Special Topic Discussion Colleagues,

Please post your questions for Janet as soon as you like.  She will  
answer them on Tuesday, or perhaps Wednesday since Janet is located  
in France and there is a time difference.

Here's a little background:

Janet Looney has led the What Works in Innovation in Education  
program at the OECD's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation  
since 2002.  Prior to
joining the OECD, Janet was the Assistant Director of the Institute  
for Public Policy and Management at the University of Washington and  
a policy analyst in the Education Directorate of the Office of  
Management and Budget in Washington, D.C.  She earned her Master of  
Public Administration and Master of Arts in International Studies  
from the University of Washington in 1993.

In preparation for our discussion you may wish to look at the OECD  
Thematic Review of Adult Learning - a two-part study exploring  
policies on qualifications, pathways for progression and other issues  
in adult learning.  These documents  are downloadable at http:// 
www.oecd.org/edu/adultlearning .

Please also look at "Formative Assessment: Improving Learning in  
Secondary Classrooms"   http://www.oecd.org/edu/whatworks  [Note  
that, although the book must be purchased, the "exemplary cases"  and  
"international research reviews" are all online as .pdfs]  and  
"Formative Assessment: Improving Teaching and Learning for Adults  
with Basic Skill Needs" also at  http://www.oecd.org/edu/whatworks .   
[The bold words "current What Works study" in this section will lead  
you to a downloadable .pdf, the Study Outline] .

If you would like to learn more about the OECD Education Directorate  
a .pdf brochure will be found at http://www.oecd.org/edu/brochure

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion List Moderator
djrosen at comcast.net