Identifies and annotates 30 outstanding trade books published for children and adolescents that teachers recommend for curriculum use. Notes that selection criteria include books that may not be discovered by children without guidance from an educator, and books that have potential for use across the curriculum. (MG)

A form is presented for evaluating curriculum guides which was developed to compare curriculum guides and reflect teachers' interests and values. The form helps the teacher to evaluate characteristics of the guide and the degree of importance placed on each characteristic which allows for assessment based on values. (JD)

A case study of IBM VM users is discussed in terms of those aspects of the context of a situation that affect both user choice of mode/medium and mode/medium switching. Results indicate that the medium of communication is itself a linguistic choice. (Author/DJD)

Touchtone/voice response technology consists of hardware and software that recognizes input from a push-button telephone and generates a "voice" response to the caller. An informal poll of campuses using touchtone/voice response registration systems reveals many advantages, and no major drawbacks, to investing in such a system. (MLW)

Because the process of selecting University of Minnesota trustees has been seen as highly political and many qualified candidates refused to be considered, the university established an advisory council to assist the legislature in determining criteria for, identifying, and recruiting qualified candidates for board of regents membership. (MSE)

Problems in the process of selecting new administrators are discussed, including confidentiality, resumes and letters of recommendation, the interview, committee membership, and inside candidates. (MSE)

Notes that effective planning is essential if films and videotapes are to enhance classroom instruction. Suggests guidelines for their use, including: (1) how films and videotapes can be effective; (2) pre-lesson, presentation, post-lesson and enrichment activities; and (3) selection, preparation, and presentation techniques. (NH)

Through the use of a checklist and actual field tests with textbooks, one can gain important information about which textbook will be the most useful in the classroom. (JOW)

Reviews previously proposed schemes of classical rationality in book selection, describes new approaches to rational choice behavior, and presents a model of book selection based on bounded rationality in a garbage can decision process. The role of tacit knowledge and symbolic content in the selection process are also discussed. (102 references)…

Discusses the responsibility of teachers and librarians to choose children's books based on an understanding of children and their needs, and summarizes the views of several critics on how children's books should be evaluated and the criteria for determining whether a particular book is to be considered good or bad. (17 references) (CLB)

Confidentiality during a superintendent search is essential in order to attract the best candidates. Board members should use confidentiality as a selling tool; use discretion during onsite visits; and make their decision quickly. (MLF)

Describes and evaluates the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests--Revised (1987), discussing test administration, scoring, technical data, validity, and reliability. Concludes that this test is a reliable instrument for measuring some aspects of the reading process, but recommends its use in conjunction with more theoretically valid holistic-oriented…

Search consultants' acceptance of women as school leaders does not go far enough. There is too much focus on individual women's competence and choices as determinants of success. The American ideology of individualism conceals the systemic barriers that women face when attempting to achieve powerful and coveted positions. Boards should choose…

The structured interview gives the interviewer solid evidence for making a hiring decision. Under "targeted selection," applicants respond to a list of prepared questions and are rated based on the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) procedure. This article lists 36 questions grouped into 5 categories: teacher-student…

Two item selection algorithms, one based on maximal differentiation between examinees and one based on item response theory and maximum information for each examinee, were compared in simulated linear and adaptive tests of cognitive ability. Adaptive tests based on maximum information were clearly superior. (SLD)