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The history of education in many developing nations is a template of ineffectual and expensive instruction. Despite nearly half a century of higher education in the Pacific, up to 50% of the teachers in many countries such as the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands still have no more than a high school education. Similar trends are found in Asia and Africa. Past experience in Oceania demonstrates that face-to-face university training has been neither scalable nor sustainable. This paper compares two educational approaches--face-to-face and blended learning. The face-to-face, WorldTeach program in the Marshall Islands employed foreign volunteer teachers living on site to give local teachers a year's leave for additional training. The blended chemistry course, which combined online and face-to-face learning, was delivered simultaneously to teacher candidates in Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. The blended course utilized online instructors and tutors, and face-to-face tutors. This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both case studies and recommends that nations consider blended learning as an approach to make education more accessible and affordable, especially in emerging nations. As brick-and-mortar campuses and instructor travel become more expensive, blended learning becomes an increasingly attractive educational option.

Advocates sending news reporting students off campus and into the community to expand their horizons, interests, courage, and possibilities. Describes the use of such experiential learning in a broadcast reporting class, where students left the cameras at home as they experienced the police or social services sector, and wrote an in-depth story based on their experience. (SR)

Two experiments with a total of 163 college students found (1) student ratings of college faculty were directly affected by grading practices (strict/lenient) and of the time ratings were completed (after lecture, examination, or feedback on exam); and (2) student learning and faculty ratings were positively correlated, and grading practices had no effect on learning. (Author/MSE)

The Quality of School Life Scale (QLS) is an instrument designed to measure students' perceptions of their school experiences. Such an instrument may aid educators in evaluating students' perceptions in the three areas identified by the QSL: satisfaction, commitment to classwork, and reactions to teachers. (Author)

Currently existing guidelines on the administration and storage of prescribed medication by local school districts are outlined. (JD)

Reviews the science portion of five standardized achievement test batteries, stating these tests are insensitive to the assessment of curriculum changes in earth science. Contends an accurate assessment of a curriculum's effectiveness is possible only through the use of evaluation techniques and instrumentation keyed to the curriculum's specific objectives. (PB)

Local school district policies for the storage and administration of prescribed medicines are surveyed in an attempt to determine guidelines that state departments of education should suggest to local school districts. (JMF)

Reports a study analyzing the growth and recorded circulation of the university libraries' monograph collection for a five-year period. Achievements in the creation of new management information reports and their uses in managing the collections are discussed. Anticipated results are noted from the correlation of circulation and collection factors. (Author/SW)

Explains how tables of specifications (used in estabishing content validity) and item analysis (a modificatin of item difficulty) can readily be used by the classroom teacher to design well-balanced tests. (HOD)

Outlines the benefits associated with true-false and multiple-choice tests and sets forth rules for writing effective items for such tests. (FL)