The growing demand for verification that students are, indeed, learning what they need to learn is driving institutions and programs to develop tools for assessing the level of knowledge and skills of their graduating students. One such tool, the Information Systems Analyst (ISA) certification, is a recently developed instrument for measuring…

This exploration into competency-based innovation at the school, district, and state levels suggests that competency-based pathways are a re-engineering of this nation's education system around learning--a re-engineering designed for success in which failure is no longer viable. This discussion draws on interviews and site visits with innovators…

As the entry-level information technology jobs could be easily outsourced offshore, the demand for U.S. employees who are innovative and productive in information technology (IT) project design, development, and management is growing among U.S. companies. This controlled experiment presents how a model of integrating students' intelligence…

This comprehensive professional handbook will help transition specialists, general and special educators, school psychologists, and administrators support youth and young adults in setting goals and achieving positive outcomes across employment, education, and community settings. Through up-to-date research and in-depth analyses of five successful…

The indomitable spirit of higher education paves the way for the growth of a nation in the political, economic, social, intellectual and spiritual dimensions. Teacher education is one of the areas in higher education which trains student-teachers in pedagogy, which in turn helps them to train the young minds of educational institutions. The…

Teams are an important element of restructuring organizations because much of the work of the organization is being done in small units, the microcosms of organizations. Total Quality Management (TQM) is one way to analyze the importance of teamwork during restructuring. This paper describes the basic principles and tools of TQM and considers its…

Reviews management changes that companies have made over time in adopting or adapting four approaches to organizational performance: employee involvement, total quality management, re-engineering, and knowledge management. Considers future possibilities and defines a new view of what constitutes effective organizational design in management.…

Responses from 372 employees of a steel manufacturer in India were analyzed to measure effectiveness of total quality management training. Training created awareness, built commitment to quality, facilitated teamwork, and enhanced professional standards. However, communication competencies and customer value training needed improvement. (Contains…

Describes evaluation process based on principles of continuous improvement and quality management established by the superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas. (PKP)

Discusses "excessive activity syndrome," the condition that exists when too many Total Quality Management (TQM) activities have been implemented and limited results have been achieved. Offers symptoms of EAS and suggests treatments. (JOW)

Union learning representatives have become significant in the Scottish educational system--particularly in response to the McCrone Report, which dealt with the future of continuing professional development (CPD) of Scottish teachers and made significant recommendations in this area. The Educational Institute of Scotland, the teacher union that…

Instructors face enormous challenges in presenting effective instruction on concepts and tools of quality management. Most textbooks focus on presenting individual concepts or tools and fail to address complex issues confronted in real-world problem-solving situations. The supplementary use of cases does not help students to understand the dynamic…

The Commonwealth of Learning is proud to partner with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Higher Education and UNESCO to produce this "Quality Assurance Toolkit for Distance Higher Education Institutions and Programmes". The Toolkit has been prepared with three features. First, it is a generic document on quality assurance, complete with a…

A literature review identified five foci of organizational learning: collectivity of individual learning, process or system, culture or metaphor, knowledge management, and continuous improvement. The concept of organizational learning was redefined to incorporate the perspective of creativity and radical innovation. (Contains 78 references.) (SK)

Explores continuous improvement methods, which underlie total quality management, finding barriers to implementation in practice that are related to a one-dimensional approach. Suggests a multiple, unbounded learning cycle, a holistic approach that includes adaptive learning, learning styles, generative learning, and capability development.…