Focuses on critical factors for success for organizations planning to use upward feedback systems to drive organizational change. Highlights include assessment of organizational readiness, use of an appropriate feedback instrument, consistent implementation, effective communication and training, quality control, and continuous improvement.…

This article outlines the last step in a five-step process for preparing students to engage in a systematic mathematics problem-solving and decision-making process. The lesson plan teaches students to reread the problem, reexamine the question, check selection of operation, and recheck calculations and compare answers. (JDD)

This article provides a review of educational reforms that are critical of contemporary special education practices, presents the principles embodied in the total quality education (TQE) movement, and argues the need for special education to be fully involved in the general education reform movement. (Author/JDD)

College administrators often overlook the valuable assistance than can be provided by the college internal audit unit as they implement principles of total quality management. This unit is in a good position to conduct performance audits of departments and programs, the results of which can provide meaningful information to assist in…

A survey of over 150 baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs in social work investigated the kinds of program outcomes assessment systems used. Frequency of use of each system is examined, comparison is made across levels, and implications for social work education at each level are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Provides an overview of new trends in state licensing, discussing how the trends will affect teacher education. The paper examines inadequacies in the current system, noting that the focus on new trends necessitates transformation in accreditation standards and preparation practices, including an unfailing commitment to the clinical preparation of…

Evolution of "quality" in higher education as an institutional concept is traced, and differences between approaches at the institutional and state levels are explored. Contrasting approaches in Florida and Illinois are examined, particularly in the case of Miami-Dade Community College (Florida). Contribution of the different approaches…

The Network for Outcome-Based Schools developed an accreditation process designed to assess the degree to which the outcome-based education (OBE) paradigm is in place in schools or school districts. Three attributes of the process and the importance of OBE and OBE accreditation are discussed. (SM)

Licensing and certification regulations for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) can adversely affect individuals, distort the allocation of scarce resources, and encourage community residences to become small institutions. A case study of one home in northern California illustrates poor program evaluation and the need…

As Total Quality Management teams work to improve organizational processes, several types of facilitators emerge: the director, the workhorse, and the cheerleader. Experience at the University of Kansas illustrates how different facilitator styles can affect team learning. (MSE)

Rio Salado Community College (Arizona) uses Total Quality Management tools for four purposes: meeting facilitation; process definition; project selection; and data gathering and analysis. Implementation has helped clarify major issues and depersonalize problems, allowing the continuous improvement team or other group to move forward. (MSE)

Central Connecticut State University's unsuccessful experience with applying the Total Quality Management (TQM) approach to its first-year mailing process illustrates the crucial role that appropriate and thorough training in TQM principles plays in success. Committee membership and processes were also inadequately planned. (MSE)

During a time of administrative reorganization at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), the efforts of a team preparing to implement the Total Quality Management approach were suspended. Problems encountered included flaws in organizational structure, insufficient communication, hidden agendas, deteriorating relationships, limited…

Discusses the teacher assessment system of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The article explains the NBPTS policy on assessment and describes the NBPTS assessment model, which includes school site and assessment center modules. The assessment system leads to rigorous standards, national board certification, and…

Describes the Oregon State University library's experience with Total Quality Management (TQM) from initial training and development of two teams to its use as an impartial problem-solving tool which anyone can use. Staff concerns and fears about TQM are discussed, and benefits are explained. (Contains five references.) (EAM)