There is a strong body of research showing associations between handwriting automaticity and children's writing performance. However, less is known about keyboarding automaticity and young students' writing performance. We investigated the relationship between handwriting and keyboarding automaticity and writing performance in both modalities in a…

Interviews with 6 managers and 18 nonmanagers in clerical-administrative positions indicated the following: (1) they saw their role as either intelligent support, technical, advisor, or multiskilled pivotal employee; (2) duties depended on relationships with other workers; and (3) nonmanagers had a narrower vision of competence. (SK)

A survey of 52 administrators and clerical-administrative personnel in Australia found that clerical training was acquired largely on the job; only one-third regularly update skills; 39.3% perceived assessment to be competency based; and a focus on technical skills was counter to employers' emphasis on interpersonal/communication skills. (SK)

Longitudinal interviews with six Australian women taking a community college certification course revealed the forms of social support they received. Different types of support were provided by family and by college friends. (SK)

An assessment task in which clerical occupations students prepare a report on setting up an office aligns with Australia's competency-based curriculum and national assessments of competence. In this holistic approach, learners research and discuss the problem and draw on personal experience as well as classroom learning. (SK)