Boards of education must be convinced that spending money up front for preventive maintenance will, in the long run, save districts' tax dollars. A good program of preventive maintenance can minimize disruption of service; reduce repair costs, energy consumption, and overtime; improve labor productivity and system equipment reliability; handle…

Heightened efficiency in higher education has led to declining commitment to student needs for personal development. Contributing institutional factors include over-emphasis on system efficiency, pride in physical facilities, status needs, obsession with management and accountability, lack of interaction between learner and educator, emphasis on…

In the 1980s, equity concerns will come into conflict with efficiency concerns in school financing. This paper attempts to trace the changing nature of these concerns during the 1970s and to suggest trends for education financing in the 1980s. The first section discusses equity issues related to state school finance reforms and suggests that…

Twelve papers are contained in this report. Robert M. Ranftl reports on the findings of a study to identify useful techniques for optimizing productivity. John S. Packard contrasts the spirit of inquiry and the norm of productivity, and makes recommendations for the composition of a research team. David L. Williams describes procedures to ensure…

While concern for efficiency and productivity and the use of systems terminology are not new, the intensity with which the jargon is used is relatively new. Unfortunately, the technological terms have frequently become distorted and value-laden through attempts to apply them to compelling economic and political issues. As a result, administrative…

Planning and management is now and will continue to be a way of life for the academy. The shape of education in the years to come will be determined by the ability to accommodate management systems and mold them to a desired form. As the academic profession embraces planning systems and learns to live with a dismal financial future, leadership…

Contains history, case studies, and discussion of the use and benefits of flex-time employment, a pattern of working hours in which individual employees begin and end their work day at times of their choice, within certain limits, as long as they work a prescribed number of hours. The paper addresses the following topics: (1) What is flex-time,…

Designing a training course to be more efficient will simultaneously reduce the amount of trainee time as well as increase its impact on job performance. (Available from American Management Associations, Subscription Services, Box 319, Saranac Lake, NY 12983; $3.25 single copy.) (MLF)

Topics include: (1) global objectives for structuring and improving the educational climate, (2) a history of competency-based education, (3) objectives based instructional programs, (4) behavior modification, (5) physical education objectives, (5) objectives in the cognitive domain. (DAG)

Examines ways contemporary design and use of schools can positively affect future energy availability. (Author/MLF)

A discussion of the use of performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of higher education institutions argues that they cannot be used without clear institutional goals. Problems of deriving institutional goal systems, methodological problems associated with such indicators, and related research are addressed. (MSE)

Seven reasons for reading pedagogical materials to improve instruction are outlined, advice on how the reading can be used most effectively is given, and appropriate readings are recommended. (MSE)

The use of computer-simulated case problems to improve skills in patient interviewing and symptom analysis was found to help teach symptom characterization but not to substitute for faculty teaching. Student team study on case simulations is recommended. (MSE)

Examines the concrete problems, issues, and paradoxes encountered while establishing and implementing a teacher preparation program based on critical reflection. Contrasts the standardized, controlled atmosphere of most classrooms with a transformative vision of teaching as an artistic, political, and human act. Cites 13 references. (MLH)

Examines recent major proposals for improvements in elementary and secondary education from an economic perspective and assesses their likely effects. Suggests that efficient, effective, and equitable use of resources has not been fully considered in the preparation of the proposals. (PGD)