Aim/Purpose: This study was aimed at enhancing students' learning of software engineering methods. A collaboration between the Computer Science, Business Management, and Product Design programs was formed to work on actual projects with real clients. This interdisciplinary form of collaboration simulates the realities of a diverse Software…

Part of the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) research series titled "Teachers' Time: Collaborating for Learning, Teaching, and Leading," this case study looks at Hillsdale High School, a large, comprehensive high school located in San Mateo, California, a high-tech enclave of Silicon Valley nestled 23 miles…

The article discusses role release, an important process in transdisciplinary procedures for severely handicapped students. Different levels and types of role release are discussed and strategies for its implementation are presented. (Author/CL)

An eight-step decision-making paradigm appropriate for guiding decisions regarding selection of instructional programming alternatives for visually impaired multiply disabled children is presented. Brief case studies illustrate the application of the paradigm. (Author/DB)

Roles are delineated for vocational teachers, special education teachers, and bilingual teachers in an interdisciplinary approach to vocational education of limited or non-English-speaking secondary handicapped students. (CL)

The transdisciplinary approach to intervention with handicapped infants is described. The joint team, staff development, and role release characterize the approach. Sections consider effective team functioning and remedies for team dysfunctions including problems in interpersonal relations, developmental process, team structure, and role release.…

This booklet summarizes research on best practices for implementing successful small learning communities and career academies. When well implemented, improvements in instructional and personalization strategies in combination with structural supports have demonstrated improved student attendance and learning. "From High School to Learning…

The paper reviews difficulties in special education interdisciplinary team decision making and relates the experiences of one team's efforts to increase intra-team communication. Among problems cited are lack of focus in discussions, unequal levels of participation, and limited abilities to produce recommendations or provide therapy in a truly…

This article on professional roles in early intervention introduces the concept of expanding roles to include collaborative reflective inquiry within communities of practice as one way to reform professional practices. It suggests that reflection within communities of practice extends the understanding of individual professionals but also holds…

Described is a training activity to introduce special educators to the transdisciplinary teaming model in comparison with the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary models. The group activity highlights critical components of each model. It has been used with more than 100 special education team members in Connecticut to introduce…

This article discusses ways that early intervention team members can improve their communication, qualities of effective teams, roles that members assume on teams, a step-by-step process for creating a transdisciplinary team, verbal and nonverbal skills necessary for successful communicative interaction, and behaviors that serve as barriers to…

This 43-minute videotape demonstrates a six-step family-centered transdisciplinary arena approach to assessment and service plan development for young children with disabilities. The early intervention transdisciplinary team consists of the family and professionals from various disciplines, working together to share information and skills across…

Although multidisciplinary teams (MT) are often available to all students in a school district, questions concerning the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of MTs remain largely unanswered. To examine MT functioning in New York, a survey was conducted with 108 separate MTs representing 43 public school districts. Respondents completed the…

A classroom communication system is described whereby the teacher of a handicapped student can manage the classroom activities conducted by other disciplines as stipulated for the child's individualized educational program. Samples of the weekly planning sheet, individual sequence sheets, and data/progress sheets for learners are provided. (CL)

The presentation describes the development of an interdisciplinary team approach to working with mildly retarded students (5-9 years old). The approach featured group discussions and activities to enhance students' listening, communication, and social skills, and to improve individual and group behavior. Individual and group goals were designed by…