As students venture off campus for university-sponsored activities, are they at risk, given that universities are better able to control risk factors on campus than they can for their off-campus activities? Co-operative education is a formalized and longstanding academic program that often sees students spend upwards of a third of their time off…

A research and development effort was undertaken to provide definition and validate the emerging role of the Work-Based Learning Teacher Coordinator through the use of a DACUM process in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Cooperative Education Association with funding support provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Career…

Big business continues to request universities to produce graduates who possess both technical and generic skills. Although work-integrated learning (WIL) programs can be used to develop these skills, WIL placements in Australia are undertaken by a minority of students. Perceiving a gap, one Australian university undertook a major WIL revamp to…

Cooperative education coordinators (n=383) identified the following quality indicators of worksites for student placement: promote students' professional development, encourage professionalism in the co-op experience, help develop thinking and communication skills, provide challenging learning experiences, and encourage pride and competence. (SK)

The purpose of this study was to analyze Work Experience and Diversified Cooperative Training in-service teacher-coordinator perceptions to determine: (1) acceptance/rejection of 13 postulates, (2) acceptance/rejection of concepts/elements complementing the postulates, (3) the rank ordering of accepted concepts/elements, (4) acceptance/rejection…

Summarizes the findings of a national study assessing cooperative vocational programs at the secondary level. Highlights the characteristics of successful programs, including teacher-coordinators, participating students, training sponsors, organization and governance, and special populations. Available from W.C. Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 1578,…

Among the 201 respondents to a survey of 250 co-op directors/coordinators, most have master's degrees, held their positions 3 years or less, underuse informal educational opportunities such as conferences, and do not see much hope for advancement. (SK)

Discusses a task analysis survey of cooperative education coordinators in Michigan. Indicates that the majority were teacher-coordinators, i.e., responsible for school-related vocational instruction as well as coordination of students' work experience. Lists coordinator tasks and duties. (Available from W. C. Publications Inc., P.O. Box 1578,…

A survey of 26 faculty cooperative education coordinators, 18 students, and 13 site supervisors found that 80% thought faculty site visits were important; barriers to visits were time and distance; and alternatives included visiting only new sites or those with problems, using telephone or video, and hosting site supervisors on campus. (SK)

A survey of cooperative education coordinators in Canada (96 of 130) found that more than half had positive attitudes, philosophically and practically, toward volunteer/unpaid positions for co-op students, especially among coordinators of mandatory programs. They had extremely positive attitudes toward entrepreneurial positions. (SK)

Results of a national survey of 285 cooperative education directors from postsecondary institutions indicate that strategic planning in cooperative education is not widely used and somewhat unsophisticated. Results also indicate that strategic planning may be associated with positive program outcomes. (CH)

Quality of learning in cooperative education sites was assessed in a survey of 383 site supervisors and 97 students. Indicators identified by both groups were as follows: student professional development, challenging experiences, constructive climate, academic integrity, student professionalism, and occupational skills. Supervisors added problem…

Teacher-coordinators and worksite mentors of high school work-based learning programs throughout Illinois were the subjects of this study which described worksite mentors' knowledge of teaching work skills to students participating in work-based learning programs and the nature of the training provided to these worksite mentors. There were no…

A survey of coordinators of accredited cooperative education programs in engineering found that career counseling does not significantly enhance student placement. (JOW)

At Bowling Green State University, the faculty-based cooperative education program in computer science has broadened faculty perception of co-op's personal and professional development potential. Survey responses from 69 of 118 alumni validate the contribution of the program to their work experience and individual development. (SK)