In 1982, the author wrote an essay for the second issue of "The Writing Instructor," "Approaches to Comprehensive Writing: Integrating Writing into the College Curriculum," reviewing the early stages of the modern Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)/Writing in the Disciplines (WID) movement. In this article, the author revisits…

The Nominal Group Technique uses a group of people who nominate problems and issues that deserve attention and combines the ideas from several individuals with an effective method for consolidating and prioritizing them. (JOW)

A proactive approach to human resource development requires assessment of skills and attitudes, review of the diagnosis, an incubation period, implementation of training, and evaluation of results. (SK)

Reviews programs and services available to the elderly, including descriptions of their organizational and agency sponsorship and arguments used to justify or refute their usefulness. Suggests that the discipline of social gerontology can play an important applied role in assessing the needs of and suggesting appropriate services for the elderly.…

Defines needs analysis and knowledge management and explains how they can be brought together when planning training programs. Includes a glossary of knowledge-management terms. (JOW)

The use of felt needs in community development practice involves the process of identifying needs, ranking their importance, and building programs based on the ranking. Felt needs should be replaced by the concept "anticipatory needs," which identifies what needs to be done in order to move toward a specified future. (Author/JOW)

Adult education program development often takes either a positivist/functional or subjective/empowerment approach. From the tacit process and concepts used by experienced programmers emerge questions to guide development: Which conceptual model underlies one's approach to needs assessment? What are needs? Whose needs are assessed? and How are…

Issues related to family assessment as part of early intervention programs with handicapped children are reviewed and the need for a family needs assessment as a first step in developing family focused interventions is stressed. Suggestions for the design, selection, and use of a needs assessment are made. (Author/DB)

Whether an organization's college recruiting needs require the services of one recruiter or an entire staff, an effective program will systematically address many concerns and consider numerous options as it progresses through the four stages inherent in any comprehensive process: needs analysis, program development, program implementation, and…

The first step in any planning process should be problem identification. Appropriate planning techniques, starting with formal needs assessments, will help vocational education control its own future. (LRA)

Points out that educational activities often fail simply because the recipients have not been involved in describing their real needs and because educational planners assume that they know what is best for their audience. Suggests that problem-solving methods could be useful in the educational planning process. (Author/JOW)

Discusses the importance of determining the educational needs of a group before implementing a program. (JOW)

A well-planned and well-executed management development program can lead to a more effective institution, to improved morale among employees, and to increased potential for employee promotability. However, a good program will never be a satisfactory substitute for the selection of good employees. (MLW)

The purposes and potentials of teacher centers are discussed. (JD)

A merger of school and community programs provides a more comprehensive and realistic approach to health education. (LH)