Considers the American Counseling Association's (ACA) position on noncompetition agreements between employers and employees in light of case law from other service professions. Concludes that ACA members are uninformed and available sources of information do not provide needed information. Proposes guidelines for responding to this issue.…

Divides suggestions for professional development in teaching technical writing into the following categories: self-help (readings), professional meetings, seminars, institutes, internships, and graduate study. (RL)

Discusses how counselors face demands throughout their careers for information from various sources including licensure boards, employers, managed care companies, courts of law, graduate schools, and professional associations. Suggests items for collection and organization in a working portfolio and gives examples of how counselors may use these…

As with any innovation, professional counselors need to be well trained and knowledgeable before they begin using online technology. This chapter provides an overview of different ways to use the Internet in counseling practice--not necessarily as a replacement for face-to-face counseling, but as a tool with a variety of purposes within the…

Explores that which art therapy education should comprise for the profession to remain vital. Draws four lessons from observing patterns in the development of related professions: internal consensus must determine the criteria for professional membership, legitimacy of the profession must be established, demand must exist, education should be…

Rural schools by structure and philosophy match the expectations and description of a learning community. Establishing a learning community in a rural school can create an atmosphere that encourages committed educators to grow through trust, respect, and collegiality. Recommendations are given for establishing high quality, ongoing professional…

Provides some general tips on planning a workshop or short-time education experience for newspaper professionals. Offers a four-month schedule for such conference planning. (RL)

This article presents the knowledge and skills determined by the Council for Exceptional Children to be necessary for assistive technology specialists. These competencies are designed to provide guidelines for districts as they seek to employ a specialist and guide individuals interested in serving as specialists in their professional development.…

Reviews the literature on mentoring. Offers recommendations for developing mentoring programs in higher education, focusing on programs for new faculty and administrators, for women and minority faculty and administrators, for alumni, for members of professional organizations, and for students. Details institutional responsibilities. (DMM)

Examines research about the effectiveness of professional development. Procedural guidelines drawn from research on individual and organizational change provide a framework for developing the optimal mix of professional development processes and technologies for specific contexts at particular points in time. The potential impact of implementing…

Problem solving, decision making, and constructing knowledge are skills students need to become active and responsible citizens. However, many students are not receiving these essential skills from their education. Minority students in particular, despite improved academic performance, still perform well below national averages. Restructuring…

This discussion paper provides background information on credentialing, raises issues in the area of credentialing for out-of-school time programs, and suggests the important decisions that need to evolve in the out-of-school time field. The first part of the paper defines credentials, describes traditional and changing concepts of credentialing…

The School Improvement Specialist Project prepared seven modules. School improvement specialists, as defined by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory at Edvantia, are change agents who work with schools to help them improve in the following areas so as to increase student achievement. These modules are intended to provide training materials for…

Discusses sources of stress for music teachers and offers tips for coping with it. Relaxation exercises, physical exercise, and a change of environment are recommended. Teachers should realistically assess their abilities and career prospects. (AM)

A review of studies of mentoring for new college faculty suggests practical guidelines for maximizing the mentoring experience. Recommendations include "cataloging" (of past, current, and planned activities); group mentoring; and application of a theory stressing involvement, regimen, solving the right problem, and social networking. (DB)