Discusses current views on problem solving in the workplace, and identifies five areas for consideration: (1) knowledge representation; (2) verbally teaching strategy components of the skill--versus the learner acquiring it inductively through practice; (3) the principles of teaching procedures; (4) how to construct simulations; and (5) weighing…

Describes infant-toddler training-of-trainers workshop in which trainers respond to trainee resistance through role-plays illustrating respectful and disrespectful ways of training and through discussions focusing on accepting and acknowledging the feelings of trainees and trainers. Asserts that forming diverse training teams, valuing opposing…

Food allergies can kill a child, and camp offers many opportunities for things to go wrong. One camp with many allergic campers gathered information from parents on the extent of allergies and medications needed; educated staff about the seriousness of allergies, food preparation procedures, and snacks; and prepared an emergency plan. Family,…

This study reports the characteristics, career intentions, and professional development needs of staff from a wide variety of services for people with a disability in New South Wales (Australia). Staff were predominantly female; male staff were unlikely to regard their career futures as being in the disability field; and employers were providing…

Project Adventure (PA) offers certification for adventure program managers and two levels of challenge course practitioners. PA feels certification is timely because other fields have certification programs that work well, PA has been using competency-based certification for their own staff successfully for 8 years, the field has recently…

A New York camp's character education program is described. Implementing the program involves choosing which values to teach, making staff and campers aware of the program's importance, deciding where to teach the values, choosing and coaching the attributes that reflect each value, debriefing after activities, and keeping campers and staff…

Describes four staff development leadership styles provided by principals (traditional administrator, instructional leader, community builder, and orchestra conductor). Suggestions are offered encouraging principals to orchestrate staff development for all personnel (e.g., advocate lifelong learning for all employees and encourage learning…

Outlines an organization development view of change, identifying strategies for implementing the approach and noting how staff developers' roles change with the organization development perspective. As organization development specialists rather than trainers, staff developers must develop skills in group process, facilitation, team building,…

Considers the relationship between testing and curriculum by examining the testing literature. Argues that a test that is both valid and useful is not possible due to the absence of a certifiable standard in most curriculum areas. Suggests that validation could be better defined through a consideration of various factors of education. (KO)

This article presents a concept of reflection, explains its importance in staff development, and describes ways reflection can be effectively integrated into staff development programs. Programs discussed include Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement (TESA), as well as tailor-made peer coaching and discipline workshops. (IAH)

To fulfill expectations for history curriculum reform, schools must clarify essential instructional goals and objectives, provide increased instructional time for history, reintroduce history in elementary grades, obtain improved textbooks and materials, and provide appropriate teacher preparation and staff development programs. Includes 11…

Presents a sample of replies to a call for materials on library policies concerning professional development and professional continuing education. Included is a summary of the results of a survey of 50 libraries that was conducted by the South Central Research Library Council in upstate New York to obtain information on continuing education…

This article reports on a study of a large-scale Belgian innovation project. From interview data four types of local innovation policy (LIP) were identified. LIP's reflected the organizational reactions of schools and appeared to be determined primarily by principals interventions. LIP's were characterized by planning, interaction, risk avoidance…

Residential staff (n=156) of state schools serving hearing-impaired children were surveyed concerning perceived staff training needs. Demographic information was also compiled on residential staff, and analysis determined seven correlations between demographic characteristics and selection of training topics, such as gender and sex education,…

Describes system to help camp administrators assure that hired trip leaders maintain high standards. Details suggestions including: written procedures regarding trip conduct; cultivating sense of responsibility within leaders for trips; using lists to plan trips; and using trip logs. Includes 12 steps for successful trip camping program. (TES)