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…

Describes the reasons that child care workers may lack enthusiasm. Discusses the design of effective training programs for employees who lack enthusiasm and provides suggestions for training paraprofessional staff. (RJC)

The characteristics of the skill clusters involved in community living response chains were studied, focusing on the length of the chain, the response classes contained in the chain, and the implicit variations within the chain. Instruction of response chains can be enhanced through consideration of the stimulus control strategies used.…

Discussion of instruction and training to introduce new ideas and to improve performance focuses on the presence of conflict and the theory of games. Topics discussed include learner participation; Theory X; Theory Y; and Theory Z; and game rules, including control, scoring, changing rules, and ending the game. (25 references) (LRW)

Describes a program of public speaking training, including development of a written proposal, conducting the workshop in four three-hour sessions, and evaluating the program. Notes that training was well received, and reduced trainees' self-reported communication apprehension. Presents ethical guidelines for scholar/consultants. (SR)

The paper presents a seven-step model that job coaches may use to teach self-management to employees with severe disabilities in supported employment settings. Steps include: identifying the problem, establishing a range of acceptable behavior, selecting self-management procedures, training self-management skills by withdrawing external…

The process of toilet training a boy with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome is addressed. Emphasized are the joint effort of the teacher and parents, the frustration at the seeming lack of progress, the use of rewards and "positive practices," and the ultimate success of the boy's toilet training program. (JDD)

This article describes a six-year effort to link inservice training for experienced teachers with teacher preservice and induction for the novice teacher. It provides a rationale for using staff development training to strengthen preservice and induction programs, and discusses program goals, training components, program outcomes, and…

Outlines procedures for creating tests of knowledge that are consistent with training instruction by using test question formats. General patterns and specific question formats for recall, recognition, and application are given, and examples for creating sets of equivalent test questions are provided. (LRW)

Presents examples of flaws in training materials and technical documentation that result in user frustration, and offers suggestions for avoiding such errors. (CLB)

Reviews the legal concept of "failure to train to standard" from the context of law enforcement. Responsibility for training is discussed, case examples and examples of monetary judgments are given, and recommendations for preventing and limiting liability for failure to train to standard are presented. (16 references) (LRW)

The paper examines "Decision Rules" in the evaluation of intervention techniques to promote skill generalization with mentally retarded persons. Two studies are reported which demonstrated that use of Decision Rules to select training strategies resulted in 80 percent or above skill generalization. (DB)

The authors review the concept of andragogy and synthesize recent criticisms of this theory. The use of andragogical techniques in job training is discussed. The authors conclude that, despite some weaknesses, andragogy is important in that it makes the teacher sensitive to the needs and interests of the learner. (CH)

Training procedures including cues-pause-point procedures were effectively used to teach two mentally retarded males (ages 18 and 20) to answer questions with sign language and generalize this training to correct responding to untrained questions. (Author/DB)

The literature on the effectiveness of "job clubs" as a job-finding technique for handicapped adults was reviewed. The club involves group meetings providing social support from job-seeking peers as well as training in traditional and nontraditional job search methods including networking with friends, relatives, former employers, and…