During a number of years Swedish municipalities have work with improvement of competence and long-term quality in elderly care. The overall aim of the present study was to compare different learning activities (workplace improvement and/or courses), and to relate these activities to learning climate, learning strategies, and perception of care…

This paper describes and discusses an action research collaboration between a multi-disciplinary team of practice educators, a practice development nurse and a university lecturer in order to explore, evaluate and improve a dementia care training package developed for a range of staff providing care for people with dementia. Whilst it is…

Drawing on their experience in a Midwest healthcare system, the authors propose a model of leadership development through action learning that embraces "concentric collaboration" at its core. The present study suggests that the process of concentric collaboration can serve to strengthen the skills of the individual leader as well as…

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are being recognized globally for their influential role in realizing the UN Millennium Development Goal of education for all in developing countries. NGOs mostly employ untrained para-educators for grassroots activities. The professional development of these teachers is critical for NGO effectiveness, yet…

Volunteer motivation and commitment are linked through learning about the organization, the job, and oneself. Volunteer managers should (1) identity volunteer motivations and establish conditions to support them; (2) identify learning activities appropriate for motivations and learning styles; (3) ensure congruence between volunteer learning and…

The Penn State Libraries' Open House activities for incoming students find Access Services staff extending beyond their everyday routines to creatively help relieve students' fears of the library and understand how Access Services can help them. Serving on the Access Services Open House Committee offers staff many opportunities for development as…

This exercise is intended to help those working with adult basic education (ABE) students gain greater insight into the interests and concerns of adults entering their program. It is a group activity that presumes that at least some of the participants are familiar with entering students. It can be adapted to reflect the traditional two or three…

Discusses conflicts between traditional versus innovative instructors and the need to focus on the learning activities that tutor and student engage in, based on experiences at Staffordshire University (United Kingdom). Suggests that staff developer and tutor need to work together to maintain the authenticity of learning activities. (Author/LRW)

From an intergenerational training program for caregivers of children and frail elderly emerged a model for making program decisions. The model clusters potential activities in five categories: recreation/leisure, education, health promotion, public service, and personal development. It has four levels of selection criteria: match activities to…

Presented are two group activities designed to raise consciousness and awareness of sexism. Activity I, the Sex Role Autobiography, allows participants to examine specific aspects of their own personal histories. Activity II, the Sexism Box, consists of small group study of sexist manifestations in our society, such as advertisements. (Author/SJL)

Presents a professional-development template to help increase teachers' growth, satisfaction, and motivation. Programs should offer small, significant doses of user-friendly, high- challenge, low-threat, and hands-on activities that encourage teachers to construct their own knowledge, reflect on their practices, and try new approaches. (MLH)

Presents strategies used in early childhood anti-bias workshops to promote understanding of the influences on identity development, including asking teachers to recall their earliest memory of differences. Discusses strategies to help participants recognize different forms of bias, such as analyzing materials with a group thinking process.…

Describes and evaluates a training program entitled PASSAGES which addresses the need for employee career planning. Implications of the program for business and industry are discussed. (RC)

Although most efforts to improve academic learning time have been directed at classroom teachers, principals can also employ schoolwide procedures to improve time usage. This article presents 11 such strategies involving direction-setting, direct staff support, and structural alterations. Academic learning time should be a schoolwide goal linked…

Describes competence assessment as a method by which counselors can relate staff development directly to success on the job. Discusses collecting data to identify critical counseling competencies and constructing learning experiences to promote competence. Offers some general principles for staff development. (Author/RC)