Workplace Discussion List Members,
There are some really strong resources this week.  When I select
resources for your Thursday Resources list, I try to include a URL for
the homepage of the organization from which the resource comes.  There
are usually additional resources on the home page that I didn't include
in the Thursday Resources, so if you find several resources from one
source that are of interest to you, you can go to the home page to see
if there are others you want to know about.  Also, I take the words for
the abstract you see directly from the resource or the newletter that I
am looking at.  My own words are included in brackets [i.e., brackets
for my words].

Remember that it may be necessary to cut and paste the two parts of a
URL together into your browser window if the URL breaks over two lines
in your post.  Enjoy!
Donna

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Note from Donna: The Aspen Institute's Economic Opportunities Program
Newsletter Volume 4, No. 1: Winter 2007 arrived in my inbox today.  I
don't find a URL for this current issue on their website
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/, but if you would like for me to forward
this e-mail issue to you individually, please e-mail me personally at
djgbrian at utk.edu to request it.  Do not reply to the list.] E-News is
disseminated quarterly to bring you news and information about the
projects that make up EOP: FIELD (the microenterprise Fund for
Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning and Dissemination), the Workforce
Strategies Initiative (WSI), and the Access to Capital and Credit
project. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


>From Economic Policy Institute (EPI) http://www.epi.org/

Winter 2007 EPI Journal and publications catalog
The feature story of the journal unveils EPI's year-long policy
initiative, the Agenda for Shared Prosperity, a project that aims to
provide America with a comprehensive, accessible, and inspiring economic
plan with solutions that match the scale of the challenges facing
working Americans. http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/journal_winter2007

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>From Workforce3 One http://www.workforce3one.org/  [U.S. Dept. of Labor,

Employment & Training Administration]
 Workforce3 One: Community College Innovations  
All around the country, Community Colleges are leading efforts to
prepare our nation's workforce for the careers of 2007 and beyond.
What's happening near you? [Note: To access the following resources, go
to the Workforce3 One homepage at http://www.workforce3one.org/index.cfm
and click on the "This Month's Newsletter" icon in the left navigation
bar. You must register to access these resources. Registration is free.]

Renewable Energy Program at Lane Community College in Oregon Prepares
Students to Become Solar System Installers: A two-year associate of
applied science degree within the Energy Management Technician program
prepares students for careers in renewable energy. 
Iowa Lakes Community College Launches Wind Energy and Turbine Technology
Program: The Wind Energy and Turbine Technology Program is the result of
collaboration among education, business and industry, and government to
produce high quality technician education. 
Western Nevada Community College Trains for Careers in Civil Drafting:
This two-year civil drafting degree program prepares students to work in
a field with growing opportunities. 
Bay Area Community College Biotechnology Partnership Becomes a National
Model: Skyline College works with industry, workforce development
agencies and community-based organizations to create an expansive and
coordinated response to growing industry need for trained biotechnology
workers. 
Alabama Southern Community College Creates Paper and Chemical Technology
Program: An expanded partnership has enabled the college to provide
world-class technician training leading to an Associate in Applied
Science degree in two years. 
Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin Serves as Training Center for
Robotics Firm: KUKA Robotics Corporation's expanding business in the
U.S. and its need for trained professionals prompted a partnership with
FVTC because of its ability to handle specialized training in automated
manufacturing systems technology. Current placement reports indicate 100
percent of 2004 graduates stayed in Wisconsin. 
West Virginia State Community and Technical College Launches Associate
in Applied Science in Power Plant Technology: In response to the
increasing complexity of power plant jobs, American Electric Power (AEP)
partnered with West Virginia State Community and Technical College
(WVSCTC) to develop a degree program that ensures the availability of a
qualified regional workforce. 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


>From National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)

(Australia) http://www.ncver.edu.au/
NCVER News #150, http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/news/issue_150.html
In this issue:
*Research messages 2006
*The value of completing a vocational education and training
qualification
*Quality is the key: Critical issues in teaching, learning and
assessment in
  vocational education and training
*Crazy paving or stepping stones? Learning pathways within and between
  vocational education and training and higher education
*Older workers in apprenticeships and traineeships
*What is happening to traditional apprentice completions?
To read this issue online:
http://www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/news/issue_150.html

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>From MDRC http://www.mdrc.org/

New Publication: The Employment Retention and Advancement Project:
Results from the Chicago ERA Site
The Chicago ERA program provided welfare recipients who were stuck in
low-paying jobs with services to advance or move to higher-paying jobs.
A random assignment evaluation shows that the program modestly increased
employment and generated large reductions in welfare receipt in the
first two years of follow-up. Some recipients left welfare because of
higher earnings, but others left to avoid participating in the program.
http://www.mdrc.org/publications/441/overview.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


>From the What Works Clearinghouse

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), an initiative of the U.S. Department
of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, has recently released a
new intervention report, Talent Search (Dropout Prevention) to assist
education consumers in locating and understanding scientifically based
research. The Dropout Prevention review focuses on interventions in
middle school, junior high school, or high school designed to increase
high school completion, including techniques such as the use of
incentives, counseling, or monitoring. To access the Talent Search
intervention report and to view more information regarding the Dropout
Prevention review, please visit
http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/Topic.asp?tid=06&ReturnPage=default.asp. 

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>From the American Council on Education http://www.acenet.edu

Two New Math Training Videos available [8 minute video clips, also
available in VHS and CD-ROM formats by request]
Examples of Using the Calculator. [link is embedded on the page linked
below]
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/HTMLDisp
lay.cfm&ContentID=5497

Examples of Alternate-format Questions: [link is embedded on the page
linked below]
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/HTMLDisp
lay.cfm&ContentID=5494

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


>From  Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast "Public Involvement.

Public Education. Public Benefit."
[The following are excerpts from the newsletter. To read a complete copy
and more colorful online version of the NewsBlast with a larger
typeface, visit: http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_current.asp]

MAKING RESEARCH RELEVANT IN THE CLASSROOM In today's high stakes
accountability environment, schools trying to implement research-based
strategies and curriculum face many hurdles. "The biggest one," says a
Houston area superintendent, "is the amount of research out there,
locating what you need, and having the time and the staff to actually
use research effectively." Educators aren't the only ones wrestling with
research issues. The U.S. Department of Education and organizations like
SEDL are working to bridge the gap between research and practice,
according to a recent article published in "SEDL Letter." Author Lesley
Dahlkemper writes that not only has the U.S. Department of Education
been working to expand the research base by funding more projects, but
is also working with universities to create a new crop of education
scientists. Although improving the knowledge base is critical, educators
need help adapting research findings to their own schools and
classrooms. Read the full article to learn more about the cha  llenges
of applying high-quality research to improve schools.
http://www.sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v18n03/Dahlkemper.pdf

HELPING STATE LEADERS SHAPE EDUCATION POLICY: WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH
SAY? [We will have to keep this site in mind and hope they will include
research on adult education soon.]
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) has released the first
stage of a new online tool designed to help policymakers grappling with
the question, What does the research say? The initial launch of the ECS
Research Studies Database includes 12 studies on what's needed to
improve the education of students in high schools. Soon, more studies
will be added in other areas: teaching quality, postsecondary
completion, restructuring schools and more. Users can search for studies
by issue, author, organization, publisher and by recency. For each
study, the online tool features concise, bulleted lists of findings and
results, policy implications and recommendations. All studies included
have been carefully screened and meet the following criteria: (1)
High-impact recommendations and policy implications; (2) Implications
for state-level policy; (3) Interventions hold potential for
replication; (4) Published by highly selective research organization;
and (5)Peer-reviewed/juried -- although exceptions will be made on a
case-by-case basis. Visitors will be able to go directly to the findings
and recommendations of vetted studies and get the ECS perspective on why
a particular study is a valuable contribution to knowledge in the policy
area. http://www.ecs.org/rs