Fall 2000
1. Who’s
Who at ERIC/ACVE
2. Trends in Adult, Career, and Vocational Education
3. ERIC Digests on CD-ROM
4. Give Your Documents a Good Home: The ERIC Database
5. Come See Us at ACTE and AAACE!
Get the PDF of this File
The ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education (ERIC/ACVE) is staffed by individuals with a variety of skills and backgrounds. Collectively, these staff members provide information services to adult, career, and vocational educators by collecting and processing materials for the database, responding to questions, writing and editing synthesis products, and providing workshops and training programs. ERIC/ACVE is fortunate to have staff with complementary skills and background experiences who operate as a team to provide outstanding service to the fields of adult, career, and vocational education.
Each individual has a set of skills and knowledge that contributes to this team effort. Two ERIC/ACVE staff—associate directors Judy Wagner and Sandra Kerka—have been with the Clearinghouse for 21 years. Both Judy and Sandra have experienced notable changes in their jobs because of changes in technology. Judy manages the dissemination efforts of the clearinghouse. In addition to answering questions, she works with the Clearinghouse Partner and State Liaison program, manages the Clearinghouse listserv, and plans and conducts workshops. During her years with ERIC, many of you have had interactions with Judy.
Sandra manages processing activities and serves as the Clearinghouse editor. She not only edits all Clearinghouse products, but she also writes many of them. One of Sandra’s talents is evident in the design of ERIC/ACVE publications.
Jean Messick serves the Clearinghouse as support staff. Jean is responsible for a number of activities including ordering supplies, making travel arrangements, responding to orders for publications, and assisting with processing. Jean also answers the general ERIC/ACVE telephone number so hers may be the first voice you hear when you call. Jean has been with the Clearinghouse for 16 years.
Another longtime ERIC/ACVE staff member is Steve Chambers, acquisitions coordinator, who joined the ERIC staff in 1989. During Steve’s tenure with the Clearinghouse, many of you have undoubtedly received letters from him requesting that you submit materials to be considered for the ERIC database. More and more, however, Steve depends on the Internet both to contact potential document contributors and to locate candidates for the database.
Chris Dickman, the Clearinghouse technology specialist, was originally hired as student webmaster early in 1998. Chris is now responsible for all technology applications and manages the work of the student webmaster Awais Ali. In addition to troubleshooting computer problems, Chris customizes software for in-house management functions and works with the ERIC/ACVE staff on maintaining and upgrading the website.
Three new staff members have joined ERIC/ACVE during 2000. The first, Jae-Woo Shim, serves as a graduate research associate. Jae-Woo works with Steve in the library and also supports project staff by locating documents, making copies, and helping with mailings. Jae-Woo, who is from Korea, is working on a Ph.D. in Foreign and Second Language Education in the College of Education at Ohio State University. In March 2000, Mike Wonacott assumed the dual role of Clearinghouse career education specialist and writer. Mike has a background in curriculum development and, during the 1980s, worked at the National Center for Research in Vocational Education. Mike has already authored several ERIC/ACVE products. The third new addition to the ERIC/ACVE staff is Cheryl Grossman, assistant for processing and user services. Cheryl joined the Clearinghouse staff after nearly 15 years with the Education and Psychology Library at Ohio State. She is working with Sandra to manage the RIE processing and with Judy on responding to AskERIC requests. As Cheryl assumes more duties, you may come in contact with her.
During my nearly 20 years with the Clearinghouse, I have served as the adult education specialist and, since 1988, have been the director of ERIC/ACVE. In addition to coordinating the work of the staff, I also select materials for the database, write products, and conduct workshops. Because of the many talents the staff bring to their roles with ERIC/ACVE, my job is a pleasure, and I am able to lead—not manage.
Trends in Adult, Career, and Vocational Education
ERIC/ACVE’s National Committee members and other experts recently helped staff identify trends and issues in the field. The Clearinghouse uses this information to develop publications, acquire documents, and understand the current topics affecting our constituencies. Adult Education
ERIC/ACVE has assembled a searchable CD-ROM that contains the full text of 225 ERIC Digests related to adult, career, and vocational education that have been produced by the ERIC system. ERIC Digests, the system’s most popular product, are concise summaries of research findings and practice applications, overviews of emerging topics, or updates of existing topics. The CD can be searched by title, author, or descriptor; you can also browse by subject, year published, and author. ERIC Digests on CD-ROM may be purchased for $3.50 from Publications, Center on Education and Training for Employment, 1900 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1090. The CD comes with instructions for installing and searching.
Give Your Documents a Good Home: The ERIC Database
ERIC/ACVE is constantly in search of high-quality documents to consider for the database. If you or your organization have developed adult, career, or vocational education materials, please consider submitting them to ERIC. Current important topics include the following: adult basic education assessment, the benefits of adult literacy, older adults, gender issues in adult education, the importance of lifelong learning, ethics for adult educators, adult student motivation, life skills for adults, distance education, international adult education, job search methods, nontraditional careers, career changes, career planning, career pathways, employability skills, skill standards, tech prep, school-industry linkages, apprenticeships, vocational theories, training and retraining, work styles, work force education, and work-based learning. Having your materials in ERIC will give the educational community access to your work via the Internet and at more than 1,000 locations throughout the world. In addition, the ERIC Document Reproduction Service can make your materials available in paper, microfiche, and electronic forms. The ERIC database is used by teachers, counselors, students, administrators, policymakers, researchers, parents, and the general public. Documents may be submitted in either paper or electronic form. To submit documents by mail, please send them to the Acquisitions Coordinator, ERIC/ACVE, 1900 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1090. Each item should include a reproduction release form. The form can be obtained from the Clearinghouse’s website at ericacve.org/submit.asp or by calling 800/848-4815, ext. 26991. Materials can be sent by e-mail to chambers.2@osu.edu. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Come See Us at ACTE and AAACE!
Susan Imel and Judy Wagner will be making presentations and staffing a booth at the Association for Career and Technical Education’s annual conference in San Diego, December 7-9, 2000. Together, they will discuss using ERIC, and Susan will present “Teaching Adults: Is It Different?” The ERIC booth will feature free copies of many ERIC/ACVE Digests, Trends and Issues Alerts, and other user products. Check the conference program or stop by the booth to find out the time and place of presentations. Susan will give a workshop on “Adult Educators as Change Agents” at the annual meeting of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education in Providence, Rhode Island, on Wednesday, November 15, 2000.
This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under Contract No. ED-99-CO-0013. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.