The University of Oregon developed a rural personnel preparation training program for early intervention personnel. The program was centered in a targeted rural area in Oregon for each of 3 years and graduated 8 students per year for a total of 24 trainees. The content of the program was designed to develop competencies in infant and child…

Systemic reform, by definition, requires a concerted effort on the part of many toward change. In an effort to continue to promote systemic reform in science and mathematics education, a 3-day conference provided the forum necessary for many to share their insights and concerns on the issues. A brief discussion of four components of the conference…

A holistic training program for rural teachers of mainstreamed special-needs students and other students at risk sought to improve teacher knowledge about and attitudes toward high-risk students. The graduate-level course was delivered in 6 full days of instruction and included components covering innovative instructional methods, abuse and…

This paper describes the technology and benefits of distance education, especially microcomputer-assisted programs, for isolated schools with limited access to certified teachers. An interactive system known alternately as audiographics teleteaching and microcomputer-aided teleteaching was recently introduced at Brigham Young University's (BYU)…

Indiana University uses audiographic technology to provide off-campus graduate level training to teachers of at-risk and mildly handicapped students in several rural communities of southern Indiana. The At-Risk Program consists of six credits of academic instruction and six credits of supervised practicum focusing on school- and curriculum-based…

In 1986 Bemidji State University (BSU), located in rural northern Minnesota, began an outreach distance learning program for the preservice education of elementary teachers. This college program delivers junior and senior year education courses to students 100 miles plus from the main campus. Junior and senior year requirements are completed in a…

This report describes educational applications of slow-scan television (SSTV) teleconferencing, which uses a video signal generated from a standard, low-cost, industrial television camera and compressed to a bandwidth suitable for transmission over telephone lines. Following a brief explanation of the capabilities of SSTV and the required…

Described is a seminar designed to promote inter-country exchange of experiences on innovations in science and technology education. Countries involved include Afghanistan, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Each country's program is described pertaining to school levels, teacher training, science teaching, in-service training,…

A 1962-64 study conducted by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) utilized questionnaires to gather data from 94 United Nations Member States, Associate Members, and territories. The following information was sought: (1) size of rural populations; (2) educational opportunities for rural populations; (3)…

Institutions of higher education in Appalachia need to examine their role as the primary leaders of educational change in terms of solving the educational problems of the region. The uniqueness of the Appalachian region (which might be characterized as a closed system), coupled with identifiable regional needs, should be conducive to a recognition…

Recent college graduates (N=162), teaching in schools of 600 or fewer students, rated the importance--to success in teaching--of 45 areas of college studies. Only two areas were rated below the mid-point on the scale of importance. Oral communications, discipline, classroom management, teaching major specialty, and motivating students were rated…

This report describes 10 projects funded by the federal Technology Opportunities Program, in which people in isolated regions are finding ways to connect to new information networks and are reaping social, economic, and educational benefits. In the sprawling Navajo Nation, where many families lack even basic telephone service, local tribal…

The University of Oulu (Finland) has a 10-year experience in distance education. Located in Northern Finland, Oulu is a center for small distant villages and towns in Lapland. The Department of Educational Sciences and Teacher Education at the University of Oulu is a leading institution in the field of distance learning. Students complete their…

Distance learning can be a useful approach for preparing teachers who are mid-career changers or who are working on limited licenses, especially in rural areas. At Indiana University, the Collaborative Teacher Education Program uses multiple distance education technologies to provide special education teacher preparation in mild (high-incidence)…

Charles Sturt University (Riverina, Australia) has initiated the Certificate in Distance Teaching course for rural teachers working in a distance education setting to extend their understandings about rural and distance education topics. Two semester-long subjects constitute the course: pedagogy of distance teaching and organization of distance…