The scholarship of teaching has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years, with new recognition that faculty members' research does not necessarily exclude their pedagogy. But research and teaching are not the only parts of their lives as faculty members. Much of what they do on their campuses comes under the heading of service.…

The objective of this paper is to provide some practical insight into the process of implementing large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCT) in educational settings and to provide general recommendations for researchers conducting education-based RCTs in the future. The authors draw their recommendations from their recent experiences…

Over the past two decades, community organizing has emerged as an effective force for school improvement. In the context of shrinking education funding, stubborn opportunity and achievement gaps between low-income and wealthy children and between children of color and White children, and polarizing debate on school reform, community organizing…

The proliferation of inappropriate master's degrees in educational administration is a tough challenge facing efforts to reform school leadership in the nation. In the state of Illinois alone, there are 26 universities and colleges offering 32 master's degree programs in educational leadership. In all, candidates enroll in 16 different types of…

This article provides practical guidance for researchers who are designing studies that randomize groups to measure the impacts of educational interventions. The article (a) provides new empirical information about the values of parameters that influence the precision of impact estimates (intraclass correlations and R[superscript 2] values) and…

Valerie Lee and Douglas Ready explore the influences of the high school curriculum on student learning and the equitable distribution of that learning by race and socioeconomic status. They begin by tracing the historical development of the U.S. comprehensive high school and then examine the curricular reforms of the past three decades. During the…

"Charter Schools in Eight States" uses longitudinal data from eight states to evaluate the effects of charter schools on achievement, attainment, integration, and competition. The findings are mixed. "Achievement": The study examines seven jurisdictions and finds insignificant effects on reading and math performance in five,…

TO INCREASE THE COMPETENCE OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FIELD, FOUR UNIVERSITY SEMINARS WERE CONDUCTED ON (1) VOCATIONAL RESEARCH DESIGN, (2) RESOURCES IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES RELATING TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, (3) PARADIGMS FOR EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND (4) ADMINISTRATION OF DEVELOPMENT, PILOT,…

ACTING UPON RECOMMENDATIONS BY A NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF PROMINENT EDUCATORS, A RESEARCH CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT THE CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, (1) TO CLARIFY STUDENT PERSONNEL PROBLEMS IN JUNIOR COLLEGES, (2) TO PRODUCE A STATEMENT OF RESEARCH GOALS AND METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND (3) TO STIMULATE RESEARCH INITIATIVE…

This study proposed to identify and report current programs of student follow-up at 16 Illinois and 24 non-Illinois public junior colleges. Plans and recommendations are given for improving follow-up programs in Illinois. The author concluded that (1) the purpose of follow-up is to evaluate and improve the institution's performance; (2)…

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT WAS AN EXPLORATION OF NOVEL RESEARCH DESIGNS AND MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN MEDIA RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH, OR IN SOCIAL SCIENCES. TWENTY-THREE RESEARCH REPORTS TOGETHER WITH A COVERING MEMORANDUM, PROVIDED THE SUBSTANCE OF THE TECHNICAL REPORT. THE MEMORANDUM INCLUDED THE RATIONALE FOR THE…

A project had as its primary goal the development of a concept paper highlighting the relationships between vocational education, job creation, and economic development. Phase 1 (first year) was oriented toward determining a plan for conducting research; later phases will prepare curriculum and develop programs. Organizations and available…

Provides a literature review that focuses on the effects of music performance experience on subsequent music listening experiences. Results from a collaborative research effort by students and faculty of the Center for the Study of Education and Musical Experience (Northwestern). Provides a discussion of the review and findings along with…

A systematic approach to disseminaton of vocational education research and development program improvement efforts is comprehensive, effective, and efficient. Systematic dissemination is a prerequisite link to assessing impact of research and development--for program improvement to occur, successful dissemination is crucial. A systematic approach…

Criticizes the Illinois State Board of Education's study of the effects of school district size on student achievement as a piece of research upon which to base educational policy decisions. Points out specific weaknesses in the research. (FL)