In an interview, business professor Jane Dutton talks about her book, "Energize Your Workplace: How to Create and Sustain High-Quality Connections at Work" (Jossey-Bass, 2003). She organized her book around what she describes as a "deceptively simple" premise: "The energy and vitality of individuals and organizations alike depends on the quality…

Many middle schools do not use one of the most important strategies to improve student achievement and create socially equitable, developmentally responsive middle schools: becoming a professional learning community. This article summarizes the five disciplines which are vital for learning organizations -- systems thinking, personal mastery,…

The collaborative consultancy role proposed for the educational technologist requires moving beyond the linear model of the systematic approach. Instructional developers need to operate on the conceptual level, to see themselves as problem solvers within a dynamic system in which there are no straight paths, but instead, many paths and many…

Raises critical management issues and proposes guidelines for technical management of large-scale development of courseware with complex content. Discussion covers the technical management of such a project as it relates to organizational structure; leadership shifts throughout the design process; prototype development; and the systematic process…

The authors suggest that it will take a new dimension of teamwork under the Perkins Act to meet the challenges of the coming decade. Vocational education can be improved, they say, by close collaboration among the new state councils on vocational education, the state boards, the newly required technical committee, and a host of other groups. (CT)

Describes the positive features, significant benefits, and learner interaction modes of videodisc simulation technology and discusses the development of a program structure which utilizes videodisc simulation. (MBR)

Suggests the small school provides an excellent environment for successful mainstreaming and that the principal can provide intervention and leadership for professionals, which leads to interaction with each other and on behalf of the special students. Discusses team teaching, the principal as a model, and shared leadership. (AH)

Ralph Parish and Frank Aquila's article in the same "Kappan" issue has admirable equity concerns but offers little advice for inner-city principals trying to convince their staffs that all children can and should learn at high levels. Getting more and more students to a solid competency level is a challenge that will involve expert teamwork and…

Empowered technology teams can help realize the financial investment of schools in technology. Teams foster communities of technology users and give teachers and staff opportunities for leadership. A transformational leadership style is essential to the building of a human infrastructure that will use the technological infrastructure. (KS)

An experienced university fund raiser discusses the staff's role in dealing with potential donors, including developing donor awareness, knowledge, interest, involvement, and commitment; maintaining constant contact; using an effective tracking system to manage, coordinate, communicate, and stimulate major fund-raising activity; and encouraging…

A University of North Texas project used a team approach to develop a curriculum integrating academic subjects into vocational curricula. Ten teachers cooperated on integrated junior high/middle school lesson plans and classroom support activities. (JOW)

The traditional multinational approach to business strategy and human resource management, as well as the global approach, are not effective in a world no longer insular. A transnational approach requires global strategy and perspective, local responsiveness and flexibility, teamwork, shared responsibility, and empowered and innovative workers.…

Discusses positive developments occurring in the teaching profession and the changes needed to nurture them. Teacher empowerment does not mean banishing principals, but enabling teachers to participate in group decision-making and make key choices affecting their own work. Teachers have always been critical to effective schooling. (MLH)

An interview with Jaime Escalante, the determined teacher-hero of the movie "Stand and Deliver," and winner of many prestigious teaching awards including the Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education, in recognition of his successes with at-risk students in East Los Angeles. (TE)

Similarities and differences between least restrictive environment (LRE) and collaboration are considered. It is suggested that both LRE and collaboration are essential to achieving appropriate education for students with disabilities, but the potential of LRE and collaboration has not yet been fully realized. (SW)