The National Institute of Education (NIE) initiated this first national study of the means by which school districts actually choose principals. NIE specified two main research goals for this study: (1) describe and characterize common practices in principal selection; and (2) describe and characterize promising alternatives for the improvement of…

Three research questions are addressed in this paper: (1) What does school improvement mean in relation to the context of a research project? (2) Given particular developments in European society and the nature of primary research data, what should schools be like in the year 2001? (3) What steps are being taken in research and development to…

Even at this early date in the application of biotechnology to agriculture, it is clear that agriculture may provide the largest market for new or less expensive biotechnologically manufactured products. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries that hold important positions in agricultural inputs are consolidating their positions by purchasing…

This report on the potential of new interactive technologies for improving learning examines developments in the use of computer-based technologies, analyzes key trends in hardware and software development, evaluates the capability of technology to improve learning in many areas, and explores ways to substantially increase student access to…

To investigate whether the proportion of males to females employed as educational organizational development (OD) practitioners is equitable, sex distribution data from three recent sources are presented in female-male ratios, in categories that define the available talent pool for educational leadership, educational leadership positions, and OD…

Designed to provide instructional technologists, policy makers, and administrators with an overview of the basic principles of distance education, this booklet comprises eight chapters: (1) Introduction; (2) A Selective History; (3) Components of Distance Education Systems; (4) Organizational Options; (5) Instructional Technologists and Staffing…

Starting with an analysis of technological change and innovation cycles, this paper explores the effects of information technology on education in Australia over the past decade. Taking into account current programs and policies concerning the introduction of information technology in education, the paper outlines possible directions for future…

After less than a decade from its inception, the introduction of new information technology in Australian education has already undergone some identifiable stages. These range from the scattered development of innovative programs to the formulation of state and national policies, from the original introduction of microcomputers into schools to the…

This paper explores methods of collaboration among countries in order to promote successful development, exchange, and dissemination of international education materials. The discussion emphasizes activities of the Pacific Circle Consortium, which was founded in 1977 and includes Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. Its…

The role of 48 liberal arts colleges in the training of American scientists was studied, with attention to undergraduate/graduate education and research and development (R&D). It was found that the leading liberal arts colleges rank at or near the top of all U.S. institutions in the training of scientists. Whereas universities have seen an…

American Indian participation in educational research suffers from minimal involvement of tribal people in the research effort, the obtrusive role of researchers, controversies over the content of published research, and inadequate preparation of researchers sensitive to American Indian community needs. Existing supplementary training methods to…

The Research and Development Exchange (RDx) is a network of regional educational laboratories and university-based research and development centers working to support state and local school improvement efforts. Initiated by the National Institute of Education in 1976, the RDx is composed of eight Regional Exchanges and four central support…

The research program of the National Swedish Board of Universities and Colleges is concerned with four main areas: the role of higher education in society, higher education as a system (structure and governance), the environment and working methods of research and of teaching. Some work has also been started in research and development…

The American Registry of Research and Research-Related Organizations in Education (ARROE) was compiled to identify those organizations engaged in efforts to improve education through research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and policy study activities. The organizations were contracted between 1976 and 1978, and were selected because they…

To encourage dialog between institutional research workers in the junior colleges of California, a conference was called to discuss the development and use of a common data bank. The eight major addresses included (1) a review of the past year's activities of the California Junior College Association's Committee on Research and Development, (2) a…