Expands on the findings of a panel reporting on "in-country" language experience in Australia. The article lists guidelines for second-language learning that stipulate that students learn best when treated as individuals, are provided with opportunities to communicate in the target language, are exposed to communicative data relevant to their own…

Discusses views of former students of the faculty with respect to the Chinese language program at an Australian university, including their needs and expectations of the program, suggestions for improving the program and perceived successful features and views on how well the program prepares students for China-related business dealings and…

Explores questions regarding the knowledge and proficiency level expected of second-language learners, the acquisition of valued knowledge, the relationship between cognition and language learning, the nature of "progress," and quality curriculum design. These questions are discussed in reference to the development in Australia of the Statement…

Provides a status report as of July 1995 of the Statement and Profile for languages in government education systems across Australia. The article summarizes the state of second-language education in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. (Author/CK)

Discusses a project to enhance language learning in Australian schools. The project focused on training teachers to interpret the curriculum profiles for languages other than English and English as a Second Language (ESL), make valid outcomes-based judgments about students' learning, share best practice in language and ESL teaching, and develop…

Discusses the linkage of quality with accountability in professional development programs in Australia, with specific reference to the effect on second-language teachers. The article notes that, since the introduction of the Statements and Profiles, the Australian government has stressed the need for cooperation between the various sectors…

Describes a project trying to implement the nationally developed Curriculum Profile for languages in Australia from the vantage point of three teachers. Notes that the objectives of the project included highlighting teacher perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the profile, discovering difficulties experienced by teachers in applying the…

Describes seven principles for developing a workable system for evaluation of college teaching, and provides both process and decision matrixes for groups interested in building such a system for their own evaluation. Argues that the system must be safe, explicit, manageable, formative, and satisfy environmental demands for accountability and…

Examines military and industrial research on peer assessment and discusses relevance to peer review of college teaching. Gives special attention to practical issues in assessing reliability and validity of peer evaluations, and discusses three characteristics of academic institutions (personal teaching styles/definition of "peer"/nature of…

Discusses problems with summative peer evaluation of college teaching, looking at conflicting interests and mixed metaphors of faculty evaluation that obscure its process and principles. Issues related to five kinds of evaluation (judging, critiquing, assessing, appraising, rating) are examined. Argues that peers can contribute to faculty…

Examines use of collaborative college faculty peer review for instructional improvement. Establishes rationales for formative evaluation of teaching, peer review in instructional improvement, and comprehensive faculty evaluation that includes peer review. Examines roles faculty might play in assessing colleagues' teaching; describes five methods…

Proposes a broader concept of college faculty peer evaluation, in which perspectives of teacher, learner, and observer are considered. Argues that three basic principles (intention/interpretation, advisement/appraisement, acceptability/accessibility) must necessarily and minimally guide peer evaluation. Presents a four-part, multidimensional peer…

Describes the peer observation program developed by faculty at California State University, Dominguez Hills, its structure and adaptations, outcomes, and recommendations for development of formative peer observation programs. The program helps reduce faculty professional isolation by providing an informal structure for discussion of teaching and…

Describes an active learning strategy used in a college ethics course to direct students into exploring multiple perspectives in case studies. The technique expands on collaborative learning methods by adding role-playing and reflective writing. The technique has been successful in a journalism ethics course and is adaptable to any field in which…

Presents a month-by-month plan for creating support for young adult services in public libraries. Each month has an objective supported by several tasks for achieving that objective. (AEF)