Systems thinking involves seeing relationships between the parts to the whole within the school improvement effort. After providing the key principles and examples of systems thinking, the article emphasizes the importance of staff development, highlighting experiences at a Wellesley (Massachusetts) middle school and an Alaskan high school. (SM)

This document represents a plan for educational improvement within Alabama, and proposes the following four goals for higher education (2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions) in the state: collaboration, access, quality instruction, and research and economic development. Each goal is followed by specific, measurable objectives which serve as…

This literature review focuses on the potential for creating a formal multi-state cooperative extension among New England land-grant universities and makes recommendations concerning the structure and operational characteristics of such a consortium. The review examines the following areas: interorganizational cooperation/collaboration;…

As in many other industrialized countries, advances in computer technology are transforming Germany's industrial society into an information and services society. Increasingly fewer jobs are available in traditional industries and in the public sector. In the 1990s, Germany's trade unions and employers' associations have experienced steady…

The final report describes the Michigan Physicians' Conference on Elder Abuse project. The project conference had four major content areas, including: a general introduction to the problem of elder abuse; clinical symptoms of abuse; legal issues; and referral and case management techniques. Training techniques included lectures, group discussion,…

A study analyzed the experience of eight schools that had begun working to integrate their academic and vocational education programs several years before passage of the 1990 Perkins Act amendments. The following common themes were identified as collectively defining integration as a distinct reform effort: (1) richer, better sequenced curricula…

The Bernard van Leer Foundation's seminar on early childhood education and care in multicultural societies brought together 31 project leaders and independent specialists from 19 countries for a consideration of common problems of multicultural education. Participants were selected for their expertise in working with minorities and migrants in…

Prepared to highlight the accomplishments of the Florida State Board of Community Colleges during its first five years of existence, this report reviews the Board's development and the progress of Florida's 28 community colleges. Following introductory comments on the creation and purposes of the board, the report looks at the Board's legislative…

This handbook describes a series of procedures for establishing school guidance and counseling programs in Idaho based on the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program model developed by Dr. Norman Gysbers. It begins with a conceptual framework and moves through the development, evaluation, and refinement steps of setting guidance programs in Idaho…

Complementing existing regulations, this policy statement for South Australian schools presents educational goals and priorities for the decade and general implications for classroom, curriculum, and resource allocation. Background discussion covers factors influencing recent developments in South Australian education, a summary of the role of…

In its first 18 months of operation the Centre has undertaken research on major issues and problems in rural education. Its publications have been received favorably, both in Australia and overseas. Visiting scholars from Alaska and Canada have made valuable contributions to the Centre's activities and have increased its links with agencies…

The four chapters of this analysis of world agriculture deal with production, consumption, and world trade. World food production and consumption continued to grow rapidly in the 1970's, but at a rate somewhat slower than in the 1960's. It is projected that for the 1990's consumption will increase faster than production in most of the world's…

One of the goals of science education is to foster critical and scientific thinking skills. However, if the meaning of the terms "thinking critically" or "thinking scientifically" is not clear, these phrases will become vacuous slogans beyond translation in teaching methods and curriculum materials. Therefore, the fundamental aspect of these terms…

Educational development in Peru is discussed as part of a series surveying UNESCO's involvement in educational cooperation with developing nations. There are seven chapters to the report, which is written in Spanish. The first chapter describes Peru's national education policy, and discusses how it relates to the country's plan for national…

Socially rejected students are actively excluded for long periods of time by many of their peers at school and are often the recipients of verbal or physical abuse. Although most consideration of this problem has focused on rejected students, social rejections could be considered as a group phenomenon, determined by the structure of the social…