This study examined the presence of Ely's conditions that facilitate innovation, as reported by Internet-using teachers in leading-edge schools. The conditions that make up the framework are: (1) dissatisfaction with the status quo; (2) existence of knowledge and skills; (3) availability of resources; (4) availability of time; (5) existence of…

Tennessee's challenge for the future is to further change and revitalize the state's educational system by sustaining the momentum of the 1980s reform movements. Data collected during 1984-89 indicate that gains from school reforms are illustrated by improved standardized test scores, increased student readiness for college and work, a better…

The following papers, panel discussion, summaries, and comments are included in this conference proceedings document: "Education: The Essential Partnership" (Ramsey); "Australia's Involvement in Education in the Pacific: Partnership or Patronage?" (Baba); "Report by the Rapporteur to the Final Plenary Session"…

Profiled in this report are three Oregon first-grade teachers--the state's 1984 Teacher of the Year and two other finalists for that title. Distinguishing characteristics of the teaching approach of Jonelle Maurer of the Lincoln Elementary School in Grants Pass include phonics and group reading instruction, the use of activity centers, and a…

In contrast to the recent back-to-basics movement, which emphasizes rote-learning and the acquisition of mechanistic skills, small-group cooperative learning emphasizes the development of thinking and problem-solving skills. It also seeks to minimize student anxiety and competition by creating an environment in which students feel safe to make and…

A study determined the use of different information sources for decision making used by traditional Arab farmers in Israel. A questionnaire was used to interview 48 farmers from 4 villages in the Nazareth region and 56 farmers from 5 villages in the Gaza strip in their homes. Farmers were asked to name major innovations they had adopted during the…

The first of two reports in this document identifies research topics relevant to the introduction of information technology (IT) into schools. A discussion of general issues in IT points out the need for detailed empirical evaluation for the implementation of IT; the need to overcome barriers to innovation; and the need to support and encourage…

A study examined the organizational factors inhibiting and facilitating implementation of an innovation in an educational setting. The innovative program selected as the subject of this ethnographic study was Georgia's parenting education program. Data were collected from field interviews of teachers, observations of parenting education classes,…

The 21 summaries of research programs, funded by the United States Army Research Institute (ARI) for the Behavioral and Social Sciences which are presented are grouped in five broad topic areas: computer-based systems; information processing; learning, memory and transfer; human relations; and related issues and trends. Papers presented include:…

The High School with Options program, using the mini-course approach, was designed for a small (250 students) rural high school in Wessington Springs, South Dakota, which wished to take better advantage of small enrollment, expand curriculum to meet educational needs/interests of students, and provide opportunity for increased involvement of…

Goals of a model program for seven gifted students in a small rural high school in Baldwyn, Mississippi, were to improve teacher knowledge of gifted programs and increase student knowledge and skills through a mentor program and individual projects. Innovative aspects of the program during 1981-82 were inservice training to aid teachers in working…

The long-range goal of the Twin Lakes/Purdue project is to establish a collaborative site where college students can observe and practice teaching behaviors that enhance thinking skills and facilitate cognitive growth. A more immediate objective is to help teachers at the site develop teaching strategies which enhance thinking in the content area…

The effectiveness of an instructional improvement project in the Greeley-Evans Schools, Colorado, was studied. Teachers were provided inservice education in a class called the Essentials of Instruction. Recognizing that receiving training was not the same as being an implementer of the innovation, the Levels of Use instrument identified teachers…

The Action Research on Change in Schools (ARCS) project was a collaborative action research study that involved two levels of research: a specific research project in each of two junior high schools in Michigan and New Hampshire, and a simultaneous study of the collaborative action research process itself as it relates to teachers' individual…

This paper synthesizes research findings from a performance analysis of teacher tasks and the implementation of performance technology. These findings are aligned with design and implementation theories to provide understanding of the complex factors and events that occur during the implementation process. The article describes the necessary…