Competency-based education (CBE) has become well-accepted as a powerful way to personalize learning. Today's advanced technologies have enhanced CBE even further. Practitioners in the field are seeking means to take advantage of technology to increase CBE's effectiveness and efficiency, especially for adult learners. Microlearning and digital open…

This article describes community-university partnership building, course development/management, and evaluation outcomes related to an intensive community-based research project that was integrated in two sections of an undergraduate course on community practice. Pre- and posttest data were collected from 60 BSW students who were enrolled in…

This study examined the impact of sequencing practicums for welding on students' ability to perform a 1F (flat position-fillet lap joint) weld on low-carbon steel. Participants were randomly assigned a specific practice sequence of welding for using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). A total of 71 participants…

To address the need to increase STEM faculty member expertise in STEM education research I developed a faculty community of practice (FCP) focused on increasing knowledge and experience in STEM education research. The STEM Education Research Scholars Group (SERSG) met every other week during the academic year to study and engage in education…

In this paper, I describe the iterative development of my perspectives on scaffolding and problem-based learning through interactions with other scholars and research. Such influences include doctoral experiences, funded projects, and exposures to research from a variety of traditions.

This report provides a non-technical overview of the guiding research questions and research design for the ACT-led core research program conducted on behalf of the GEAR UP College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium (CCREC). The core research program is a longitudinal study of the effectiveness of 14 GEAR UP state grants on the academic…

Western Governors University (WGU) is a competency-based institution that uses an integrated and holistic approach to competence definition, teaching, and assessment. Building a competency-based degree program begins with competence definition activities that focus on what successful graduates need to be able to "do" and the related…

In June 1996, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, whose mission is to help people with disabilities achieve their life goals with technology, met in Salt Lake City (Utah). This article provides an overview of the conference, describing product exhibits, courses, meetings, and particularly research…

The Utah Research Coordinating Unit (RCU) was established to conduct and supervise vocational research, develop research competency in the State, disseminate vocation research information, and provide help in preparing research proposals. The research needs of Utah were established by workshop and teacher briefings and interviews with district and…

The application of job simulation to career vocational exploration is discussed and a model for developing job-simulated units, with a description of their implementation in various education programs in Utah, is presented. The results of several evaluations and field tests using job simulation units are reported and discussed. (Author)

This monograph describes and analyzes recent efforts to develop measurable units for human services in the social services and mental health services areas. The issues surrounding the "unit of service" are examined along with the problems encountered by the system designer or information user in past projects, and some of today's more…

One of five reports developed to summarize research efforts conducted as part of an Agricultural-Forestry Development Project, this report presents the results of an inventory of human resources used in the agricultural and forestry industries in the Four Corners Economic Development Region. Explored are such aspects of labor as: (1) employment…

Rural schools in the western region states of California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada are facing enormous challenges due to major shifts in the demographics of the region. Rapid growth in student enrollment, particularly of minority and limited English proficient students, the increasing rate of rural poverty and homelessness, and a projected…

To determine what resources are available to community health nurses, a survey was conducted of 345 agencies in WICHE's 13 western state region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Major findings were: (1) only two percent of responding agencies had a full-time…

ACTIVITIES OF THE UTAH RESEARCH COORDINATING UNIT IN VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, DURING ITS FIRST 16 MONTHS OF OPERATION, WERE DESCRIBED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES OF THE UNIT'S VARIED EFFORTS WERE (1) DEVELOPING WITHIN THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AN AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF RESEARCH TO VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL…