A study involving 12 books, six picture books and six chapter books, examined how individuals with mental retardation and autism are depicted in children's literature. Results indicate characters were portrayed as making more choices in their lives and were educated in more inclusive environments than in an earlier study. (Contains references.)…

This article provides an overview of programs based in post-secondary settings in Maryland that serve students ages 18-21 with significant disabilities who are still receiving public school special education services. Student and setting characteristics, staffing, funding patterns, referral and admission practices, and program components are…

An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of three variables (type of augmentative technique used to communicate, disability label, and user competence in communicating with an augmentative technique) on the attitudes of 289 preservice speech pathologists. Findings indicate that user components influenced cognitive evaluations, but…

This article discusses the assistive technology training needs of families and provides an overview of the instructional CD-ROM, "Families, Cultures, and AAC". This CD-ROM is designed to provide information about assistive technology, especially augmentative and alternative communication, to both professionals and families through an engaging…

A study involving 24 elementary teachers found they were not using Student Support Teams (SST) as designed. Teachers believed the primary purpose of SST was to test and place students into special education, referred students with whom they had not been successful, and believed there was a covert evaluation process. (Contains references.)…

This volume contains 10 papers, including studies, a literature review, and program descriptions, that are devoted to various aspects of business education and training. The following papers are included: "The Net Generation: What Are We Doing To Meet Their Learning and Training Needs" (Jacqueline J. Schmidt, Kathleen M. Hiemstra); "The Glass…

The transformation of education for nation building, currently underway in South Africa, represents a political program driven by utility. Education should be concerned primarily with the self-empowerment of an individual person and, as such, not be sacrificed to demands of utility, which serves the narrow interests of the state and the economy.…

Discusses why the introduction of new technologies (or other educational innovations) as a means to greater learner autonomy is likely to produce some student resistance. Considers factors involved in determining the strength of resistance, and ways teachers can assist students to recognize and overcome associated problems. Presents the authors'…

Presents an evaluation of one postgraduate subject (Information Technology for Teaching and Learning at the University of New South Wales), which is taught entirely online and uses public-domain browsers, e-mail and file transfer, and is integrated with software developed by the authors, WebTeach (c) to facilitate teacher/learner and…

Outlines a "twinning" program for staff development, involving collaboration between lecturers from the University of Glamorgan in Wales and the Bath College of Higher Education, England. Addresses the theme of professional development for academic staff, and reviews twinning experiences through an application of communication models to learning…

Describes two methods of introducing computer-assisted assessment (CAA) using Question Mark software. The University of Luton uses CAA for summative assessment; Loughborough University uses CAA mainly for formative assessment. Both have central units to provide support and development for staff wishing to use CAA in instruction. Students at each…

Provides an example of staff and undergraduate student development through collaborative writing within a discipline. The "writing to learn" initiative involved staff developers working alongside academic staff and students within subject tutorials, which placed the developer at the nexus of both staff and student development and facilitated an…

Presents results of an empirical study on the changes of students' expectations and perceptions of service quality in teaching. Results show that, whereas students' expectations appear to be relatively stable over the time of the study, their perceptions of service quality change over time and their perceived service quality level decreases as…

Investigates the performance of dyslexic students in two modes of written assessment: coursework and examinations. In examinations, students were allowed additional time and were offered the option of using a word processor instead of handwriting. Findings suggest that dyslexic students are still disadvantaged in examinations, despite the special…

This project was designed to determine whether a training program created specifically for unemployed Native Americans could significantly increase job knowledge levels and improve the graduates' ability to find, get, and maintain a job. The program combined interpersonal and employment-related skills. Findings indicated improvement for pre- to…