw lecturers working to the NATFHE "silver book" conditions of employment,…