Effective use of cooperative learning groups requires the following: attention to group formation, orientation that sets clear expectations and guidelines, activities to develop teamwork skills, peer evaluation, and other assessments that recognize and measure individual effort on group projects. (SK)

Correlational analyses of data from 126 Chinese business students in 32 learning groups showed that groups with cooperative goals engaged in more constructive controversy. Those with competitive or independent goals had fewer open discussions. Groups engaged in constructive controversy rated themselves as more innovative and loyal. (Contains 31…

One measure of a school executive is the ability to put together a winning administrative team. Offers tips for building teamwork. (MLF)

Increasingly, school boards are using consultants to help them hire the right superintendents for their school systems. Proposes extending the consultants' contracts to coaching both board and superintendents on developing an effective working relationship. (MLF)

Sportscasters, in conjunction with educators and others, could form a unique partnership aimed at encouraging young people to stay in school and prepare for the future. (MLH)

The survey of projects concerned with placing secondary students with mental handicaps into competitive employment studied 24 matched pairs of successfully/unsuccessfully employed students. Results showed that successful programs were characterized by team effort, employer support, employment supervision, and a sensitive match of student and job.…

High school principals assume direct responsibility for selected instructional leadership functions, but must delegate partial or full responsibility for other functions. The Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale helps shift principals' attention to the most appropriate areas. The key component is a systematically developed leadership…

Suggests that the principal's role in promoting student learning is to stimulate teachers and parents to help identify serious educational problems the school is encountering while attempting to educate all students. In today's world, all children, not just a small fraction, need to learn what schools are expected to teach. (MLH)

To effectively prepare for negotiations: develop a sound philosophy; establish priorities; plan how to promote those priorities; practice fair negotiating procedures; and then assess through a postmortem the gains achieved by both parties, to help prevent personal and personnel problems. (Author)

Team Assisted Individualization (TAI) in mathematics and Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) are among the best researched and most effective of all cooperative learning methods. TAI was developed to apply cooperative learning techniques to solve individualized instruction problems. Relevant research on both methods is discussed.…

Schools are realizing that the future success of their students will be reflected in their ability to effectively function in a "team" environment. (MLF)

Nursing specialists are prepared at the master's level to function as members of interdisciplinary and family-centered early intervention teams for disabled children. A specialty program of study emphasizes advanced and specialized clinical practice; education of clients, families, staff, and professionals; consultation; research use; evaluation…

The author describes a collaborative project involving a textiles and clothing specialist, an occupational therapist, and a wheelchair-bound disabled woman to design and construct an apron that facilitated independence in daily living for the disabled woman. (Author/CH)

The current educational reform movement differs from past efforts primarily because of the greatly expanded role of teachers and their organizations in school management and improvement. This broader context of teaching is reflected in such innovations as participatory decision-making and school improvement teams with teachers as equal partners.…

Describes a successful project in Philadelphia that paired students from Germantown Friends School with children at the Home of the Merciful Savior School for Children with Cerebral Palsy. States that the arts staff at both schools composed a musical which the two schools performed together. Concludes that performing the musical taught acceptance…