Describes a teaching strategy that addresses three environments--natural, global, and organizational--at the levels of science, society, and individual responsibility. Demonstrates a way to integrate environmental imperatives and the need for economic and policy change into agriculture teaching. (SK)

A European project involved British and Dutch agricultural educators in assisting Hungarians with curriculum restructuring and staff development. Evaluation yielded evidence of systematic planning based on new political realities; lack of input from groups outside the university; and involvement of more than 50% of faculty in language training,…

A New Zealand project involving 17 farmers, 2 scientists, and 2 consultants classified their learning styles and found learning-preference and belief differences. The differences were used to guide design and evaluation of an extension program. (SK)

A Canadian extension program in Russia revealed two major problems facing Western extension agents: failure of Russian farms to treat dairy farming as a holistic, interdependent system, and a low level of human resource management skills due to the past history of direction by command. (SK)

In a rapidly changing world, formal education of the young is no longer adequate preparation for life and work. Examples from Sweden and Japan show how the concept of the learning society can bring about a mind shift concerning the nature of education best suited to changed social conditions. (SK)

In Australia, an extensive system of competency-based training (CBT) has been established. Business, education, and unions contend that CBT is more equitable in matching training with task needs, broadening the range of abilities, and enabling portability. But little evidence shows that it reduces divisions between vocational education and general…

Three options for competency-based assessment in Australia's national standards system are grades, merit, and end-of-course assessment. Grades are well established; merit has flexibility and provides progressive feedback. All three have advantages and disadvantages. (SK)

Various assessment methods were tested for recognition of prior learning in rural industry: challenge tests, on the job, portfolios, interviews, and case studies. Regardless of method, the process was time consuming, labor intensive, and costly. Successful use will depend on finding ways to improve cost effectiveness. (SK)

At 4 Australian corrections sites, 31 teachers adopted a curriculum for the Certificate of General Education for Adults, based on the Concerns-Based Adoption Model noting stages of concern and levels of use. The model helped identify and address teacher concerns and barriers to change. (SK)

A model illustrates how humans interact with information and construct representations using short- and long-term memory. It shows that learners' prior knowledge and effective instructional materials have a significant effect on how competence is translated into good performance. (SK)

Emancipatory processes such as perspective transformation and conscientization do not mesh with the aims of job training programs. Training language is often used to control trainees' social perspective. The fundamental question is: In whose interest are training programs for the unemployed run? (SK)

Interviews with 140 Asian students in Australia showed that they are not a monolithic group and that accommodation for non-English background should be made. There were pronounced gender differences in success rates and satisfaction and a high incidence of staff and student racism. More orientation to Australia and the university should be…

Describes challenges faced by a women's center when their relatively homogenous, middle class clientele shifted to one of diverse inner-city women. Strategies for meeting these challenges included encouraging staff members to examine their personal values and coping skills, reassessment of services and service delivery, and a commitment to…

Anti-gay ballot measures provide opportunities for mental health professionals to become involved in the political arena. One psychotherapist's experiences and observations provide a case study for confronting homophobia. Provides suggestions for making professional contributions to combat prejudice. (JPS)

The Kanuhkwene Project, based on a traditional concept of community, was developed by Oneida women to address critical social issues. Kanuhkwene empowers through connection with the social world and the natural world, and is instructive for what it shows about the possibilities of mainstream social services versus traditional Native American…