The present level of competence in teaching and the quality of teacher education are discussed. More emphasis should be placed on graduate professional education programs, which would draw the "best and the brightest." Eight recommendations for improving preservice teacher education are given, including creation of a teaching doctorate and…

To determine whether increasing teachers' effectiveness influences the relationship between teachers' initial expectations for a student and the student's actual performance, data were gathered on intermediate grades and secondary school teachers who participated in a mastery learning workshop. Correlations between teacher expectations and student…

Reviews current concepts and practices of teacher evaluation as it exists in health professions' educational programs. Problems associated with teacher evaluation and the necessity for well designed evaluation systems are explored. Recommendations are made for the development of objective teacher evaluation procedures. (Author/LRA)

Uses the literature on teacher change and learning to teach, and examples from a teacher change research project, to examine how research can be used to bring about change in teaching practices. Suggests that the empirical premises derived from research, combined with a teacher's practical knowledge, can produce teacher change. (FMW)

D. M. Kagan's (1992) developmental learning-to-teach model reflects her emphasis on mastery of procedural routines and highlights only one sector of the teacher education community. Kagan's claim that research supports a developmental model misrepresents the full body of research on professional growth among preservice teachers. (RLC)

Fifty-eight U.S. and 10 Canadian dental schools responded to a questionnaire concerning whether they had operational Faculty Practice Plans (FPPs) and to describe their plan's characteristics. Results revealed FPPs had little impact on the school's teaching and research functions and a less than harmonious relationship with the practicing dental…

Sport pedagogy research is a young field yielding increasing amounts of information in such areas as improvement of school- and agency-based physical education programs. Adjustments to its knowledge system are suggested for obtaining more useful knowledge from research (e.g., adjustments in approaches to organizing, communicating, and applying…

Implications of the research findings of nine papers on instruction in higher education are discussed. Faculty development is defined, and some methods of teacher evaluation that have been successful in improving teacher effectiveness are described. Emphasis is placed on the "class-side manner" of the faculty developer. (SLD)

Examines findings of Professional Development School (PDS) researchers on the potential of PDSs to change and improve the quality of education, discussing Holmes Group research, describing barriers that have limited the contribution from PDS research, and arguing for greater focus on professional development, leadership, and policy if the PDS…

In an interdisciplinary approach to improve faculty members' teaching competencies in higher education at the University of Innsbruck (Austria), an action research type of program proved most suitable to promote reflective professionality across the disciplinary boundaries. After an introductory session individual projects were initiated, in which…

The longitudinal research reported in this paper took place in a K-8 school setting located in a suburb east of Los Angeles (California). Over a period of five years the school experienced saturation of computer and video technology; state-funded support for change; and (eventually) a restructured organization of the school in support of change.…

This document reviews research on the implementation by teachers of new classroom procedures. The document also traces trends in methods for encouraging instructional innovation as these trends were influenced by the research findings. The report begins with an account of the curriculum reform movement, which featured nonteaching experts telling…

This booklet reviews research on the middle school environment, the characteristics of the middle school student, and the factors involved in teaching effectively at the middle school level, and then proposes a method that middle school teachers can use for analyzing their own classroom behavior and their instructional options. The booklet's first…

The professional developmental activities of participants after assessment were studied in a situation where no specific developmental program was provided by the assessment center or the sponsoring organization. Characteristics of participants were studied to determine if certain types of persons are more likely to conduct follow-up activities to…

A discussion is presented on a cluster of related research studies conducted on the adequacy of multicultural education in current teacher education programs. The first was designed to determine whether preservice teachers lack relevant background experiences in multicultural settings, perceive a need for multicultural training, and would be…