Data from an Australian evaluation of competency-based training (CBT) suggest that it emphasizes development of procedural, technical knowledge over reflective problem solving and precludes transformative learning. CBT's empowerment discourses are often belied by workplace realities. Identities of workers and vocational educators are circumscribed…

Evaluates the importance of mutual trust and understanding in the workplace, and presents practices that promote the sense of ownership and the steps necessary to instill an environment in which leadership is everyone's business. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/MLF)

Teaching is a trade that hasn't yet discovered the power of self-transformation and self-rejuvenation. To become empowered, teachers must stop seeing themselves as victims of bureaucrats, citizens, and recalcitrant children. Only by restructuring their jobs from the ground up (by determining to serve children better) can teachers emerge as…

Professional debate over curriculum reform has shifted focus from content to procedural and organization issues. Government intervention to "teacher-proof" curriculum materials has further undercut teacher and curriculum workers' professionalism. Conflicts and compromise arising from social movements and pressures have shaped curriculum…

Addresses diversions that prevent professionals in geriatrics from achieving an interdisciplinary focus. Describes a heuristic paradigm that communicates to the client and caregiver the importance of what they are doing. Discusses the importance of extending the teachings of traditional educational gerontology and of empowering clients to fuller…

Culls the opinions of reform thinkers, school executives, and teacher union officials to provide an inside look at what teacher empowerment means for the schools. A sidebar summarizes the 1986 Carnegie report's key recommendations and union-led reform initiatives. Another sidebar provides trust-building tips. (MLH)

Actions that promote confirmation and empowerment of parents, students, and teachers improve the learning climate. The school principal plays a pivotal role in generating a positive atmosphere that encourages such actions. (IAH)

Describes Electronic Networks for Interaction (ENFI), a local area network project developed at Gallaudet University to empower students with hearing impairments. Notes that this project can be adapted easily for use with traditional students. (MM)

If education is to be reformed to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, a new decentralized model based on colleagueship must be developed. Principals must share their vision of the school's purpose with teachers and set aside the "creaking norms" of an earlier day. All school professionals must be empowered. (MLH)

An enabling and empowering model of helping relationships is proposed to promote increased parent participation in family-centered care of health-impaired children. The model includes descriptions of three clusters of helping behaviors (prehelping, helping, and posthelping) that have competency-producing influences. The model's use is illustrated…

Today's administrator must realize that being a leader, not a manager, is the norm for successful organizations. Leadership at all organizational levels is imperative to achieving organizational objectives. Managers exercise leadership by establishing a vision, accepting responsibility, taking initiative, and empowering others. Empowerment is the…

Interviews with 12 academic and agricultural teachers/administrators and 49 survey responses from agricultural teachers/administrators indicated their understanding of tech prep's purposes as follows: a bridge from school to work or college, increased learning or knowledge, experiential education, and empowerment. Their understanding of the…

Collaboration is growing among schools and community services for youth, their families, and now, university graduate programs. Proposes a structural model for collaboration which implements the concept of empowerment and designs sustainable working relationships over time. (DR)

Agrees with Callister and Dunne's observations concerning computers and teacher disempowerment. However, computers can become electronic doorways allowing people easy access to whatever they want to do. Rather than criticize teachers' attempts to use technology, we must help teachers learn by providing them with computers and training. Only then…

Manandhar and Leslie describe literacy innovations conducted in Nepal by Save the Children US. Taladhar discusses a project in which postliterate Nepalese women produced a video, challenging stereotypes about women and technology and the myth that only professionals can use video technology. (SK)