Among the assumed benefits of cooperative ventures between universities and school systems is that the increased knowledge flow between the institutions should result in more relevant university programs and more theoretically and conceptually grounded decisions in the school system. However, the St. Louis (Missouri) area lacks a formal…

This investigation of computer anxiety as one of the components of resistance to technology among staff in academic libraries focused on its effects on: (1) their level of participation in a library computer literacy program; and (2) their attitudes toward library automation and computers in general. To measure computer anxiety, the Computer…

Responds to two articles in this "Educational Leadership" issue by Richard Salzer and by Lorrie A. Shepard and Mary Lee Smith that criticize overtesting and preoccupation with developmental differences in kindergarten-age children. Defends physical, sensory, and developmental assessment to help identify children's areas of strength and weakness.…

This paper discusses the production of videotape recordings illustrating developmental milestones of early childhood to serve as a reference point in working with parents or staff caring for young children who have disabilities. Procedures for making a video presentation include the following steps: select a topic (such as motor development,…

The manual is intended to facilitate the initiation of service delivery programs for learning disabled (LD) students in the university mainstream. The first chapter addresses the development of a comprehensive diagnostic and academic support service program; sections detail program initiation activities, assessment, and intervention. The second…

Peer management was utilized as a source of feedback in a staff training and management program with six subjects, who were instructors in a vocational program for adults with mental retardation. The paired subjects were trained to monitor peer teaching, record and graph data, provide feedback, and set goals. (DB)

Reports on a study of 24 Australian secondary teachers before and after an inservice program on the whole-school approach to discipline. Finds that higher principled teachers provided more perspective and guidance than those in the low moral judgment group. Recommends more joint decision making by teachers in developing a school's discipline…

Integrative motivation was found to correlate significantly with American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency for 115 hearing faculty and staff at a postsecondary program for deaf students. Instrumental motives, however, were perceived as less important. Higher achievement in ASL was also associated with a positive cultural attitude toward deaf…

This study describes responsibilities and training needs of paraeducators in physical education. Paraeducators (n = 138) employed in 34 midwestern schools received a 27-item questionnaire. Of the 138 paraeducators contacted, 76 responded, resulting in a 55.1% response rate. Only 16% of the total respondents (n = 76) reported receiving specific…

This paper provides an overview of the dimensions of organizational climate as they relate to early childhood work environments. It reports the results of a study involving 629 early childhood workers representing 65 nonprofit and for-profit, center-based programs. The focus of the inquiry was to determine in what ways the 94 administrators and…

The DeKalb County School System, Georgia, has developed a unique leadership assessment program geared toward professional improvement through staff development based on assessed needs. The following three elements of this approach contribute to its uniqueness and address the three most common problems associated with assessments: (1) the…

This newsletter presents the results of a National Governors' Association (NGA) survey, conducted November 1986 through January 1987, on state responses to the recommendations of the NGA Task Force on Technology regarding new ways to acquire and use educational technology. The following topics covered by the survey are discussed: (1) hardware…

This study of 18 high school teachers focuses on personal dimensions of the change process and on teacher concerns about using microcomputers in the classroom. Stages of Concern Questionnaire and interviews were used to design a staff development model consisting of inservice activities that addressed teacher's concerns about computers.…

A study of 16 individuals with severe and profound mental retardation and 16 direct-care staff from a residential facility investigated changes in interactive behaviors between clients and staff. Results found that, after staff training, there were slight positive increases in staff interactions with the residents. No consistent change was found…

Questionnaire data were collected from 64 direct-care staff members in a residential facility for people with multiple disabilities. Path analyses identified factors predicting levels of perceived stress, overall job satisfaction, overall life satisfaction, and perceived likelihood of leaving the organization. Factors included staff support, job…