The concept of Stages of Concern about the Innovation (SoC) deals with the psychological orientation of both users and nonusers toward an innovation. This article describes the SoC concept and highlights illustrative research findings. Interventions hypothesized as potentially appropriate and implications for the change process are discussed.…

Describes the usefulness of captioned silent films as natural language contexts in teaching remedial and basic reading. (CMV)

The effectiveness of current teaching practices and texts is examined and a more systematic method of teaching spelling is suggested. This approach provides for individualized instruction in problem areas that arise from the student's own classroom work rather than class instruction using words drawn from random lists. (PMJ)

Reports on an experimental program that links teachers and locally based international experts who have volunteered to serve in the schools. The experts are used for in-class presentations, informal advising, inservice workshops, parents' association meetings, and curriculum revision. (Author/KC)

A compilation of innovative school energy conservation practices that have appeared in the literature since 1977. (Author/MLF)

Reports heuristic observations on how to conduct effective instructional development at the college level. Based on a 2-year study of instructional development at four major universities, the 18 heuristics listed cover objectives, software development, student involvement, relations with faculty, use of models, and management cautions. (BK)

Suggests the potential of the PLATO system in advertising education. (RL)

Offers ten suggestions to aid student newspaper and yearbook staff members in developing new ideas to improve their publications and get them out of the ruts they may be in. (GT)

Collaborative teaching, wherein teachers trade classes for a determined period of time, is discussed and the benefits to gifted children explored. Trading classrooms allows teachers to share insights and fosters enthusiasm and teacher confidence. Benefits to gifted students include exposure to a variety of teaching styles and content. Successful…

The executive director of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association offers seven steps to "shore up" school administrators' leadership skills. States that mobilizing people to tackle tough problems is what good leaders do. (Contains 10 references.) (MLF)

Provides resources available at the high school level for instruction on the Holocaust. Identifies the Holocaust Memorial Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan as an excellent learning resource. Cites information sources for bibliographies and reviews several books and U.S. government reports. (GG)

Describes how a high school designed a contest to reduce geographic illiteracy. A preliminary geographic location and map skill test was given schoolwide, with prizes for the top 10 scores. Concludes that the test results gave a picture of the geographically illiterate and that the test helped glamorize geography. (GG)

The use of unconventional interventions in special education is addressed, and teachers are urged to stick with data-based interventions that have empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness. (DB)

A structure to foster creativity in a research and development environment is described. Features of the system include an emphasis on selection of the right mix of employees, collaboration within and between groups, encouragement for risk-taking, viewing problems from new angles, and an understanding by management of many different aspects of…

Medical Research conducted in the patient care setting is facing a new financial barrier, the prospective payment system. Both university and hospitals must rethink clinical research resource use. This may result in better accountability for research costs and affect the hospitals' willingness to conduct experimental or innovative treatments. (MSE)