Although the Japanese term "kyo-iku" is translated into English as "education," significant differences exist between the two terms. A new term, "ergonagy," has been advocated to help integrate the Japanese concept of kyo-iku and the Western concept of education. "Ergonagy" is formed from the Greek terms…

The content of this paper is based on a development plan currently in design for the U.S. Navy in conjunction with the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University. Leading research (literature review) references and case study ("best practice") references are presented as supporting evidence for the results-oriented…

The purpose of this study was to develop a systems engineering educational module that could easily fit within existing transportation engineering undergraduate or technical courses in other engineering disciplines. The module is based on analysis of specific job roles and tasks of staff at various transportation agencies in Texas, and has three…

This paper reports on a focus group discussion held in June, 1998, in Killington, Vermont, about a 3-year project in Vermont to encourage the self-determination of people with developmental disabilities. The project has involved training of four project teams, each composed of a person with a developmental disability, a family member, and a person…

The National Association of State Directors of Special Education has established the Professional Development Leadership Academy to assist states in meeting state improvement plan requirements of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Professional development is crucial to this endeavor and will be accomplished…

This paper examines general systems theory as it applies to higher education institutions. Using this approach, the university is viewed as a system (comprised of subsystems) that interacts with the external environment. The first sections of the paper review general systems theory and its application to management, and examine some theoretical…

Curriculum developers assume that tasks to be learned are basically procedural and can be broken down into component elements. This approach may be useful for managing instruction, but it can interfere with the quality of education. True proficiency does not depend on following rules and procedures. (PP)

Describes the application of the instructional development process to a teaching technique called Guided Design in a Production-Operations Management course. In Guided Design, students are self-instructed in course content and use class time to apply this knowledge to self-instruction; in-class problem-solving is stressed. (JJD)

The technique of scanning the college environment (on economic, social, technological, and political dimensions for strategic planning purposes) can help identify crucial issues, formulate goals, increase intrainstitutional understanding, and open opportunities. Internal and external communication will be increasingly important in higher education…

Compared the interaction of normal families and families with a drug-abusing member in order to describe the differences in their communication patterns. Concluded that addict families generally display more rigid communication patterns than do normal families. (PD)

Outlines two formulations that generate conceptual perspectives of immediate phenomena: (1) the family system has a time-enduring stability; (2) the family system has an immediate and temporary organization. Integrates systems thinking and Gestalt Therapy while recognizing individual experience as embedded in a self-maintaining system of the…

Presents a taxonomy of 11 different levels at which school library media centers can be involved in instructional development, ranging from no involvement to participation in curriculum development by the library media specialist. (CHC)

Describes a social development program for elementary school children that was developed using systems methodology. All school members were involved. Both students and teachers reported positive changes, as well as improved school attendance. The problem-solving approach included: needs assessment, specifying objectives, generating alternative…

Describes the results of telephone interviews with 10 former directors of state systems-change projects focused on supported employment in the context of the rapid growth of supported-employment programs for people with severe disabilities. Results are discussed in terms of the ongoing nature of dynamic change in social systems. (Author/DB)

Describes Partnerships for Inclusion, a North Carolina statewide project providing technical assistance (TA) to communities as they develop and coordinate inclusive services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and their families. Outlines the model's development, the project's core services, strategies for promoting…