The Connecticut Precane is a device made from plastic plumbing tubing and is used in orientation and mobility instruction with young blind children. It can be customized to the appropriate length, and runners made from curved tubing glide over surfaces without tending to change direction. A parts list for precane construction is included. (JDD)

Discusses the effectiveness of interactive video systems and their use in teacher education programs. Reports on preservice and in-service teacher education programs that use interactive video are reviewed, and topics for future research using a component-based definition of interactive video systems are suggested (41 references) (LRW)

Survey results from 72 (of 127) trainers and 128 (of 222) business teacher educators showed that trainers perceived 12 of 14 training methods effective (lecture and role playing were not). Teacher educators found 10 of 14 effective, but only lecture was used frequently. Workplace training methods most often were individualized or one-on-one…

Two adults with developmental disabilities were trained to increase their prompt and polite acknowledgments of coworker initiations by means of daily review of interactions of the previous day which had been recorded. The review included self-evaluation, praise, corrective feedback, and role-play. Behavior changes were maintained during follow-up…

Prompting videos were developed and successfully used to train four adolescents with moderate intellectual disabilities the operation of a videorecorder and personal computer. Training transferred to another teacher, another setting, and, with additional training, to another type of videorecorder and personal computer. (Author/DB)

This study, with a young autistic child and a young adult with profound mental retardation, demonstrated the effectiveness of a gradual, changing criterion process of stimulus shaping in training subjects to independently perform tasks with relatively high task requirements. (DB)

Discusses changes in training requirements of commerce and industry in the United Kingdom and describes a project, CASCADE, that was developed to investigate and implement the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques into computer-based training (CBT). An overview of pilot projects in higher education settings is provided. (eight…

Presents training program components for environmental consulting and testing positions: (1) preparation, (2) conducting the training, and (3) evaluating the training. (MCO)

This paper reviews the rationale and behavioral interventions commonly used for teaching compliance to individuals with mental retardation and the role of ethics in the use of such interventions. The paper examines issues in deciding whether compliance is an appropriate objective for an individual and whether interventions designed to achieve…

A script fading procedure was effectively used to teach 4 children (ages 9 and 12) with autism to initiate interactions with peers. Increased initiations (to within normal levels) generalized to a different setting, and for three of the children were maintained at two-month follow-up. (Author/DB)

This study compared types of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), namely, reward DRO (reward for omission of problem behavior), escape DRO (termination of instruction contingent on omission of problem behavior), and combined DRO. The combined DRO approach was most effective in reducing behavior problems of three adolescents with…

The Richmond (Georgia) County School Improvement Program, Models of Teaching, combines four related innovations: teacher study groups, an instructional council, provision of over 100 training hours in 4 student learning models, and trained teacher cadres to assist colleagues. Criticized by some as a top-down approach, the program has maintained…

Discusses the need for reference desk orientation for newly hired or reassigned librarians and presents an outline of a suggested orientation program. Orientation conducted by a supervisor is discussed, practical and philosophical aspects of reference service are addressed, and written materials that support the training are recommended. (nine…

Describes a staff training program for the use of the online catalog at Southern Illinois University. Planning the training program is discussed; objectives are explained; training methods and materials are described; and results of an evaluation of the training program are reported. (seven references) (LRW)

Describes a peer coaching program implemented at Temple University's Reference and Information Services Department to provide staff with support in fine-tuning and maintaining certain reference desk skills. The discussion covers the origins of the program, coaching basics, and the applicability of peer coaching to the academic library setting. (12…