The ASU Project. Training for Cooperative Supervision. Management Analysis Paper.

Overview & Synopsis

With the increasing enrollment in preservice special education programs, a problem for many schools of education has been the redistribution of tenured, experienced faculty members to provide training for special education field programs. At Appalachian State University (ASU), in North Carolina, cooperation between the Departments of Laboratory Experiences, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Special Education overcame initial faculty resistance and led to a plan for paired supervision by generalists and special education specialists. Although some difficulties resulted from differences in faculty attitudes about supervision and an unwillingness to work with other departments, the first phase of the project was successful due to strategies that emphasized equal involvement of participants and practical training activities. Plans were formulated for ongoing development of training techniques, with followup workshops and videotapes of panel presentations. (FG)