This research examines factors that influenced teachers' decisions to participate in professional development activities and, subsequently, to implement ideas gained through their participation. Twenty-four teachers who were employed by an urban school district shared their perceptions regarding the content, context, and process of a districtwide…

Examines the pedagogical beliefs and teaching practices of 17 exemplary technology-using teachers. Findings suggest exemplary technology use, as perceived and practiced by teachers, does not readily match descriptions of best practice provided in the literature. Rather, exemplary use reflects teachers' personal beliefs about teaching and learning…

Discusses a cognitive apprenticeship approach to teaching design that incorporates elements of modeling, coaching, reflection, articulation, and exploration. Use of the model in an instructional design course that moves novice designers along a continuum of expertise is described, and it is suggested that the model could be adapted for performance…

The purpose of the VisionQuest project is to help current and future educators envision and achieve technology integration by providing access to electronic models of technology-using teachers. By helping teachers envision and achieve exemplary technology use, the project aims to promote widespread, fundamental changes in teaching and learning…

Describes a university/elementary school partnership where elementary school teachers were provided with professional support through monthly meetings, instructional support through two inservice workshops, and technical support in part by students (third to fifth grade) trained to serve as technology "experts." Findings indicate increases in…

Besides a host of technical and logistical questions, more subtle issues, related to teachers' pedagogical visions and beliefs, as well as their perceived confidence for using technology, are also known to impede meaningful classroom technology use. Assuming that most designers and staff developers are fairly well prepared to provide technical…

Thirteen K-12 teachers participated in a technology integration professional development course that included course components such as peer modeling, peer collaboration, and reflection in an authentic learning context. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers' beliefs, practices, and self-efficacy changed in this learning…

Current teacher educators are being challenged to find opportunities for their preservice teachers to develop both competence in, and confidence for, integrating technology into their curricula. Given the difficulty involved in trying to arrange successful classroom technology experiences for preservice teachers, this study was designed to examine…

This study investigates the effectiveness of integration efforts at an elementary school, where for the past 2 years, all students (grades 1-5) have received computer training at least one day per week from the media specialist, university personnel, and/or volunteers. A group of 18 students were trained as technology tutors in additional after…

This two-year study explored the perceptions and roles of experienced elementary teachers (computer novices) as they learned and began using computer technology in their teaching. Results indicated participants' preferences for learning basic computer skills before integrating technology into the curricula, importance of seeing purpose in using…

Discussion of technology integration into the curricula focuses on the needs of teachers who don't want training or are not prepared to learn from it due to lower levels of skill and confidence. Considers how instructional designers can build teachers' self-efficacy and proposes a model that is responsive to teacher's needs. (LRW)

Examines the relationships between first- (external) and second- (internal) order barriers to technology implementation by observing and interviewing several teachers within a single elementary school who had achieved varying levels of integration. Discusses strategies for technology staff development. (AEF)

Discussion of technology integration focuses on the design and development of a multimedia, CD-ROM/Internet-based teacher development tool that was intended to help teachers envision and achieve technology integration. Highlights include software content; videotaping classroom practice; creating digital files; designing the interface; developing…

In this exploratory study, researchers compared characteristics and teaching practices of teachers, perceived by themselves to be exemplary technology-users, with characteristics and teaching practices of exemplary users described in the literature. Using a qualitative case-study design, the researchers examined the pedagogical beliefs and…

While problem-based learning (PBL) has been found to be effective with gifted and average students (Hmelo-Silver, 2004), little is known about its impact on students with special needs. This study examines the perceptions of middle-school students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities and of their teachers regarding the value of…