Seductive details are highly interesting information tangential to course objectives. The inclusion of seductive details generally harms performance on recall tests, but few studies have used multimedia training or investigated effects on performance on recognition tests or transfer tasks. We conducted two studies using computer-based training,…

Schools are seen as having a central role to play in the "Every Child Matters" (ECM) effort, which many are finding somewhat challenging, an additional pressure and something of a departure from their usual role. One way forward may be to help schools make links between ECM and other activities with which they are starting to engage but…

Zins and his colleagues pointed out that understanding implementation of school-based prevention programs is a critical issue as we get more sophisticated about strategies to promote children's social and emotional skill development. This commentary discusses school-based program implementation, challenges, lessons learned, and future directions…

The first state-funded program of its kind, the Georgia Pre-K program has grown exponentially since its inception in 1993. The program operates in a variety of settings and is run by different types of organizations, including public and private schools, community centers, colleges and universities, and private child care centers. This report…

A quasi-experimental study was undertaken of the effects of summer programs on the behaviors and skills of 186 severely handicapped children (2-18 years old). Programs were categorized by their orientation and by their length, resulting in five groupings: 6 week high structure (educational skill and behavior goal-oriented), medium structure (mixed…

A school psychologist reviews court cases (Armstrong vs. Kline and Battles vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) and discusses effects of an extended school year on 45 students (mean age 11 years) with severe/profound mental retardation or severe emotional disturbance. Analysis of pre- and posttest levels in 11 developmental areas (gross motor, fine…

Looks at how trainers can use managers and participants as resources in drawing up workshop objectives. Emphasizes planning as a critical first step in creating an effective workshop design. Examples focus on a one-day supervisory skills training workshop. (CT)

Describes results of a survey of "Personnel" readers and human resource managers and/or training directors concerning the nature of training in their firms. Answers concern kinds of training, methods and tools, perceived success of training programs, retraining and special programs, and entry-level skill development. (CT)

This article discusses some criteria for development of career programs in organizations, including guidelines and recommendations for the development and implementation of such programs, and considerations in the area of program evaluation. (CT)

Discusses services provided by group job search programs; describes two job search programs that train youth in job seeking and job application skills; examines outcomes of the two youth programs; and suggests that group job search programs can be effective in promoting youth's entrance into the labor market. (Author/MJL)

Compared effectiveness of a systematic social skills group training program to a bibliotherapy program group and a treatment control group. Results showed that the skills training group improved significantly more than the control group and showed superior improvement on the self-report measure. Results failed to demonstrate the efficacy of…

Provides a follow-up assessment of the effectiveness of a communication skills training program for adolescents. Twenty-one control and 22 experimental subjects from a previous study completed both a behavioral, and a paper-and-pencil assessment prior to, immediately following, and five months after self-disclosure and empathy skill training.…

Two children (ages 7-8) with autism and eight typical peers participated in a study designed to replicate an earlier finding of successful social-skills intervention for children with autism using peer-implemented pivotal response training (PRT). The results of using multiple peer trainers on generalization of treatment effects were assessed.…

Summarizes ongoing research designed to generate new knowledge about the relative effectiveness of different approaches to the prevention and remediation of reading disabilities in children, particularly difficulties in acquiring accurate and fluent word reading skills. Preliminary results from the prevention study and the remediation study are…

Focuses on the growth of training industry in the United States and the increase of its influence. Discusses organizations' expenditures on training; training industry associations; postsecondary programs; credibility of the training profession; intellectual leadership; shortage of skilled employees; and the overall impact of training today. (AEF)