Reviews existing programs for inservice training of professional reference librarians and discusses the changing roles of reference librarians and ways to determine components of a staff training program (e.g., performance functions of reference librarians and use of videotaping to analyze the librarian's ability to communicate effectively). (14…

The authors propose three forms of interaction for computer-assisted interactive video: reactive, coactive, and proactive. The three relate to the degree of control that the user has over program content and structure within the capabilities of the technology. Each design is explained at length. (CT)

This article seeks to identify the key factors that are important in being successful as a trainer and how to survive for tomorrow. It draws on research carried out in the United Kingdom and sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission and on many seminars, workshops, and conferences held with trainers and managers in the UK. (CT)

Expatriate consultants are employed in developing countries to perform assessments of the consequences to natural resources and the environment of projects for economic development. In addition, a training component can be added during the course of consultancies. Some of the barriers to successful training are identified and explored. (Author/JN)

The study evaluated a program for teaching family-style mealtime skills to four profoundly retarded institutionalized adolescents. The program used forward chaining with a less-to-more intrusive prompting sequence and contingent reinforcement to teach the skills. (Author/DB)

Training Extension Course (TEC) system, based on individual, performance-oriented achievement, represents a revolution in Army training concepts and practices. It involves using measurable behavioral objectives, criterion-referenced testing, and validated training materials. (JOW)

The selection of an instructional format is a complex process. Making the selection requires examining not only performance technology but also the technology of survival. Several possible factors to consider are examined, including the political and fiscal considerations. (CT)

Gives recommendations for training college and university faculty in the fundamentals of simulation design using short, concise training programs. Thirteen references are listed. (Author/LLS)

Discusses new evaluation procedures developed for the Gregg Office Job Training Program. In part 1, the student is evaluated and graded on performance of a specific job. In part 2, the student is graded on 10 areas of job performance, and in part 3, the student writes a brief job description. (CT)

This article presents a practical guide to help professionals develop techniques and materials that motivate preschool-age children to learn to use low vision devices. Skills for optical-device training and sample training activities for monocular and magnifier use are outlined. (Author/DB)

Two methods of prompting were compared for their relative effectiveness in teaching a group of autistic students, age 12-20, to discriminate line drawings used in picture communication books. Students required fewer trials to criterion and made significantly fewer errors in the delayed-prompting technique compared to the fading-of-prompts design.…

Five children with severe educational retardation, aged 5-12, were involved in sign training in which the spoken words corresponding to signs were receptively known to participants. Whether signs were taught concurrently or in a serial fashion, signs taught by total communication were acquired faster than those taught by sign-alone training.…

A review of 25 studies found that demonstrations of successful generalization of skills by persons with profound mental handicaps were characterized by: several trained exemplars, trained behaviors likely to be reinforced in natural settings by natural consequences, use of training stimuli common to the generalization setting, and training in…

The study with four adults with moderate and severe mental handicaps found that both backward and concurrent chaining training strategies were equally effective in teaching use of a fast food restaurant and a supermarket. (Author/DB)

Three autistic boys, aged 6-7, observed videotaped conversations consisting of 2 people discussing toys. Subsequent assessment of the boys using untrained topics of conversation, new stimuli, new persons, and other settings indicated that the children learned through video modeling, generalized their conversational skills, and maintained…