Competency-based orientation for nurses provides a practical and cost-effective transition to the practice setting. The program requires a large initial investment in the development of self-learning materials and evaluation tools but greatly reduces instructor time. (SK)

Summarizes a study examining the entry-year problems of new principals in developing countries, based on a survey of 250 beginning and 250 veteran principals of black schools in South Africa's Northwest Province. New principals were faced with systemic problems, including inadequate physical facilities and teaching grants, an ever-increasing…

An effective approach to camp staff orientation involves veteran staff leading orientation groups for new staff. In addition to familiarizing staff members with the camp, group leaders are responsible for making members feel at ease through activities. Details a highly successful five-day orientation led by veteran staff. (LP)

Over the past three years, an Arizona school district has conducted five educational sessions for its employees. Each session is adaptable to meet specific situations facing the district. The entire staff is better able to understand and support how the district's financial resources are being put to use. (MLF)

Discusses the importance of new employee orientation programs to make a strong positive impression of the employer, resulting in employee success and retention. Describes the design and development of an intranet orientation program continuously available for staff with a wide range of educational and computer experiences that uses a modular…

In the 1950s, camps benefitted from society's renewed wealth and vigor but also saw the beginnings of racial strife. An illustrative article from 1958, "Points To Remember in Planning for Integrated Camping" (Ray Finley), discusses integration fears and provides tips for preparing staff to carry out integration policies. A 1959 chart…

For many administrators, the task of providing meaningful and timely inservice training for classroom and school safety is difficult. Staff development time is a scarce commodity in today's education environment; therefore, most inservice activities for faculty members center on academic issues. But during an emergency or crisis, a lack of…

Researchers across management fields continue to recognize the importance of conducting research that matters to practitioners (e.g., Nowicki & Rosse, 2001; Ford, Duncan, Bedeian, Ginter, Rousculp, & Adams, 2003) yet continue to point out the schism that exists between needs of practitioners and research interests of academics. This paper…

A comprehensive review of current thinking about the preparation, selection, induction, and assessment of school principals is provided in this digest. Methodology is based on a review of recent literature on the principalship and on interviews with several educators. Following an introduction, the first chapter examines inadequacies of principal…

The article discusses: the role of staff development within the broad concept of continuing education, continuing education based on different types of preparatory education, need for improved learning opportunities for staff development educators, and major goals for the staff development educator. (Author/MS)

This report proposes a program for orientation and training for public services staff at the Temple University Libraries. In the first section, orientation and training needs are assessed. Goals and an overview of the program are outlined in the next section. The third section describes the five program elements and objectives: (1) an individual…

A white administrator of an expanding social welfare agency shares some of the problems and successes in overcoming racial prejudice within himself and among his staff members. (CS)

A nationwide survey sought to analyze hospital orientation and inservice education programs to determine their nature and costs with focus on differences in orientation costs for new nurses with three different types of preparation (diploma, associate degree (AD), and baccalaureate) and for cost differences in hospitals of varying sizes.…

The major issues encountered by the testing staff of the Austin Independent School District when changing achievement tests were identified. The 1970 California Achievement Tests were replaced by the district with the 1978 Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. The major tasks were selection of a new instrument and securing funds to purchase it. However,…