The staff development process a school district used to develop a writing-across-the-curriculum program is described. The process's six essential elements involve exploring, shaping, implementing, revising, sharing, and publishing, could be applied to other staff development efforts. (CB)

The skills needed to become a team leader include not being afraid to admit ignorance; knowing when to intervene; learning to share power; being concerned about what one takes on; and getting used to learning on the job. Examples of men and women who have become team leaders demonstrate how these skills can be developed. (JOW)

An adult educator's experience of delivering a paper via videoconferencing led to these conclusions: there is a danger that such technologies will be limited to those with technical skills and knowledge and to institutions able to have such facilities, and adult educators should be trained in the use of the Integrated Services Digital Network and…

Wisconsin Power and Light used results of an employee survey on cultural diversity to develop a training program based on increasing awareness of the significance of being able to work together. At workshops, employees identify specific individual actions they are responsible for and formulate work-group ground rules that respect diversity. (SK)

Describes eight Head Start programs on the outer Pacific Islands and their unique adaptation of Head Start. Describes the "Beyond the Horizon Project," a satellite-transmitted learning program for Head Start staff and parents, the result of which is that each Head Start grantee is following an individual improvement plan based on…

Explores procedures for improving the teaching of reading through the use of a direct instruction staff development model based on research that includes the application of five principles of effective staff development. Includes theory presentation, demonstration, guided practice, classroom practice, feedback, and coaching. (PRA)

To reduce teacher isolation and encourage sharing of expertise, schools should consider brief workshops or 15-minute "micro-shops" on various topics ranging from making electrical circuit boards to setting up a salt-water aquarium. This article and accompanying sidebar discuss benefits and set-up strategies. (MLH)

Maryland's third unobtrusive reference/information survey, which was conducted by an independent consulting firm, found that good reference service is a result of variables within each librarian's control. Training programs that were developed after previous surveys appear to have increased librarians' effectiveness. Findings of the survey are…

Discusses training of new admission office personnel, especially in the areas of office orientation, admission fundamentals, computer instruction, and public speaking. Discusses planning and implementation of the training program, notes ongoing challenges to the program, and describes positive aspects of the program as described by trainees and…

The Ciba chemical plant in Monthey, Switzerland, follows the Ciba-Geigy Industrial Group's general environment policy. They apply economic, less polluting production methods, dispose of waste efficiently, and train staff in ecological responsibility. (JOW)

Meeting teachers' different needs calls for varying staff development strategies. Options offered by the Charleston (South Carolina) schools include individualized education plans, short-term sabbaticals, substitute teacher teams, teachers as instructors, peer coaching, teacher exchanges, release time, summer workshops, weekend retreats, and…

Staff should be aware of four adult learning principles influencing their conference learning experience: (1) adults learn what they really want to learn; (2) they learn by doing; (3) their motivations are varied and strong; and (4) their experiences enrich the learning situation. (SK)

Four small business owners recommend making the crucial departments the best, providing opportunities from within, involving senior managers in training, offering tuition assistance, having workers train each other, fostering trust between employers and employees, allowing the free flow of information, and using total quality management or quality…

A nominal group of 21 policymakers and training practitioners ranked research questions in three categories: strategic, applied, and fundamental. Twenty-six of the 35 questions appeared to be of high priority. Promising research issues include organizational effectiveness, cost/benefit concerns, human resource planning, and the mobility of special…

Discusses mentoring among entry-level librarians and examines whether mentor-protege relationships are truly beneficial. Topics addressed include career advancement for women, the role of library management, staff training and development practices, and advocacy for the library profession. (LRW)