Defines a rationale for teaching decision-making skills and outlines an eight-step decision-making process. Describes how the process may be applied at all levels, in classrooms, and in dealing with students' personal problems. (Author/KC)

Decision making should be viewed as a deliberate process that can be taught as a basic classroom skill. Common myths and problems surrounding decision making are discussed. The purpose of initiating decision making opportunities is to promote creativity, not conformity. Five suggested steps for the process are: (1) explore the many alternatives…

This paper is designed to help educational leaders improve their decision making strategies (and correspondingly educational practice) by evaluating their own strategy in concert with a model proposed in the paper. The proposed model provides educational leaders with an enhanced context within which one can effectively analyze and evaluate…

Describes a simple simulation for teaching secondary students about nuclear power as a source of energy by having them role play various interest groups. Game rules, including division of class members into four interest groups, are described. The author suggests eight references that would be useful for the simulation. (Author/DB)

Describes the use of in-basket exercises, a nontraditional approach to teaching production typewriting, which (according to the author) enables students to increase their production typewriting speed, develop the ability to rely on their own decisions and interpretations of written instructions, learn the necessity for organization, and compose…

An alternative method of teaching office management is described which uses a project approach to train students in decisionmaking strategies or participative management activities in order to facilitate the transition from the classroom role to an actual job situation. (TA)

Today's students must be aware of local, regional, national, and international issues, problems, situations, and cultural diversities. This paper presents curriculum ideas for involving elementary and secondary students in classroom inquiry processes and in field-based settings in order to teach them to think critically, make decisions, act, and…

To improve problem-solving skills of learning-disabled students, five attributes of problem solution are outlined: the solution's permanence, starting time, length of time required, ease of implementation, and creation of additional problems. Based on these attributes, a structured method for rating and choosing solutions to personal or social…

Secretarial survival skills of communication, organization, and decision making should be incorporated into the secretarial training program, according to the author. She discusses these skills in relation to career mobility. (MF)

Analytical case studies can provide a way for high school geography teachers to develop their students' interpretive skills, skills which are not fostered by the traditional teacher-centered textbook methods of geography instruction. The case study approach introduces the student to economic and cultural activities within a country or region or to…

This manual, developed for college counseling services, outlines the design and administration of the Academic Probation Program at the University of Arkansas. An overview of the individualized program, which focuses on academic coping skills, and guidelines for the seven stages of implementation are given, including orientation, the initial…

Examined effects of a short-term, social problem-solving training program on latency-aged children. The intervention was taught over weeks to one-half of a fourth-grade class at an inner city parochial school. Results indicated that program children learned to generate more alternative solutions to problems and to anticipate their consequences.…

Discusses the use of computers in developing social studies skills. Lists social studies skills as those related to acquiring information, organizing and using information, and those related to interpersonal relationships and social participation. Includes addresses of vendors of computer resources recommended. Describes different software and how…

Develops a general understanding of four categories of thinking skill components and their increasing importance: (1) problem solving; (2) decision making; (3) critical thinking; and (4) creative thinking. Methods of incorporating audiovisual media into thinking skills instruction are suggested. Twenty-one references are listed. (MES)

Presents an outline of 10 of the most important student skills needed in the social studies classroom. These skills include reading, writing, listening, speaking, map reading, critical thinking and problem solving, organizing, evaluating, social interacting, and observing. (KC)