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Research Training Institutes

* For the past three years, short, intensive research training institutes have been held in conjunction with MENC national and division conventions. Lasting three or four days, the preconvention sessions have been conducted under the direction of the Music Education Research Council and funded jointly by MENC and the U.S. Office of Education. The first research training institute, which preceded the 1968 National Convention in Seattle and enrolled about fifty participants, introduced music education researchers and research trainers to new concepts in experimental design. In the spring of 1969 at preconference training sessions before each of the six MENC division conventions, over two hundred participants worked with Asahel Woodruff of the University of Utah and a group of MERC members on the theoretical bases for research in curriculum design using behaviorally stated objectives of instruction (for a report of one of the sessions, see "MENC Rings a Behavioral Change," MEJ, May 1969, page 65). At the National MENC Convention in Chicago in March 1970, nearly two hundred participants enrolled in three different presessions: a repeat of the very successful first institute on experimental design, an advanced session with Woodruff on behavioral objectives, and a new program on the design of datagathering instruments, jointly conducted by Robert Lathrop, Pennsylvania State University educational psychologist and Arts Impact Evaluation director, and MENC member Richard Colwell of the University of Illinois. The success of these programs has stimulated a high level of interest and expectation among members of the profession. During the past three years the U:S. Office of Education has provided a grant to the Conference to conduct the research training sessions. However, in the summer of 1970, the Congress passed an appropriation bill for the current year for the Office of Education that sharply reduced the sum for the support of research training grants. As a result, the program that had funded the previous projects was eliminated. Since this was anticipated by the MENC National Executive Board and the Research Council, a plan has been prepared to conduct the research training sessions as self-supporting activities in conjunction with the 1971 MENC division conventions. For the first time it will be necessary to charge participants a modest registration fee to cover the costs of instructional staff, materials, and some of the administrative expenses. As it has in the past, the Conference will continue to absorb a considerable part of the administrative expenses. Since the research training sessions immediately precede MENC division conventions, it is assumed that prospective participants will be attending the conventions and will have made provision for their travel expenses. The only additional costs to each participant will be the registration fee and living expenses for two or three additional days. Application. The application form should be completed by each applicant and mailed to Project Coordinator Charles Moody as soon as possible. If the number of applicants exceeds the space available at a particular institute, preference will be given to those whose applications are received earliest. Decisions to conduct particular institutes will be based upon the preregistered enrollment as of December 1, 1970. Applications received after December 1 cannot be assured a place in preferred choices of institutes. Eligibility. Any music educator is eligible to participate in the proposed program. Participants will be requested to present proof of current membership in MENC to gain admission to the opening session of each institute. While no specific eligibility requirements apply to particular institutes, prospective applicants are urged to give careful consideration to the objectives and program of each one to determine personal need and preparation for profitable participation. Location. If possible, the research training institutes will be held in the headquarters hotel of each division convention to minimize problems for participants in the transition from presession to convention housing. Specific housing information will be distributed to participants after December 20 with formal notice of acceptance. No convention housing arrangements will be made by the research training institute staff. Applicants for the institutes should make separate arrangements for convention housing according to the directions distributed with division convention announcements. It is recommended that prospective participants reserve convention housing at the convention headquarters hotel at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure occupancy of the same room throughout the period of the institute and convention. Costs. Participants are expected to provide all transportation and personal subsistence at their own expense. In addition, a registration fee of $25 is required from each participant to partially defray the costs of instructional materials, staff, and administrative expenses. Preregistration. No application will be accepted unless accompanied by a check or money order in the amount of $25, payable to MENC. Registration fees will be returned prior to December 10, 1970, if requested. After that date no registration fee can be refunded because the self-support budget of the institute program will be based upon the registration income in hand at that time. Each applicant is asked to indicate his preference among twentyfour possible research training institutes. A minimum of thirty-two preregistered participants for any