ERIC Number: EJ769399
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-127X
EISSN: N/A
Tabletop Exercises Can Train All the Staff for Safety
Brunner, Judy; Lewis, Dennis
Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick Review, v72 n4 p46-49 Dec 2006
For many administrators, the task of providing meaningful and timely inservice training for classroom and school safety is difficult. Staff development time is a scarce commodity in today's education environment; therefore, most inservice activities for faculty members center on academic issues. But during an emergency or crisis, a lack of preparation may result in greater tragedy and a tarnished reputation for both the principal and the overall school community. Because this is a possibility, care should be taken and time should be allocated for the training of all staff members for the role of first responder. Tabletop exercises turn out to be a valuable tool for preparing all staff members so that they will be in the position of being able to respond appropriately to a variety of emergency events. A tabletop exercise is a written scenario containing a set of circumstances and facts that create the need for the participant in the exercise to problem solve and make decisions that will bring the event to a conclusion with as few negative consequences as possible. Tabletop exercises help staff members deal with the stress that they will face when they are in a real emergency, and help them to excercise good problem solving and decision making skills. Tips for guiding staff through tabletop exercises are discussed.
Descriptors: School Safety, Inservice Education, Staff Development, Guidelines, Crisis Management, Emergency Programs, Staff Role, Staff Orientation
Prakken Publications. 832 Phoenix Drive, P.O. Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Tel: 734-975-2800; Fax: 734-975-2787; Web site: http://www.eddigest.com/
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom; Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Administrators
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A