Engineering Practices Introductory Course Sequence (EPICS) is designed to introduce freshmen and sophomores to skills of self education and open-ended problem solving so that high levels of competence can be obtained. Rationale for the program, description of theme projects (including management and instruction), and pilot program evaluation are…

In satirical verse the author affirms the value of merit pay proposals and laments the lack of action on such proposals that has resulted from indecisiveness concerning criteria for merit pay implementation. (JBM)

This description of a model program developed in Washington State for improving teachers' classroom effectiveness includes an outline of the program's 15-step process and its three key concepts--involvement, ownership, and commitment--followed by discussions of resource people and the program's two-day problem-solving retreat. (JBM)

Examines a study applying the problem-sensing and idea-generating capacities of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) in part-time faculty workshops. Outlines the NGT process and its use in identifying the institutional conditions that facilitate and inhibit part-time teachers' effectiveness. (DMM)

Describes briefly the context in which education has developed over the past 20 years, some positive accomplishments that education has achieved during that time, and some causes for optimism for education in the future. Necessary changes and their implications for the future are discussed. (MH)

Presents a model of the writing process using three stages of drafting: zero drafting--the discovery and initial realization of the topic; problem solving drafting--the identification and resolution of major conceptual and organizational problems; and final drafting--the attempt to arrive at the best possible solution to a rhetorical problem. (MM)

Discusses how children's knowledge can be measured/described, knowledge patterns across diverse concepts, interaction of knowledge/learning, and ways children construct more advanced problem-solving rules to replace less adequate ones. Evidence, drawn from studies on children's acquisition of knowledge about balance beams, suggests that knowledge…

The National Institute of Education has supported new research and synthesized existing information to provide teachers and administrators with direction for cognitive instruction. Efforts have been made to identify kinds of thinking and learning conducive to success in particular subjects and to offer useful research-based ideas to teachers. (TE)

It is argued that the failure of change in teacher education results from lack of understanding of the dynamics of change and the organizational features of teacher education, generally subject to external pressure. The role of institutional dimensions of problem solving, decision making, communications, goals, climate, and implementation are…

Thirty-nine principals, classified according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, filled out quesionnaires based on Vroom's leadership behavior model and Mintzberg's 10 manageral subroles. Because the findings correlate effectiveness with time allotted to disturbance handling and entrepreneurial roles, three recent decision-science techniques are…

Evaluates reading/language arts, mathematics, general problem-solving, science, social studies, creative arts, foreign languages, computer literacy, and audio-visual author software. Also lists and describes criteria used in the evaluation. (Equipment specifications and sources of software are included.) (JN)

Social theories have long proclaimed the advent of the postindustrial era. In this era, a new paradigm will emerge which will utilize negotiation as the major problem-solving strategy; planning which emphasizes process rather than goal; and change strategies emphasizing the client, group dynamics, and knowledge from the behavioral sciences.…

The growing debate on nuclear weapons in recent years has begun to make inroads into school curricula. Elementary and secondary school teachers now face the important task of educating their students on issues relating to nuclear war without indoctrinating them to a particular point of view. (JBM)

The elementary school teacher's task of decision-making in Individually Guided Education programs is doubly important because of its benefits to the individual child and its potential source of professionalism for the teacher. (MM)

Article considered a new VD Teachers Guide designed to help the classroom teacher who is understandably reluctant to teach about VD. (Editor/RK)