Leaders in the business community often talk about the "skills gap," the gap between the skills needed for good jobs in the economy and the skills that prospective employees possess. Though there is debate as to whether or not such a gap actually exists, the idea of the "skills gap" can be a helpful way to frame instances where…

Agricultural mechanics instruction is a long-standing and significant part of secondary agricultural education. Similar to the broader agricultural industry, agricultural mechanics instruction is in a constant state of dynamic change. Educators must be proactive to ensure agricultural mechanics curriculum retains its relevance within this changing…

A study used Kolb's Learning Style Inventory to assess the learning styles and computer training preferences of 200 extension personnel listed in the Iowa State University Extension Directory (184 respondents). It found that 29% had a converger-type learning style; 26% a diverger style; 25% an accommodator style; and 20% an assimilator style. (JOW)

The report and an accompanying executive summary of a statewide needs assessment on young handicapped children in Iowa examine services available, effectiveness of services, and needed changes. The introduction provides an overview of State Planning Grants, Iowa's history of early childhood special education, and this project's approach to…

The study assessed current adult education personnel needs in Iowa of people administering and teaching career supplementary courses by surveying 22 administrators, 228 coordinators, 39 teachers, and 662 students. The first phase of the study was the conducting of a workshop for administrators to assess personnel needs and provide programing…

A survey of personnel from eight selected agencies or groups who were or who might be responsible for providing inservice education for vocational agriculture instructors in Iowa indicated that the vocational agriculture instructors and the university research and teaching staff should be equally responsible for determining the goals and…

The document presents a discussion and evaluation of the training workshop program developed by the Iowa Educational Broadcasting Network and the Iowa State Department of Public Instruction to help teachers incorporate the Bread and Butterflies television series on career development into fourth, fifth, and sixth grade curricula. The Bread and…

A survey of Iowa school districts found that the provision of special educational services and other aspects of gifted education was highly correlated with the availability of related inservice teacher education. (MSE)

In a survey conducted in Iowa, 136 teachers responded to a 52-item questionnaire to evaluate energy education workshops they attended, identify beliefs and practices concerning energy education, and identify perceived knowledge needed in energy education. Materials to create more student involvement in lessons was the top-rated need. (MNS)

Study examined the effects of staff development specialists, study group teams, and peer coaching teams on implementation of classroom cooperative learning. Staff development was the most significant influence. The article recommends careful selection of peer coaching partners, adequate time for study group meetings, and set agendas for study…

Reports on the effect of commercially and locally produced televised science materials used in an inservice program on attitudes of 138 elementary teachers toward science teaching. Indicates materials are more effective for teachers with few college science credits or little participation in previous inservice programs. (DS)

A study was conducted (1) to ascertain types of staff development activities and procedures being used in public elementary schools in Iowa, and (2) to determine how these procedures compare with principles and guidelines supported by research. Data were collected from a total of 346 randomly selected teachers, principals, and superintendents. The…

Written and developed to assist speech and language clinicians in the ongoing process of providing support for classroom teachers in their efforts to enhance the oral language of their students, this manual provides a rationale and intervention activities for improving oral language in the classroom. The manual first discusses research supporting…

A survey determined the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education within Iowa school systems. Twenty-four teacher/participants in inservice secondary and postsecondary vocational education training who requested and received PACE (Program for Acquiring Competence in Entrepreneurship) materials were surveyed with a 92 percent response rate.…

This final report describes the activities and outcomes of a federally funded project that was designed to develop, validate, and disseminate a training program for teachers of students with autism. The strategies taught to teachers were those that have been accepted as best practice in autism literature. Since 1996 more than 500 teachers,…