Differences in staff perceptions of three aspects of school-based curriculum development (planning models, decision making, and satisfaction levels) were studied, using a sample of 277 New South Wales teachers. Results show status as significantly related to all three aspects, and underline the need for continuous staff dialog. (29 references)…

Across many organizational communication curricula, faculty are including undergraduate courses on the analysis and assessment of an organization's communication. This paper was designed to aid potential instructors of an organizational analysis course in their preparation and execution. The paper contains a syllabus which provides one example of…

The principal coordinates curriculum change in the public schools. Critical features of effective curriculum implementation are open communication, a strong staff development program, and daily encouragement and support of faculty members. Planning and organization, financial support, and human support are among the principal's significant…

Offers ten suggestions for developing the role of library media centers and media specialists within schools that center around improved communication with teachers, administrators and the public, involvement with curriculum decisions, familiarity with library materials, increased promotion of the media center, and professional development. (CLB)

This paper outlines, from the perspective of three school principals, the complexities involved in implementing a curriculum innovation, "4MAT," begun in Ontario in 1984. Curriculum project considerations include: leadership skills necessary; importance of support systems for principals; role of research; role of the principal; project…

A number of studies consistently identify the importance of communication skills, both oral and written, as vital to employability. Speech communication departments, however, have been slow either in responding to industry's needs or in informing students of the high correlation between communication skills and employability. Some of the possible…

Surveyed managers of businesses and organizations to determine which communication skills are used frequently on the job and those in need of further academic development. Found that listening, motivating people, and handling grievances were the top three areas where additional communication education is needed. Discusses implications for…

A practical tool known as Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) can help the supervisor increase the potential of group planning as a means of facilitating curriculum improvement. PERT also provides a technique for integrating events and activities and acts as a catalyst to motivate communication, cooperation, and collaboration.…

This paper describes some of the historical background for current practices in local curriculum development, the major participants and their roles in local curriculum development, some of the processes involved, and the major conditions necessary for successful local development. Using a broad literature base of both published and unpublished…

One of a series of workplace education modules, this module includes activities and exercises for teaching communication skills in the workplace. First, introductory material reviews the goals of the module and defines three levels of difficulty of module activities (i.e., beginner, intermediate, and advanced). The importance of communication…

This essay presents an approach to substantial and long-range curriculum change in three stages: planning, implementation, and evaluation. Planning, to which three quarters of the paper is devoted, is defined as a deliberate, collaborative, continuous process of determining and providing for the most effective manner to implement a change. The…

The Southeastern Wisconsin Workplace Communication Project is a workplace English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) resource and outreach program involving a partnership of businesses and adult educators in a rural area that has experienced an increase in new speakers of English in the manufacturing workforce. The guide provides workplace educators and…

The research on effective schools has identified the superintendent's role as critical in the success of school improvement efforts. The New Brunswick school improvement program is featured as an example of a successful program. In 1980 the New Brunswick school system selected a new superintendent who faced a district with myriad problems…

This guide to departmental planning in British secondary school modern language programs offers suggestions for producing effective work and curriculum plans. An introductory section outlines the reasons for departmental planning and discusses briefly the format and content of effective staff meetings. The second section addresses common…