Presents a model to aid in effective presentations by counselors, teachers, supervisors and seminar leaders. The three stages of the model involve presenting, personalizing, and enabling participant interaction with the material. (Author/JAC)

Most school systems fail to provide appropriate conditions for training employees. Individualizing staff development is an effective approach, although it requires a strong commitment by both teachers and school districts. Options of a program, the time involved, and cost are discussed. (MT)

Reviews research on clarity, organization, and pace of presentation in social studies. Provides practical suggestions on how teachers can control each of these factors. Maintains that those who have mastered these techniques contribute much to the successful learning of their students. (JDH)

Proposition 74 on the Nov. 8, 2005 ballot would change employment terms for certificated school employees, such as teachers, school librarians, counselors, nurses, and instructional specialists. Because the largest population affected is teachers, most discussions of the ballot measure--also known as the teacher tenure or Put Kids First…

The Panel on the Preparation of Beginning Teachers was convened by the New Jersey Department of Education to help define two critical elements of teacher preparation: (1) What is essential for beginning teachers to know professionally? and (2) What teaching skills and abilities are most effective? This document is the report of that panel.…

Presents an overview of teacher preparation and concludes that the distinction between "knowledge" and "pedagogy" is a relatively recent development. Discusses different types of teacher knowledge ("content,""pedagogical content," and "strategic") and forms of knowledge…

Identifies a set of basic group leadership skills to be used in a systematic skills training approach. The skills involve teaching and group management. Definitions and examples of the skills are provided, and the adaptation of a microcounseling format for training in group leadership skills is discussed. (Author)

Despite the enormous problems facing colleges of education, administrators are changing their programs to meet the national agenda for excellence in education. Changes include reliance upon a solid knowledge base, micro-technology, rigorous program standards, extensive clinical or practicum experiences, and the recruitment of excellent candidates.…

Offers ideas for asking good questions in the classroom. Recommends that key questions be written down prior to class. Questions should clearly cue students to respond specifically and briefly. Presents examples of types of questions that have been found either to encourage or to inhibit thinking. (JS)

Currently used standardized measures for testing competency do not predict classroom performance. Unique qualities that ethnic minorities bring to classrooms, such as language and cultural knowledge, should be viewed as assets. More realistic criteria are necessary in order to solve the shortage of minority teachers. (Author/GC)

Contrasts naive beliefs about the nature of science with science as it appears from sociological and philosophical study, feminist critique, and insights from multicultural education. Pragmatic school science is situated within a framework that questions how we know and the recognition that even high-status knowledge can be challenged. (AIM)

Teachers and administrators often note that preservice programs do not prepare future teachers adequately to teach reading. Several Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states have addressed this problem. In 1997, the Georgia Professional Standards Review Commission began examining reading certification requirements and found that most teacher…

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…

Papers read by three German educationalists at a workshop on "Education between Quality and Equity" are included in this document. The first, by Han Leo Reimann, is entitled "Simulated Reality: The Instructional Objectives within the Framework of Pedagogical Paper Plays." This paper describes a gaming method of simulating…

The National Education Association (NEA) believes that faculty development programs, if designed by the faculty, implemented on a voluntary and equitable basis, and adequately funded, can contribute to improving teaching and learning on college and university campuses. The ideal of continuing self-improvement by college and university faculty is a…