Assesses the effectiveness of a teambuilding intervention among a group of department leaders. Finds that, three years after the intervention began, group members reported an increase in ability to raise issues and manage conflict; increases in mutual praise, support, and cooperation; clarification of roles and responsibilities; and a long-term…

Because feelings of inadequacy, limited school background, or preoccupation with basic necessities may prevent parents from communicating with schools, schools should initiate communication. When communication attempts are difficult, other mediating institutions are needed to support and empower the family. These include extended family members,…

Finds a significant relationship between parental modeling and elementary communication apprehension but no significant relationship between elementary communication apprehension and parents' communication apprehension or spousal communication apprehension. (RS)

This article discusses assessment strategies for accurately pinpointing the social and communicative functions of challenging behavior and presents an array of proactive interventions to decrease escape-motivated challenging behavior and to decrease access-motivated challenging behavior. Factors influencing the selection of one intervention…

Outlines methodology employed during six-month period to integrate quantitative and qualitative research results. The project, involving mainstreamed learning-disabled students' problems with homework assignments, was designed to study educational issues through use of directed focus groups in which groups discuss specific topic in detail.…

Examines how teachers perceive behavior of supervisors or inspectors who visit Nigerian schools under the guise of instructional improvement. Some 300 secondary teachers were randomly sampled, and 250 teacher responses were analyzed. Results show modern supervisory practice is nonexistent in Nigeria and that the relationship between supervisors…

The technical complexity of the language of academic journals is discussed in terms of graduate students' needs for information, especially in developing countries. An examination of problems in two articles in "Language" and one in "American Anthropologist" points out the nature of the difficulties and some of the solutions. (Author/LB)

Individuals from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds can have subtly variant communication styles that members of the dominant culture fail to recognize and often misunderstand. In an increasingly diverse world, librarians must become aware of these differences for more effective communication. (13 references) (EA)

Relates language research to policy work. Shows how two common formats for writing policy reports (bureaucratic and legal) can incorporate both product features and process knowledge. Suggests an alternative report format building on contributions from personal accounts of events. (95 references) (MLH)

Posits policymakers' and researchers' mutual inability to communicate in compatible language and imagery. Explores several rationales for the divergence between two separate cultures (the academic and the political), referring to an "ecology of games." Illuminates gaps with case material from policymaking in Florida, and develops…

Argues that qualitative research on the language needs of elderly refugees is critically important to developing responsive English-as-a-Second-Language programs for this group. (34 references) (GLR)

Provides the meditations of one teacher and the failures and successes experienced by her in trying to use electronic mail to establish contact with English teachers in Eastern Europe. Recounts the teacher's struggle, through journal excerpts, to become savvy about computer communications technology and how to exploit it. (HB)

Discusses communication misunderstandings between peoples of different cultures, suggesting that the major barriers to intercultural communication are often political and international ethnocentricities. Religion is sometimes an even stronger source of ethnocentrism. Provides the example of the Arabic expression, "inshallah," commonly used in…

The 12 biggest pitfalls in technology administration are school officials' failure to plan, structure a decision-making process, define roles and responsibilities, understand technical requirements, acquire and maintain technology systems properly, provide adequate staff, consider alternative service delivery options, manage projects effectively,…

Examines General Beauregard's inability to communicate in his report of the First Battle of Bull Run. Suggests that Beauregard's success on the battlefield came from the initiative of his junior officers. Concludes that Beauregard failed to consider political ramifications of certain statements in his report, offending President Davis and leading…