Notes that the curriculum in Canada includes viewing and visually representing, joining the traditional skills of reading and writing, listening and speaking. Concludes that viewing and representing can help students learn to read and write but they are also unique literacies unto themselves. Lists 10 sources of information in both electronic and…

Considers that in order to be successful offering visual art lessons in the classroom, pre- and inservice teachers must develop a deeper more conceptual understanding of the power of art to communicate meanings, beliefs, ideologies, and experiences. Suggests teacher enroll in a high-quality arts course, create some authentic works of art, use…

This paper details three practical ways in which presenters can exceed expectations by addressing content as well as increasing participants' capacity for collaboration. The methods include providing the rationale for collaboration before group learning activities, encouraging participants in active learning, and focusing attention on…

Many school districts let teachers take computers home over the summer to improve their skills. The article shares strategies about computer use, liability, borrowing, and moving from school to home. It suggests summer projects such as learning to use computerized gradebooks, learning new programs, and computerizing lesson plans and tests. (SM)

Describes how teachers can bring enthusiasm, excitement, and energy to their teaching through skills from oratory and theater, involving the practice and use of visuals, vocals, and verbals. Notes ways to learn how to do so. (SR)

Discusses how teachers may videotape their own teaching as a method of self-evaluation. Offers ideas on questions to ask while viewing the tape. (SR)

Presents data from a comprehensive questionnaire developed to determine the science education needs of elementary, middle, and high school science teachers. Shows how the results of the survey influenced the development of an inservice workshop called "Frontiers in Science." (HB)

Describes the use of paired experienced classroom teachers to form mentoring teams that teach one class, observe other master teachers, attend conferences, and prepare curriculum units, working out flexible schedules for teaching the class. Schools benefit from having two mentors without removing expert teachers from direct contact with students.…

Explains how teachers can analyze their performance and set goals to improve teaching techniques through self-evaluation of the amount of time they actually spend on instruction, practice, and management. The paper describes the use of duration recording to measure the amount of time spent in each category of class time. (SM)

Argues that the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) is useful for evaluating and guiding staff development within gifted education, explaining use of the CBAM to evaluate reform and professional development revolving around the Schoolwide Enrichment Model. Discusses use of CBAM procedures in conducting focus groups and conferences with teachers,…

Describes how one middle school uses teacher portfolios for gathering information about teacher practice and evaluating progress made toward stated goals. Teachers develop portfolios in five sections and submit them to their principal mid-year. At this time, they reflect on their work and complete conferences with peers and supervisors. A sidebar…

Discusses alternative methods of professional development for early-childhood educators that are based on the idea, often used when educating children, of learning by doing. Methods include learning centers, resource reviews, the World Wide Web, distance education, visiting among different staffs, designated question-and-answer, and documentation.…

This synthesis derived from literature on effective teaching and learning motivation consolidates the current and best knowledge available for post-secondary educators interested in instructional improvement. It presents ten key motivating principles which graduate teaching assistants and other educators can use to inform their instructional…

Lists reasons teaching portfolios have become popular: they encourage teachers and administrators to place emphasis and value on teaching; teaching portfolios are often seen as an improvement over earlier ways to evaluate teachers, including student evaluation and single observations; and teaching portfolios are celebrated for their potential to…

Offers brief descriptions from seven secondary school teachers describing a workshop or inservice activity that has been particularly valuable for their teaching, including a Shakespeare seminar, a Socratic teaching seminar, English-as-a-second language courses, a new teacher induction program, a program on the "Brody paragraph" method, and the…