Although written primarily for organizational specialists in school districts, this book is also addressed to school administrators, departments of education, students of educational administration, teachers, and organizational researchers. It is intended to help establish the organizational climates that nurture personal fulfillment and to create…

The School Personnel Utilization Project developed a series of modules to assist school personnel in building the necessary skills for the development of organizational change strategies and collaborative, collegial, educational problem solving capabilities. This specific module is on the concept of shared decision-making and its application to…

Three large, unstructured workshops (500-800 people) demonstrated how large groups of people can participate together and collectively choose ways of action aimed at satisfying all. Particular significance given to participants' shift away from looking for outside sources of answers, values and standards to discovery of strengths and answers…

Reports on a study of the perceptions of 42 top- and middle-level administrators at 4 community colleges concerning the planning models and decision-making processes used at their college. Reports that both rural colleges relied on a consensus model, whereas the two urban colleges used autocracy and rational models respectively. (DMM)

The current study hypothesized that undergraduates enrolled in a career explorations course would report significant gains in career decision-making self-efficacy and vocational identity during a semester. A repeated measures MANOVA was used to assess 88 students' precourse and postcourse self-efficacy for five tasks related to career decision…

Instructors in technical education need to use diverse methods of teaching to provide for individual differences among learners. Use of microcomputers is particularly appropriate, because such use can impart knowledge as well as develop skills. Three philosophies of computer/software instruction in technical education can be identified: (1)…

This student book is part of a series of program materials for a school-based intervention process to help at-risk students stay in school. This book, a related instructor's guide, and a viodetape entitled "A Time of Choices" comprise the classroom component of this set of materials focusing on awareness and commitment. The purpose of the program…

Intended for teachers across grade levels and disciplines, this monograph reviews research on the development of critical thinking skills and introduces a series of these skills that can be incorporated into classroom teaching. Beginning with a definition of critical thinking, the monograph contains two main sections. The first section reviews…

A unified approach to identifying and solving the fundamental problems that prevent colleges and universities from responding effectively to new demands is presented. It demonstrates the underlying causes of institutional problems using case study examples of administrators and faculty members in their institutions. Chapter 1, "Current Approaches…

Teachers are continuously faced with decisions, and often there is no one correct solution or answer. Therefore it is important for the teacher to be able to examine a situation and consider many alternative solutions before making a decision. This module is designed to give the learner an opportunity to consider situations and generate…

These five booklets, designed for multilevel use, focus on the process of choice, and how choice directly and indirectly affects the quality of the environment. The purpose behind the booklets is to explore the process of problem solving, making it clear and comprehensible to the student's frame of reference. The series of booklets all focus on…

A drug abuse education program was implemented in grades five, seven, and nine in the Baltimore City Public Schools. Unit plans outline the curriculum content and learning activities for each of the three grades. The major objective in grade five is to familiarize pupils with various medically used drugs and to develop an understanding that they…

Two counseling approaches, which differ on how to help a client make a realistic decision, are evaluated for their relative effectiveness. Fifty subjects, randomly selected from a population of students which expressed a need for educational/vocational counseling were assigned to either the reinforcement or the persuasive advice-giving treatment…

A simulation game of strategy relating to alternate confession choices of two prisoners is described. The game, Prisoner's Dilemma, is designed to help participants learn about trust, cooperation, competition, intergroup dynamics, and their own life role and feelings. Three choices are offered at the beginning of the game to two prisoners, held…

This study examines, from an organizational perspective, decision rules guiding program discontinuance, testing the framework of decision rule rationality versus action rationality. A multi-site case study method was used; interviews were conducted with 11-16 individuals at each of four research I or II universities that had discontinued at least…