A pharmaceutical company redesigned its sales personnel training program to emphasize specific objectives, self-directed learning, and concern for career development. (SK)

This research indicates that educational organizations consist of a loose collection of individuals, units, or levels, each performing activities independently--as segmented units buffered from one another. The authors suggest ways administrators can be effective in this environment. (Author/IRT)

This paper discusses the role of mentors in individualized learning at Empire State College. This individualized learning program and the components of the role of mentor are defined and illustrated. (Available: School of External Studies, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 167 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.) (CT)

This article discusses a study in which a graduate program in public administration was assessed using a combination of judicial and debate techniques. Findings indicated that the program lacked course integration, certain core courses, inadequate definition of management skills, and sufficient student participation. Results are evaluated and…

Describes a highly structured six-week teaching unit. Utilizing a variation of criterion grading, it is aimed at quickly producing dramatic improvement in writing skills, with a substantial saving in the amount of time and effort required of the teacher. The program has been tested with college freshmen. (Author/SJL)

Introducing a group of articles on middle schools, this article outlines the middle school's purpose, the best ways of teaching and disciplining their students, and the important roles of their principals. (JM)

Low achievement in school is often a result of poor reading skills. These authors outline an alternate, nonreading curriculum that emphasizes content, not skill. (Author/JM)

An individual instructional strategy was designed and evaluated as an alternative to the teacher-directed strategy in a university level meal management course. Analysis of variance of scores on objective pre-test, post-tests, and rating scales indicated that students learned well by either approach. (Author/JH)

The authors describe how the "I CAN" physical education program, an individualized instructional management system for developing skills, associated concepts, and social growth in handicapped children, was adapted for use with deaf blind children (5 to 21 years old) at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind. (SBH)

Social and educational trends are analyzed. (JD)

Through naturalistic observational procedures, the study examined the dynamics of individualized education program (IEP) conferences involving parents of handicapped elementary grade students. Participants present, the nature and frequency of topics discussed, and the length of conferences were considered. (Author/SBH)

The report presents retrospective data comparing an individualized language development program for 12 preschool austic children (mean age 3.9) receiving language remediation with a group of 14 autistic control Ss (mean age 4.2) receiving the basic school curriculum only. (Author/PHR)

The text of a conversation with a Florida special education administrator explores such aspects as the skills that are being tested, how standards were derived, the effects of testing on curricula, special diplomas, and the improvement in scores noted in the second year of the testing. (DLS)

A student-centered teaching method known as the inquiry model is explored in its relation to physical education. (LH)

Graduate degree programs in physical education must develop an instructional system that effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice and that utilizes the full resource potential of each student participant. (LH)