New Castle Vocational-Technical District in Delaware developed an accountability system by establishing performance indicators, conducting a review of its vocational program, and implementing levels of competency. Necessary elements are purpose, beneficiaries, focus, method of judgment, action system, and attention to political and social…

The authors stress the variety of human abilities and the numerous ways in which those abilities can be expressed. They call for a consideration of a wide range of competencies in both definitions as well as tests of intelligence. They advocate developing new means of assessment to examine natural performances in specific domains. (Author/CL)

The article suggests that mainstreaming efforts have been largely unsuccessful because of faulty assumptions, focus on academic attainment for handicapped children, and failure to consider the social development of handicapped children. Self-efficacy theory is cited as a way to refocus the process and teach positive social behaviors to…

Traditional business courses, such as typing, shorthand, and accounting, must be expanded to include communication, computational, and keyboarding competencies. These competencies can be integrated into existing courses. (JOW)

Examines the differences in spelling performance of elementary school children in five different schools and suggests the organization of the typical comprehensive school may be influential in causing a falling-off in the accuracy of written English for first-year high school students. (HOD)

As educators, we must do more than present information and test for its accumulation. We must prepare each mind to learn--to receive and organize information for later application. This requires both an awareness of the learner's capacities and specific action to build a "cognitive set" to receive new material. (Author/SJL)

To guide organizational administration in an unfamiliar culture, the administrator must respond to the new environment and initiate appropriate practices. Traditional cultural dominance models must yield to exchanges depending on mutual understanding and acceptance. Cultural synergy is an interactive model combining two or more cultures…

Competencies such as those identified in the National Career Development Guidelines should be part of comprehensive career planning. Plans should document competencies currently achieved and include a plan of action for achieving additional competencies. Review of the plan should determine whether it is based upon individual interests, goals, and…

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the nature of teaching and similar practices (including law, psychiatry, and social work), and examines how these differ from other practices. Chapter I defines practice; discusses common elements of practices (such as skills, knowledge and outputs); and describes teaching as an indeterminate practice…

Discusses nine potential consequences of art activity which lead to qualitative changes in children's ability to think and perceive and to regard the world as a source of aesthetic experience. Suggests that art education enhances cognitive development by enabling children to derive symbolic meaning from experience. (Author/MJL)

In many countries throughout the world, efforts to articulate the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of workers have translated into the development of organizations with the specific charter to establish industry-based skill standards with attendant new and/or expanded forms of certification of competencies. The new emphasis on skill…

The need exists for educational reform. Student achievement scores are down, unemployment and dropout rates are up, social and welfare costs are up, economic productivity has declined, and shortages of qualified teachers are imminent. After Chapter 1 of this paper provides background and history for school reform, Chapter 2 reviews the literature,…

The developing shortages in teachers and doubts about the quality of candidates for collegiate teacher preparation are discussed, advocating a written examination series in basic skills, subject knowledge and general education; and an extended internship period to establish competence. (CM)

The author presents the argument that serious problems exist with regard to the competence of professionals involved in the assessment of exceptional children. Recommendations for improving the competence and performance of professionals are also given. (Author)

Many factors make it difficult to identify a teacher formally as incompetent and to act on that identification once it is made. These factors include time constraints, bureaucratic requirements, and reluctance to face emotional stress. Once a poor teacher is identified, efforts are rarely made to help the teacher improve. Unsatisfactory…