Identifies the top 50 companies in terms of the amount spent on training and development, the number of hours of training per employee, and percentage of payroll spent on training. Profiles the top five plus four additional companies selected by the magazine's editors. (SK)

Introduces "Videotapes for the 21st Century Classroom" for the use of inservice training. Provides useful Internet Web site addresses and brief descriptions of each site for several feature articles in this issue: PS 524 939-940, PS 524 942-945. (MOK)

Employee development programs that encourage learning that is not necessarily work related benefit employers through improved motivation, commitment, and morale, if work-related training is also offered. Less-skilled, less-educated employees have the most to gain. (SK)

Educational institutions have inherent advantages and disadvantages for professional development of employees. Well-tested techniques include self-profiling, personal development planning, individual curriculum vitae, and systematic staff appraisal. Professional staff development should be aligned with institutional objectives. (SK)

In a survey of 128 manufacturing employees, the perception that performance appraisal had developmental uses was associated with satisfaction with appraisals and appraisers. Reaction to the evaluation did not depend on the outcome of the appraisal or its perceived fairness. (SK)

Suggests steps principals should take to increase school security and crisis preparedness: Involve school community members in security needs-assessment process; reduce risk based on assessment by establishing partnerships with law-enforcement agencies, strengthening security, and establishing crises guidelines. (PKP)

Suggests that, as people become the key differentiation of competitive advantage, companies are turning to experiential learning programs to foster work force collaboration and cooperation. Discusses the history of experiential learning and its application in the workplace. (JOW)

Adapts the gap model (comparison of service recipients' attitudes before and after service delivery) into a human resource development (HRD) service management model. Delineates linkages among organizational mission, internal customers' mission, performance needs, and HRD mission. (SK)

Depicts the demographic and economic state of the People's Republic of China. Outlines public and corporate policies and the status of vocational education and training and development practices. Lists 40 online and print information sources. (SK)

A survey of continuing education providers showed the need for greater investment in marketing, cultivation of outsourcing relationships, staff development in marketing techniques, and new ways of communicating the message to potential customers. (SK)

This paper draws on the presentation of three online pilot "series" of learning objects aimed at offering university staff convenient updating opportunities around issues connected with e-learning. The "Hot Topics" format presented short themed sets (series) of learning objects to a wide-range of staff, encouraging sampling strategies to support…

When visitors tour the authors' classrooms at the J. Erik Jonsson Community School, a 3-year-old through 5th-grade laboratory school just south of downtown Dallas, Texas, they sense that something is different. Visitors remark about the respectful, caring environment of the school and the high-powered instruction, and they want to learn how they…

Purpose: The paper aims to explore the stages involved in the school establishment phase and detect differences between new and innovative schools startup. Design/methodology/approach: The exploratory study was conducted on the creation phase of two Israeli elementary schools: one new and one innovative. The data were collected through interviews…

Background: In this study, we describe the experience of participating in interactive training (IT) for active support (AS). Staff (N = 58) working with adults with an intellectual disability (ID) received IT on providing effective assistance for participation in daily activities. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff (N =…

School safety has become an important area of concern for school improvement. This study examined the effects of staff training as means of improving school responses to student threats of violence. A multidisciplinary sample of 351 staff from 2 school divisions completed pre-post training surveys as part of a 1-day training program using the…