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As part of a larger project, this study was conducted to provide a snapshot of the characteristics, size, work patterns, and training needs of the sessional teaching work force in technical and further education (TAFE) in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Victoria, Australia. Twelve research questions formed the basis of two printed surveys that were distributed to 5,000 sessional (part-time) teachers and 613 managers in November 2000. The response rate was 19 percent for teachers and 36 percent for managers. Among the findings of the survey were the following: (1) about 10 percent more females than males were employed in the TAFE sessional work force, and about 67 percent of both genders were aged 40 and older; (2) the majority of sessional teachers work for one organization only; (3) the majority of sessional teachers at both public and private providers held teaching or training qualifications; (4) the majority of sessional teachers considered that work to be their career and thought they would be still working in that capacity in the next 5 years; (5) 38 percent of public and 21 percent of private sessional teachers were dissatisfied with the quantity of training provided by their employers; and (6) teachers indicated they are mainly interested in training in computers, information relevant to the areas they were teaching, and teaching and education skills. The study concluded that further research is needed into the type of work force that sessional teachers make up and how their needs should be met. (Contains 14 references.) (KC)

The effect of coeducational and single-sex secondary schooling on female students' academic achievement was examined. Reexamination of earlier survey data from Northern Ireland studied six outcomes related to student performance on public examinations. Results indicated a small achievement advantage for single-sex schooling (not significant regarding any of the six measures). (SM)

Examines two parallel secondary school systems in Northern Ireland popularly described as "Catholic" or "Protestant" in effectiveness terms. A value-added approach to measurement of 16-year olds' performance on public examinations casts doubt on previous findings concerning the alleged superior performance of Protestant-educated pupils. (29 references) (MLH)

The first successful ground-to-air data link and cockpit display of terminal Doppler weather radar (TDWR) wind shear warnings in real-time are reported. During the summer of 1990, wind shear warnings generated by the TDWR testbed radar at Orlando, Florida, were transmitted in real-time to a research aircraft performing microburst penetrations. Automatic delivery of TDWR wind shear warnings potentially result in decreased controller workload and improved pilot information. Pilot responses indicate that the information provided by the cockpit displays was useful in visualizing the location of wind shear hazards. The graphical display of microburst hazards provided better information than that currently provided by ATC verbal messages and pilot reports. This information was useful in assessing the microburst hazard, deciding whether to continue the approach, and planning escape maneuvers.

The world's two global satellite navigation systems, GPS and GLONASS, will both become operational during the early 1990's. Each will offer, independently of the other, precise location and time transfer continuously anywhere in the world and indeed in space itself. Many potential users, in particular the civil aviation community, are keenly interested in a joint GPS/GLONASS operation since it would offer substantial advantages in defining and maintaining the integrity of the navigation aid. The question arises of compatibility of GPS/GLONASS from the point of view of satellite on-board clocks, their system references, their national standards and ultimately UTC. Results are presented on the characterization of GLONASS system and spacecraft clocks as compared to their Navstar GPS counterparts.