Explores empirical research on importance of interpersonal communication skills in consultation. Claims studies have found consultants' facilitative characteristics, along with an appropriate use of verbal and nonverbal skills, to be important in the consultation process. Suggests need for more studies on verbal and nonverbal communication skills.…

Describes stand-up comic Jim Pelley's knack for making educators see a light side to serious problems. Principals should always be aware of the power of humor to take the edge off potentially depressing situations. Advice is provided for lightening up, including creating a humor first-aid kit, posting staff baby pictures and cartoons, and…

Discusses tutoring and consulting functions in interactive computer environments. Tutoring strategies are considered, the expert model and the user model are described, and GENIE (Generated Informative Explanations)--an answer generating system for the Berkeley Unix Mail system--is explained as an example of an automated consulting system. (33…

New priorities on user involvement and consumerism in British public service agencies raise some issues: significance of process and technique, recognition of consultation fatigue, importance of an interagency approach, engaging employees and users, clarifying boundaries, and moral dilemmas. (SK)

Examines the consulting process and explains the roles of the client, the internal training and development consultant, and the external consultant. Topics include identifying the need; contracts; training program design and planning; delivery of the training; and evaluation. (LRW)

Eleventh in a series featuring the 22 principles of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Code of Ethics, this article presents a scenario: A training consultant decides to start his own company and convince 5 of his employers's clients to contract with him. Suggests that the complex ethical issues involved warrant seeking…

Discusses the role of reading specialists in remediating reading difficulties in mainstreamed classrooms. Describes meeting students' needs, planning, and assessment in a mainstreaming with consultation model which seems to be effective. (SR)

Steps for hiring training consultants are (1) check credentials; (2) specify needs; (3) ensure a fit with the organization; (4) request written program proposals; (5) make clear evaluation arrangements; (6) monitor appointed consultants; (7) give clear feedback; and (8) be prepared to answer awkward questions. (SK)

Presents a technology-planning framework for administrators that facilitates development of a strategic plan. The process includes planning the planning, benchmarking the current status of district technology use, envisioning future trends, identifying stakeholders' needs and wants, developing the technology model, identifying resource…

Organizational change depends on linking positive relationships to form learning communities that promote the change effort and seek to overcome the obstacles. The consultant serves as a catalyst in the process of linking the relationships through formal and informal strategies. The consultant involves the learners in the task of designing their…

Uses examples from different types of colleges and universities to describe how three clusters of institutional properties (mission, philosophy, culture) work together to influence behavior of students, faculty, and administrators. Offers four suggestions for consultants who wish to incorporate appraisals of institutional character in their work.…

Discusses two areas for improving consultation research: defining "boundary" conditions for consultation and analogue research and expanding measures used to evaluate consultation outcome research. Defines consultation as egalitarian relationship between consultant and consultee focusing on problem of third party client and resulting in…

Examines the historical development of consultation and superimposes multicultural theories and models onto several traditional consultation models. Included is a selective review of the literature from consultation, communication, and education that relate to multicultural issues. Makes an ethical imperative for the consultant to acknowledge,…

Compares counseling theories and styles advocated by Turner, Rogers, Adler, Ellis, Thorne, and others. Illustrates counseling for entrepreneurs with case studies based on the various theories. (SK)

A discussion of management-support organizations looks at the important education and research work they perform in the area of nonprofit organization management, and argues for greater interaction between the management-support industry and the growing pool of academics and academic centers seeking a nonprofit knowledge base and the advancement…