A special education record-keeping system using bar code symbols and optical scanners is described. Bar code symbols were created for each Individualized Educational Plan objective, and symbols are scanned when students emit targeted behaviors. A weekly printed report of student performance is produced. Advantages, disadvantages, and costs are…

Outlines the advantages to students of participation in a student-scientist partnership. Focuses on a collaborative forest watch project which enables students to meet state and national standards throughout the curriculum and provides teachers with the academic and material support to accomplish this. (DDR)

Provides general information on the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. Discusses the program design and development, science and education, the GLOBE computer and communications systems, student-scientist partnerships, and explains how to join the GLOBE program. (DDR)

Reports findings from the evaluation of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. Examines issues concerning student-scientist partnerships such as benefits of the program to students and scientists, enhancement of authentic science in schools through technology, and the relationship between this program and…

Focuses on effective data gathering in school libraries. Discusses the connection between program goals and statistical information; budget data; using spreadsheets to track and compare costs; circulation data and trends; copyright assessment of materials; material-quality evaluation; lab usage data; computer information; data on services and…

Focuses on the implementation and development of a pioneering action research project in a Sino-British English program. The article describes the project's goal to introduce the notion of action research into China, to encourage reflective teaching and classroom research among trainee teachers, and to bridge the theories studied with classroom…

Maintains that introductory sociology courses rely on a preponderance of jargon that obfuscates the nature of the discipline. Advocates communicating the nature of sociology by emphasizing its three main approaches: structural, systematic, and critical. Suggests that religious affiliation and economic status influence ability to think…

Discusses the use of computers in qualitative research, including sources of information; collaboration; electronic discussion groups; Web sites; Internet search engines; electronic sources of data; data collection; communicating research results; desktop publishing; hypermedia and multimedia documents; electronic publishing; holistic and…

This year's winners of the U.S. Department of Education's Model Professional Development Awards exemplify schools and districts where everyone's job is to learn. In these models, time and resources are spent on teacher-run institutes, data analysis and collection, peer coaching, curriculum writing, collaborative lesson planning, examining student…

There are various school administrator organizations that are called for redefinition of educational leadership, improved field experiences, greater relevance to K-12 education, and a redesign of curricula to reflect modern content, and to name a few of their proposals. Here, Whitaker presents a summary of data collected over four years from three…

How to involve families in the formal education of their children is a question researchers and educators have been trying to answer since the first bricks were laid for the nation's public education system. A solution must be found, for family involvement has been proven to be associated with a myriad of stellar outcomes, including greater…

The purpose of this document is to give state directors of special education, especially those who are new in their positions, a guide to understanding their role and responsibilities with respect to the collection, analysis and reporting of post-school outcomes data for Indicator 14 of the Part B State Performance Plan (SPP). To assist state…

This report identifies and explains the issues, challenges and options affecting formal and informal arts education in Arizona today. It ascertains the feasibility of mechanisms to track formal and informal--or school- and community-based arts education over the long term. The Morrison Institute for Public Policy (School of Public Affairs, College…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Senate Approves Budget Plan: Amendment Adds Funds for Education Programs; (2) The Hits Keep Coming: House…

Spurred by federal and state mandates for improved performance, school districts across the country have become adept at establishing districtwide goals to raise student achievement. They have identified learning gaps among various student populations and now seek to close them. They have targeted improved performance in reading or math by grade…