Many college and university student service units consider staff development peripheral to their primary mission and not cost effective, especially in lean financial times. However, recent trends in business suggest this assumption is false, and ultimately costly. The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, experience found development efforts empower…

Presents a scenario outlined by a librarian interested in sponsoring a staff development program together with a hired consultant. It is argued that, through candid discussions and a commitment to shared program goals, a successful match can be made between a librarian and the consultant. (MAB)

Reports on a study of teachers' attitudes and moral judgment. Finds that teachers who participated in a Just Community Approach Program changed their beliefs about fairness, justice, and responsibility. Suggests that this type of staff development can help teachers deal with situational conflicts. (CFR)

Negative attitudes and stereotypes of Africans by expatriate managers and trainers retard human resource development. Instead of importing "remedies," collaborative research on the indigenous contexts of African problems will lead to appropriate solutions. (SK)

Most principals spend too much time checking daily lesson plans and too little time helping teachers make yearly and unit plans. Yearly planning is important because it addresses curricular priorities and time allocations, curriculum integration, learning sequence, depth of inquiry, and instructional materials. Step-by-step supervisory procedures…

"In Quest of the Quick Fix: Staff Development in the 'National Literacy Training Act'" (Quigley) argues that professional development programs must consider "literacy for what?""Foundations for Adult Learning and Development Policy" (Craig) evaluates a policy document of the Alberta Advanced Education Ministry. (SK)

Reports on a study undertaken to determine whether or not the characteristics of effective inservice could be documented in an experimental study to have an effect on use of process-oriented vocabulary and reading comprehension strategies in the classroom. Finds that the study confirms initial expectations about the qualities of effective staff…

Proposes a systematic way of defining the concept of professional development and revealing its structure through use of a mapping sentence based on analysis of the concepts of development and profession. The mapping sentence may guide teacher developers in planning programs to suit varying concepts of professional development. (SM)

Pairs of Illinois elementary teachers (previously enrolled in a language arts cooperative development project) formed a partner system involving communication via shared journals to reduce isolation during a staff development project. Participants found the shared journals very effective in sustaining collegiality. The article notes five…

Evaluates developmental effects of first semester of teaching upon beginning rural (n=5) and metropolitan (n=6) teachers who were participating in an inservice program. Teachers participated simultaneously in counselor-led support group and mentoring relationship with an experienced, specifically trained colleague. Findings showed combined groups…

After an I/D/E/A conference on 4MAT learning styles, a Colorado school district developed a site-based staff development program with numerous spinoff offerings and applications. Teachers are using the 4MAT process to restructure curriculum and assess student learning in innovative ways. (MLH)

Presents holistic multicultural training model that could be incorporated into staff development programs for student personnel workers. Describes the three interrelated major components of the program: self-assessment seminar, intercultural training seminar, and racism seminar. Offers suggestions for implementation of the seminars. Figure is…

Two veteran staff developers explore the challenges and lessons learned as they served as volunteer change facilitators on the school improvement teams in their children's schools. The article examines why they became involved, what they hoped to accomplish, what obstacles they encountered, what they accomplished, and what they learned. (SM)

The goals of greater involvement of teachers in their own staff development mirror those of quality adult education. If the further development of teachers as self-directed learners is facilitated by giving them both the time to make the transition to such methods and a chance to plan and implement professional-development projects, both teachers…

To create and maintain a high-quality home visiting program, administrators need to consider a range of issues including the skills and qualities of home visitors; the preservice and inservice training needs of home visitors; the supervision and support that home visitors need; and the implications of stressful working conditions for home…