This article briefly examines communication skills. Although the article approaches such skills from a teacher to student perspective, I think a lot of the material can be used in any type of group or individual setting. After defining oral communication and listening, the article offers two methods for assessing speaking skills-the observational approach and the structured approach. Both methods can be assessed through a rating system. The assessment of listening skills is similar to a reading comprehensive test. The elements of a listening test are the stimuli, the question, and the test environment. The article offers assessment for communication skills in hopes to develop such skills and abilities to listen criticlly and to express oneself clearly.
This article looks at a staff training program in a school for children with multiple disabilitie. The staff training program was based on a personalized system of instruction, organizational behavior management procedures for supervisors, regular assessment of teacher behaviors, and teacher assessment of all instructional trials. The results showed that many of the teachers and the students behaviors improved as a result of this treatment package.