This article examines mentoring as an instructional method and explore its potential for performance improvement. Highlights include key individuals and roles in mentoring; examples of potential mentor relationships; mentoring needs; and methods of mentoring, including traditional, peer, and team mentoring. (LRW)

Presents a simulated dialog that explores the issues surrounding the terms and concepts of "training needs assessment" and contrasts those with "needs assessment." Needs, needs analysis, and training requirements analysis are defined, and it is concluded that needs assessment is a better term than training needs assessment.…

A needs assessment of 161 Extension educators in family and consumer science and 4-H/youth development received 28 responses indicating preferences regarding intergenerational program content and delivery format. Results were used to develop curriculum and program delivery strategies and begin planning for a statewide intergenerational program.…

Emerging community issues and concerns were identified in focus groups of 104 Defiance County (Ohio) citizens and survey responses from 180 of 380 households. The research demonstrated the usefulness of capacity assessment as a participatory process in which community members are actively involved in identifying community assets as well as…

A study of 60 adults seeking medical care at a headache specialty clinic was conducted to provide preliminary information on levels of wellness and perceived stress in this population. Not surprisingly, overall levels of wellness and perceived stress was high compared to a norm group of adults. Implications for mental health counselors as…

Introduces a project initiated at Northern Kentucky University to prepare for the establishment of a center in the northern region of the state as a result of a legislative mandate to establish an environmental education center. Involves (n=45) teacher participants in the survey component of needs assessment and identifies priority environmental…

New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service home economics agents rated perceived technical knowledge and client needs for 144 family and consumer sciences concepts. Six areas in which they needed more training were identified: gerontology, health, employment, parenting, family dynamics, and child development. (SK)

Provides an overview of the ethical and professional trends and concerns that led to the formation of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification "Ethics Task Force." Historical issues, the Commission's ethics review process, and the present code are briefly analyzed. Procedures used by the task force for revising the code…

Designing buildings that incorporate and integrate a number of departments and functions is one way that colleges and universities are balancing financial challenges and facility needs. These buildings can transform the campus, but they require planning and coordination from a carefully assembled design team. (Contains 18 references.) (Author)

Physicians (N=71) completed a questionnaire about 33 nutrition topics. Perceived knowledge significantly increased except for nutritional biochemistry. Physicians wished to learn more only in the areas of nutrition counseling and nutrition in the life cycle. (DB)

Presents a filing system for paper-based tools and resources for performance technologists. Ways to organize are described, and a performance technology model is presented that can be used as a basis for a filing system that includes needs analysis, training and nontraining interventions, and evaluation. (LRW)

Identification of the appropriate target population for literacy services requires systematic analysis of needs conducted through contact with local resource people and agencies. Sharing the results with community organizations could be a way of raising community consciousness about literacy needs. (SK)

A literature review leads to a model for using performance appraisal information in the process of analyzing training needs. The model identifies performance discrepancies, determines causes, and chooses interventions based on internal (employee) and external (work environment) factors. (SK)

A random sample of 50 percent of extension home economists in seven midwestern states was surveyed, with an 85 percent response. Results showed that the most used methods of needs assessment were advisory committees, requests, questions from clients, and program spinoffs. (JOW)

The use of felt needs in community development practice involves the process of identifying needs, ranking their importance, and building programs based on the ranking. Felt needs should be replaced by the concept "anticipatory needs," which identifies what needs to be done in order to move toward a specified future. (Author/JOW)