The Road Oft Traveled: Collection Analysis and Development in a Modern Academic Law Library

While law students and faculty are content to research solely online, the librarians at Stetson University College of Law's Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library are actively involving every library department to analyze and develop both the print and digital collection. This case study will analyze the print to digital shift in academic law libraries and its effect on collection development. It will then describe the process of collection management at the Hand Law Library and how the entire library team is used to determine what is required of the collection to best serve our students, faculty, and the public.     

'Emancipatory disability research': project or process?

The early 199Os witnessed the emergence of a radical new approach to researching disablement known as 'emancipatory disability research'. This paper provides a broad-based overview of the core principles and implications of this methodology. Drawing on research initiated and conducted by organisations controlled and run by disabled people it suggests how the emancipatory research paradigm has begun to transform the material and social relations of research production. The paper concludes by suggesting that emancipatory disability should be perceived as a process rather than a project.     

The language of instruction in Chinese communities

Conclusion The number of Chinese receiving their education in Mandarin will continue to increase steadily as a result of the implementation of essentially similar national language policies in the People's Republic of China, and in the Republic of China on Taiwan. The import of these policies will also be reflected in language developments in other Chinese communities such as Hong Kong and Singapore.     

Exploring dimensions of social inclusion among alternative learning centres in the USA

Increasing disparities in out-of-school suspension and dropout rates have led a number of school districts to develop alternative models of education to include alternative learning centres (ALCs). Using an exploratory mixed methods design, this study explores dimensions of social inclusion among ALCs, located in the southeastern region of the USA. In the first phase, case-study analyses across two sites contextualised student experiences from the perspective of students, teachers, and assistant principals. In the second phase, data explored student outcomes among a sample of 593 students across 28 ALCs in the school district. Qualitative findings revealed varying dimensions of social inclusion through access, success through empowerment, and participation and engagement. Quantitative findings revealed a majority of students transitioned back to the traditional school environment. There were no clear student or school advantages associated with student transitions; however, high school students were more likely to transition back to the traditional school environment than middle school students. Discussion centres on the challenges school districts experience in promoting social inclusion and implications for inclusive models of education.     

Adolescent Perceptions of Help-Seeking Resources for Substance Abuse

Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking social resources (e.g., parents, friends, school counselor, clergyman) they would utilize if they were having substance abuse difficulties were investigated for samples of early and middle adolescents. 8 different perceived help-seeking categories were identified, and intergroup comparisons were made with regard to gender and ethnic/racial group and with regard to alcohol consumption, substance-related problems, and school misconduct. 2 perceived help-seeking categories had the highest levels of problem behaviors. The first category consisted of adolescents who identified friends as the only social resource they would utilize if they were having substance abuse problems. The second category, referred to as social isolates, indicated that they would not utilize any social resource if they were having substance abuse problems. There were approximately twice as many male social isolates as female social isolates, and blacks and Hispanics were highly overrepresented in the social isolate category.     

EVALUATION IN ADULT EDUCATION BROADCASTING

The paper suggests that a useful step towards linking research with decision‐making is to attempt some working definitions. “Evaluation” simply means setting a value to something: in this case a learning process, provided or supported by educational broadcasting. “Research” is a more slippery word, meaning different things at different times. Here it is taken to mean any systematic collection of evidence, designed to test a hypothesis or to answer specific questions, which evidence can be used in the making of future decisions. So evaluation is a purpose and research is a method. It is hoped that the method serves the purpose.

This largely depends on its success in answering three basic questions: Are the objectives clear and likely to be useful? Are the methods effective and manageable? Are the applications practicable? The paper considers these questions in relation to the two main styles of evaluation in adult education: formative and summative.     

The Teacher Research Update Experience: Perceptions of Practicing Science, Mathematics, and Technology Teachers

The purpose of this study was to examine how the practicing science and mathematics teachers participating in the University of Florida's Teacher Research Update Experience (TRUE) perceived their experiences in Summer 2000. We conducted in-depth interviews and collected data from survey questionnaires and addressed research in the following areas: How do participants perceive their experiences during the 7-week program designed to enhance science, mathematics, and technology knowledge and skills? How have these experiences contributed to their professional and personal growth and development, and how will they influence teaching and student learning? Findings from interviews provided insights into the thoughts, motivations, and, in some cases, insecurities of these adult learners. Follow-up studies are indicated on long-term impact of immersion professional development programs.