This training activity was created to support participants' understanding of the criteria needed to develop and write high quality, participation-based Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) outcomes. The term "functional" is often used to describe what outcomes ought to be, yet many providers struggle to define what makes an outcome…

Guidelines for selecting good educational software are presented and based on general principles that are relevant to a wide variety of teaching programs, topics, students, and computer systems. (MP)

Creativity is seen as a problem-solving process including problem recognition and definition, generation and teaching of alternative possible solutions, and selection of the best solution. Using this process as a task analysis for designing instruction in creativity, types of tasks are analyzed. The use of functional completion criteria is…

Guidelines and steps for reviewing and selecting computerized instructional materials are reviewed. (MP)

The presentation addresses ways in which appropriate criteria for behavioral objectives with the severely handicapped are developed. Two kinds of criteria--those that established specified units and those that provide a standard to determine when the student has completed work on a specific objective--are identified. Specific considerations in…

Focusing on individual learning styles as a major component of intentional teaching, this discussion points out advantages for teachers who provide options based on students' learning styles in the classroom. Particular attention is given to the model of Style Differentiated Instruction (SDI) which developed from the research on styles, higher…

Presents criteria for selecting plays for secondary school theater programs to be presented to the public as well as to be studied or produced within the curriculum. Includes consideration of student needs and abilities, appropriateness, budget, and community standards. (JMF)

Intended for administrators, the booklet outlines procedures for evaluating district special education programs. An introductory chapter presents the rationale for evaluation as an efficient management tool. A review of the literature addresses five stages in evaluation: (1) defining the evaluation model, (2) collecting evaluation information, (3)…

This manual presents information about student learning, assessments, and evaluation, and gives practical suggestions for aiding student achievement in the visual arts. The Introduction, (1) "Finding Tar Beach: A Context for Assessment" (Deborah Smith-Shank) reminds educators that evaluation, assessment, and judgment procedures selected should…

This final part of a three-part series on mentoring, outlines the implementation of systematic mentoring: (1) determine the organization's readiness and goals for mentoring; (2) establish selection criteria for mentors and novices; (3) train mentors and novices; (4) match mentors and novices; (5) use coordinators to support mentoring; and (6)…

Suggests guidelines for selecting and using picture books exploring emotionally charged issues to help attain therapeutic goals and/or to foster an emotionally enriching classroom experience. (RH)

Maintains that criteria development--the process of creating standards against which to measure options--is not an objective process, but a subjective one in which criteria need to be revised in light of available options. Revises E. Banset and G. Parsons' problem-solving heuristic to more accurately reflect this subjectivity. (SR)

Intended for geography students, professors, and researchers, this publication deals with the process of political redistricting and shows how geographers can help devise plans that are responsible to office-holders, to voters, to legitimate community interests, and to a sense of territorial integrity. There are eight chapters. Chapter 1 examines…

First listing and discussing optimal features of playthings for early childhood education, this reference book subsequently describes play activities and equipment appropriate for infant and toddler day care programs as well as specially designed equipment for exceptional children. A chart indicating age-appropriate play and classroom equipment…

A system for grading student work based on contracts is examined. Types of contracts, methods for controlling quality as well as quantity of work, advantages of the contract grading system, and the results of research into the use of grade contracts--including student reaction to the system--are some of the topics discussed. (JMP)