A survey of 209 family/consumer sciences administrators received 116 replies; 50 used peer input in faculty evaluation. Advantages included identification of strengths and weaknesses, collegiality, democratic process, and mentoring for younger faculty. Limitations included the following: requires time, could be divisive, can be perfunctory, is too…

Gang violence, thefts, and costs are among the reasons schools are adopting dress codes or uniforms. Evidence of their effect on behavior is largely anecdotal; empirical research is needed. Home economics professionals can work with parents to set dress policies, get student input, incorporate the teaching of values about clothing, build student…

Describes the historical development of production schools, which combine education with productive, income-generating work; their organization; educational principles (substitution, reduction, accentuation); and future prospects. (SK)

Describes a South African project to develop an on-the-job training program combining education with productive, income-generating work in inner-city Johannesburg. Discusses partnerships, recruitment, and evaluation. (SK)

An innovative professional master's of continuing education program at the University of Calgary took five years to be established. It had to overcome differing views of faculty, the opposition of the dean of education, and other types of political and philosophical resistance. (SK)

Responses from 43.6% of 250 dentists and 66.9% of 166 dental hygienists surveyed displayed some support for mandatory continuing education and sharp disagreement over the need for a bachelor's degree. Hygienists in nontraditional careers supported it, whereas those in traditional practice and dentists were less favorable. (SK)

Subtle signs of change to which continuing higher education must respond include the global interconnected network; replacement of linear, top-down thinking with interrelatedness and connection; human potential for higher levels of complexity and integration; the search for meaning and significance; and development of community--working and…

Describes applications of multimedia and telematics at Paradise Valley Community College (Arizona), the University of Delaware, and Miami-Dade Community College. Shows how these programs solve problems of cost and development time; stresses the importance of networking and interactivity. (SK)

In a survey of 1,164 British nurses (87% responded), written information, discussions with educators, and personal or family member involvement in health care were positive influences on the decision to become a nurse. Family members, especially mothers, were supportive; secondary school teachers and fathers of male nurses were less encouraging.…

Interviews with 56 practice nurses, 29 general practitioners (GPs), 23 health administrators, and 1 government official revealed that nurses use a variety of education and training opportunities; GPs largely let nurses take responsibility for their continuing education. The informal nature of training opportunities and lack of funding were…

The personal, one-to-one relationship of mentors and proteges is a crucial difference between the role of mentors and teachers. Mentors may act as teachers, advisors, experts, or senior colleagues. Their primary functions are support, challenge, and vision. (SK)

Observation and an interview of a nurse educator determined that she had a clear understanding of experiential learning and used that knowledge in the classroom. The phenomenological method used in the study involved questions derived from knowledge and experience that were designed to elicit personal thoughts, knowledge, and perceptions in an…

Suggests that andragogy is ill defined and the nature of sociological theory in nursing education is too undeveloped to produce a "knowledgeable doer," a qualitatively different kind of nurse practitioner. Proposes a critical health curriculum using student-centered learning and critical theory. (SK)

Portfolio workbooks combine reflection, planning, critical incident analysis, and integration of theory and practice. They provide a comprehensive record of student learning and develop autonomy and decision-making skills. A precondition for effective use is teacher commitment to student-centered learning. (SK)

In semistructured interviews, 11 nursing students stated that they valued reflection as a means of learning, developing problem-solving skills, becoming personally and professionally aware, and improving patient care. Mental previewing techniques would be beneficial when starting new experiences. (SK)