Chapter 12 in a volume on school leadership, this chapter cites the work of several authorities concerning problem-solving or decision-making techniques based on the belief that group problem-solving effort is preferable to individual effort. The first technique, force-field analysis, is described as a means of dissecting complex problems into…

A special report that guides organizers through the steps of cooperative planning--a process that is adaptable to a variety of situations ranging from diverse community activities to institutional reorganization. (Author/MLF)

This monograph provides guidelines for agencies and community groups to develop individualized responses to local gang problems. The manual contains a foundation for understanding the diverse nature of gangs, the problems they pose, and the harm they cause. Two models are presented for addressing gang-related problems. The problem-solving model to…

A tour of centralized university advising centers revealed that the busiest centers had done an excellent job of marketing themselves to their campus clientele. Factors affecting successful marketing include image, location, service, advertising, and innovative problem-solving. (MSE)

Creativity exercises, or creater-cizes, can help camp staff generate ideas and solve problems. Common techniques are brainstorming, story-boarding, analogies and metaphors, association and free association, spinning, and lists. Defines and gives examples of each technique. (SAS)

The manual considers practical issues involved in building and maintaining the effectiveness of school based support teams, interdisciplinary problem solving groups designed to respond to staff needs through crisis intervention, short or long term consultation, and continuous support. Separate sections address the following topics (sample…

The data are clear: Too many students are not doing well in school. Too many are experiencing interfering barriers, most of which are not internal dysfunctions but are associated with neighborhood, family, school, and peer factors. If the situation is to change, schools must play a greater role in providing supports for students experiencing…

This linker's guide introduces the systematic problem- solving approach used by the Florida Linkage System. An overview of the System's three SOLUTION ANALYSIS SERIES Guidebooks is given in order to clearly identify the different steps in the system's proposed training process. (LH)

This program is designed for personnel working in alcohol service agencies who are responsible for planning and implementing prevention programs for youth. The training is most appropriate for the person who is just starting to plan a prevention program and who has only minimal experience in prevention work with youth. Training skills and…

This document is the first of a series that will address five stages of the school reform process. It focuses on the first stage of the change process, managing key stakeholders and external groups and engaging them in the planning and development of the reform or innovation. A stakeholder is any group or individual who can affect or is affected…

Describes visualization methods used to design projects intended to improve the quality of life in developing countries, but which are also applicable to group problem-solving situations. Details main stages of a case study. Demonstrates that the techniques improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the problem-solving process and the quality of…

In the introduction to this monograph on the workshop as an effective educational function for inservice teachers, the need for inservice education is discussed as well as the particular value of workshops in meeting that need. The historical background of workshops is outlined in the second chapter, including selected definitions of workshops and…

Based on the experience of 36 schools involved with the Northwest Reading Consortium, this manual presents a model of the instructional improvement process involved in that project. The instructional improvement process presented includes five stages: (1) assessing readiness, (2) developing a statement of the instructional problem, (3) making a…

This guidebook, the second in a series of three, (plus a linker's guide) is intended to aid educational personnel in the selection of programs and materials best suited for specific schools and needs. The first section of the guide enables educators to develop detailed estimates of the costs for each program under consideration. The second section…

This guidebook, the final in a series of three, serves as a work action plan to help educators and educational administrators in implementing and evaluating new programs and instructional materials. Checklists of the various kinds of materials necessary for the implementation of an educational program are provided, along with hints about the most…