Effective meeting leaders--people who know how to manage meetings, not just hold them--understand the two main arenas of any meeting: content issues and process activities. These two arenas are interdependent upon each other. This book is designed to help educators lead more effective meetings through increased process awareness. Chapter 1 offers…

Suggests combining the Delphi technique and the nominal group process technique to improve the collective decision-making of school curriculum and other committees. Both methods require group members to respond in writing. A five-step agenda with sample questions illustrates the approach. (MLF)

The author tells how he began storytelling to teen audiences, how fairy tales were originally geared toward adult audiences, and highlights some of his favorites. Violent, gory, and humorous stories appeal to teens but invoke discussion and promote reading. Provides a list of storytelling hints and finding, learning, and practicing the story. (LAM)

Presents a guide, derived from the Situational Leadership model, which describes the process that should be used in facilitating a group discussion. The process includes preparation, assessment, diagnosis, prescription, development, reinforcement, and follow-up. Three figures depict the Situational Leadership model, the facilitation process, and…

The article presents a metacognitive intervention for teaching mainstreamed learning-disabled students four learning strategies for thinking before, during, and after class discussions. Instructional and assessment procedures used for teaching the strategies are described. (Author/DB)

Describes how online communication puts emphasis on students' comprehension and knowledge of argumentation and thus on how to interact with ideas and each other in a meaningful way. Asserts that they may not be equipped with such skills, and that faculty may not have sufficient skills in monitoring discussions or creating productive communities of…

Discusses the process of selecting classroom cases in a 300-level business communication course. Outlines five specific criteria for a case to be workable. Describes that cases should be applicable to all students in the class, be sufficiently complex situations, accommodate multiple solutions, be manageable within portions of one or more class…

In a guided book review, small groups of teachers read a book pertaining to their professional area, think about what they read, and meet to discuss their reactions. The article explains the essential steps of the review process and discusses governance, recruitment, scheduling, and the merits of the process. (SM)

This guide provides a framework for study circles to use in discussing how to strengthen the economy for the long run. The guide takes into account the current recession, but goes beyond it to focus on basic economic trends. Part 1 lays out four general views of the primary cause of problems in the U.S. economy: (1) the decline of the work ethic;…

The benefits of a study group to help faculty develop their competencies and expand their awareness of professional issues are described. Specifically, the Fargo Study Group, which included seven physicians interested in improving their instructional capabilities, is considered. The participants were responsible for teaching medical students in…

The manual offers a process and suggestions to help support groups working to make disabled individuals less dependent on professional recreationists and segregated programs. The manual is divided into 10 steps and can be completed in a 1-day meeting or over a period of weekly meetings. Step 1 focuses on leisure, what it is and how it happens.…

This discussion guide identifies significant concerns and provides background information to assist interested persons as they discuss teacher education and certification in Ohio. Part 1 explains the why and the how of the decision maker's role in discussing critical issues and making recommendations for revising standards. Part 2 (plus the…

Ways of determining when a school is ready to plan and implement major instructional improvements are presented. Three primary areas are suggested for in-depth exploration and consideration, and to facilitate the process the following problem-solving tools are outlined: (1) guidelines for assessing readiness for using a group problem-solving…

This program is designed for personnel working in alcohol service agencies who are responsible for planning and implementing prevention programs for youth. The training is most appropriate for the person who is just starting to plan a prevention program and who has only minimal experience in prevention work with youth. Training skills and…

The superintendent of the Marlington Local School District (Ohio) outlines a program they have developed that encourages communication among staff, teachers, and administrators. The superintendent leads discussion groups that offer a chance to exchange views and air concerns that result in better communication patterns. (MD)