Outlines the efforts of the Scottish School of Further Education to use distance teaching methods in providing work-based learning for vocational education teachers through three programs: education studies, theories of instruction process, and educational methods and curriculum development. (SK)

The Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education, a regional school with 19 member countries, is currently focusing on development of women technicians by increasing their participation, adding women faculty, role modeling and networking, and changing attitudes toward the schooling of girls. (SK)

A Canadian study used expert panels, a national forum, and modified Delphi process to identify priority issues for vocational education: relevance, lifelong learning, restructuring, image parity with academic education, shared vision, new basics, partnerships, technology courses, leadership, and educational quality. Recommendations for improvement…

Examined stressful loss for individual and extended kin, buffering hypothesis, and utilitarian drinking among 1,478 African Americans. Respondents who experienced stressful losses, or whose extended family members experienced such losses, were significantly likely to drink excessively. Results suggest that supportive social resources, particularly…

Interviewed 71 parents in predominantly Central American neighborhood to determine their attitudes toward alcohol use by their children. Parents overwhelmingly considered their own drinking behavior to influence their children's drinking behavior but generally would not permit their children to drink. Parents said they would do little if they…

Summarizes major, recent research findings concerning illegal alcohol use and intoxicated driving among American youth. Examines what research revealed about the nature of underage drinking and driving; what health, social, and legal ramifications are associated with drinking and driving; and what characteristics and behavioral patterns are found…

Describes Virginia Intervention Education Weekend (V.I.E.W.), project designed to implement peer-based alcohol and other drug prevention programs in institutions of higher education. Notes that 46% of 28 institutions had alcohol and other drug action plans in place at follow-up. Of others, 61% reported other positive outcomes as result of V.I.E.W.…

Notes that, although accurate estimates of substance abuse are essential for adequate treatment planning, the value of national surveys in estimating local incidence of abuse is questionable. Compares local data on substance abuse with national incidence figures, reviewing studies that explore the problem of underreporting. Implications for…

Developed two parallel short forms of Crandall Social Desirability Test for Children (CSDTC) and validated forms using factor analytical instrument reduction techniques on data from two samples of sixth and eighth graders (N1=356; N2=181). Concluded that short forms should be of use to those researching sensitive and/or controversial topics such…

Examined alcohol and drug use of 440 college students. Ninety percent indicated that they currently used alcohol or had done so in past; 39% used alcohol at least weekly; and less than 1% reported daily use. Forty percent indicated previous or current marijuana use, 11% cocaine, and 11% "speed" or other stimulants. (Author/NB)

Examined relationships among depression, meaninglessness, suicide ideation, and substance abuse among 48 high school students and 113 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Correlational analyses indicated that high school students who viewed themselves negatively, were depressed, or who had found little meaning in their lives were more likely to…

Examined effects of training of day caregivers in drug and alcohol abuse prevention skills. Found significant improvement in participant learning and skill application over mere provision of training materials without accompanying training sessions. Act of attending sessions appeared to increase participant feelings of responsibility for…

Describes a study of 647 preservice teachers in Ontario that used the Computer Ability Survey (CAS) to assess 4 components of computer literacy: software ability, awareness, programming skill, and perceived control. Correlations and validity for the CAS are discussed, and results of a principal-components factor analysis are reported. (Contains 39…

Discussion of changes in learning as a result of computer-assisted instruction focuses on a study that compared interactions between at-risk high school students and teachers. Use of two different integrated learning systems with interactions between the same students and teachers during traditional classroom instruction was examined. (Contains 26…

Examines the relationship between student participation in structured activities and academic success at school; discusses the use of computers in schools; and describes a study that investigated 220 students in 3 high schools to determine relationships between participation in structured activities and successful computer use in school. (Contains…