Contrasts traditional professional development and a teacher-as-researcher project implemented at the Saint Francis de Sales School for the Deaf. Discusses ways the project influenced the professional development of teachers, the effects on the school community of group collaboration among diverse professional staff, support mechanisms required,…

Three studies evaluated a one-day program for training 24 paraprofessional staff in basic teaching skills for working with children with severe disabilities. All participants achieved the performance-based mastery criterion and successfully applied their teaching skills, as evidenced by skill development progress of students with severe…

Presents the Teacher Evaluation Check List, containing items related to the disposition, knowledge, and skills of teachers in the areas of: (1) working with children; (2) planning environment and curriculum; (3) working with childrens' families; (4) working with co-workers; and (5) professional development and advocacy. The checklist charts…

Discusses learning disabilities and describes services that have been developed in public libraries to help patrons with learning disabilities. Topics include collection development; assistive technology; outreach programs; staff development; and sources of help and information. (LRW)

As local pressures mount and state resources dwindle, intermediary organizations are emerging throughout Latin America. Although theoretically enabling people at the grass roots to participate in their own development and reap the benefits of their labor, the costs and tensions are often not worth the burden. Explores the quandaries that new…

These two commentaries on the article "Head Start: Challenges and Training Needs" (Leah Buscemi and others) discuss the role of technical assistance providers in helping grantees work with community institutions, especially local education agencies; the need for formal written interagency agreements; the necessity for creating parent…

A survey of 38 public and 58 private agencies found the most common rehabilitative services provided to consumers with visual impairment in 1999 were assistive technology evaluations and individual or group technologies training. Both public and private agencies had more difficulty recruiting than retaining staff to provide technology-related…

Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provide cost-effective shared services to New York's rural districts. Services in career and technical education and staff development offered by the Steuben-Allegany BOCES are described. Future plans include increased cooperation with colleges in providing adult education, evolution of the…

Four studies in child development show that children socialize parents as much as parents socialize children. Child development is a function of biological maturation and child-environment interaction. The most important determinants of resiliency are caregiver quality and socioeconomic status. Implications for camp are discussed, the most…

This article raises critical issues that need to addressed while considering the future needs of people with Down syndrome and dementia, along with suggestions as to how they may be met. It discusses dementia diagnosis, staff training, the family's role, advantages of health screening, and difficulties in collating accurate information. (Contains…

The features of positive youth development settings, identified in recent research, are applied to camp program planning, staff selection, and comprehensive program evaluation. A web-like model of positive features of the program's organizational and social environment provides a systemic viewpoint. (TD)

Argues that supplemental instruction (SI) leaders may not always contribute to helpful instruction. Asserts that SI supervisors must train SI leaders about what is helpful and unhelpful for students. Suggests that more research be done to determine which practices are most helpful for students. Contains six references. (MZ)

A University of Vienna (Austria) staff development program that emphasizes the professionalization of university teaching and management is described. The approach integrates personnel evaluation, quality assessment, and staff development, which is also linked to institutional mission and identity. A benefit of the staff development seminars has…

Suggests that libraries use a military model of organization, in favor of a big-business approach, to address job dissatisfaction among paraprofessional staff. Military concepts that transfer to the library milieu include clear responsibility delineations, demonstrable recognition of the value of individual workers, continuing education programs,…

A December 1994 survey investigated the status of computer use for instruction and administration in Korean schools. Korean schools have a relatively large amount of hardware and software due to strong governmental support; however, problems do exist in hardware function, software distribution, teacher training, and school policy on computer…