Discusses professional development in higher education; considers the work environment as the main site for professional development; and maintains that continuing professional development, in times of continuing professional obsolescence, is best served by attention to departmental cultures. Implications for staff development professionals are…

Explores a different model of professional scholarship, knowledge, and research, and contrasts it with an academic model. Topics include the nature of scholarship, the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in United Kingdom universities, and the changing face of knowledge as evidenced by RAE submissions. (LRW)

Presents a personal overview regarding education and training in general, and effective continuing professional development in particular, in the next millennium. Topics include change; learning processes; types of learning, including open, flexible, independent, group, collaborative, and cooperative; lifelong learning; continuing vocational…

A survey in Wales suggests that though the more privileged have more success in school, the successful stay on in education, and the highly educated more often receive training in work.Changes in opportunity and society, differences between genders, and variations between regions also determine participation in adult education. (PEN)

A qualitative study examined factors promoting participation in and the success of work-based learning. Identifies congruence and dissonance between employer and employee perspectives of work-based learning as a major influence affecting motivation and participation. Discusses the implications of the findings for lifelong learning and the creation…

Surveys and case studies of modules and programs provided insight into flexibility in post-registration nurse education in England. Identifies 43 dimensions of flexibility under the headings of provision and access, teaching and learning, assessment of theory and practice, and evaluation. (PEN)

This case study focuses on how the continuing-education department within the University of Glasgow (Scotland) utilizes special funding initiatives to develop a flexible program of part-time credit-bearing courses and awards designed to widen access to higher education for adults wishing to study in the evening. Response indicates significant…

Examines the nature of mental models and the need to provide appropriate environments to stimulate their development within the context of providing mechanisms for the support of lifelong learning. Discusses changing models of teaching and learning, changing learning environments, education on demand, and performance-support systems. (PEN)

Describes the introduction of electronic-mail discussion into a conventional postgraduate, distance-learning training and development program; provides instructor reflections and perspectives on curriculum development and the diverse communication cultures involved; and outlines motivations for continued engagement with electronic mail,…

This case study examines the use of a situated learning framework providing authentic contexts, authentic activities, access to expert performance, and opportunities for student reflection for the design of an interactive multimedia program on medication administration for nursing students. (PEN)

Reports on a collaborative project developing CD-ROM multimedia resources for school leaders. Provides an overview of multimedia case-simulation concept, discusses collaborative project efforts with regional and state school leaders, highlights CD-ROM case design features, and summarizes preliminary findings associated with the Administrator Case…

Describes the management of the University of Exeter (England) Images for Teaching Education Project, the design and use of educational materials, the production and use of images and sound, and the evaluation of teaching and learning. Discusses processes and outcomes of collaboration and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. (PEN)

Identifies critical questions with respect to the evaluation process in the design, development and use of courseware. Argues that certain fundamental difficulties in quantifying and judging effectiveness and learning outcomes might lead one to abandon formal evaluation; awareness of those difficulties is important for developers and teachers…

Reviews strengths and weaknesses of check lists for the evaluation of computer software and outlines consequences for their practical application. Suggests an approach based on an instructional design model and a comprehensive framework to cope with problems of validity and predictive power of software evaluation. Discusses prospects of the…

Explains why metaphors are important design elements in multimedia learning environments. Describes a model developed for levels of metaphor mapping which is oriented toward a cognitive engineering approach for describing aspects of user interfaces. Shows the extent that the didactic dimensions of width and depth of metaphors be taken into account…