The 21st century has brought an increasing demand for expertise in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Although strides have been made towards increasing gender diversity in several of these disciplines, engineering remains primarily male dominated. In response, the U.S. educational system has attempted to make engineering…

Bullying often persists in spite of formal programs targeting this problem. Supportive school and classroom communities enlist brave peers in consoling, encouraging, and befriending victims, which removes the status that fuels bullies. For the past 18 years, this author has worked in multiple children's agencies and schools, studying bullying…

Background: While school-based mental health professionals obviously must provide mental health services to students directly, the literature is increasingly identifying an empowerment role for these professionals, whereby they support teachers as primary service providers. The purpose of this study was to identify subtypes of school social…

Explores the related concepts of "bureaucracy" and "the bureaucrat," focusing on the characteristics of bureaucracy as an organizational form and on the sources of bureaucratic power. (PGD)

Looks at the use of icebreakers in training and offers a checklist of questions for making sure an icebreaker is appropriate for the group and situation. (JOW)

To make meetings more productive, administrators should define each meeting's purpose, use meetings for what groups do best (such as clarifying issues), rewrite agendas to emphasize meetings' goals, avoid regular meetings and meetings for the wrong purposes (like shifting blame), and eliminate unproductive or nonessential groups. (Author/RW)

A synopsis of a Planning Assistance Kit designed by the Council of Educational Facility Planners (CEFP) and Educational Facilities Laboratories (EFL) to assist local communities in participatory planning. (MLF)

Organizational patterns can be examined from two major perspectives. The formal structure of an organization consists of those relationships among the organizational components that are the result of deliberate planning. This formal structure tends to be static and is the primary focus of management theory. The informal structure of an…

Conflict within organizations must be managed to maximize its useful aspects while minimizing those that are dysfunctional. Conflict can be interpersonal or can stem from the structural characteristics of the organization. Sources of conflict include win-or-lose situations that reduce cooperation by fostering competition, incompatibility among the…

Provides a concise overview of important conflict management concepts and strategies for those working in group settings. Presents a brief conceptual basis for understanding conflict and group memebers' behavior when in conflict, followed by specific recommendations for managing and making use of conflict in groups. (JAC)

Gifted students can perform a variety of roles in groups, and it is important for career choice and satisfaction that the role chosen be a natural one. Gifted students may function best and contribute most in the role of exemplar or eccentric rather than in more traditionally conceived leadership roles. (CL)

Article discussed the development of leadership styles from the current emphasis on egocentric leadership behavior to that of collegial leadership. (RK)

The framework presented in this article about the therapeutic use of program activities for emotionally disturbed children is based, in part, on an understanding of phase development in groups. The framework is outlined according to assessment, program activity selection and intervention. (MS)

Recommends that group dynamics factors in simulation and gaming be given more consideration, and suggests some possible applications of knowledge in group dynamics when designing and using games. (CMV)

Presents the Sharing, Narrowing, Agreeing, Recording/Reporting, Evaluating (SNARE) Method for making group decisions. (JM)