THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK IS TO ASSIST THE TEACHER IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING STUDENT INTEREST AT A HIGH LEVEL BY THE USE OF REALISTIC, PRACTICAL, AND INTERESTING ACTIVITIES IN THE PROJECT TRAINING METHOD IN DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION COURSES. THE MANUAL WAS DEVELOPED FROM RECOMMENDATIONS OF A SPECIAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION TEACHERS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A RESEARCH SPECIALIST, TO BE USED WITH "A FIRST LOOK AT DISTRIBUTION" (VT 001 273). SOME WAYS TO SUSTAIN STUDENT INTEREST ARE--(1) MAINTAIN A STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM, (2) RELATE CONTENT TO FUTURE NEEDS AND INTERESTS, (3) EVALUATE INDIVIDUAL LEARNING AT EVERY STEP, (4) USE REAL MATERIALS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND (5) PROVIDE ADEQUATE TIME FOR INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. THE ACTUAL PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCES OR PROJECTS ARE CLASSIFIED UNDER DIRECTED OBSERVATION, ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION, DISCUSSION, AND PRACTICE. SPECIFIC PROCEDURES ARE GIVEN FOR USING (1) THE INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY METHOD, (2) MULTIPLE PROJECT SCHEDULING, (3) COMMUNITY RESOURCES, (4) FIELD TRIPS, (5) RESOURCE SPEAKERS, (6) THE CASE STUDY METHOD, (7) THE LISTENING TEAM TECHNIQUE, (8) BRAINSTORMING, (9) RESEARCH PROJECTS AND REPORTING, (10) ROLE PLAYING, (11) BUSINESS GAMES, (12) THE CONFERENCE METHOD, AND (13) VISUAL AIDS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (MM)