This study evaluated the effect of two different supervisory conferencing strategies on preservice teachers' reflective practices. Two questions guided the investigation: (1) "what effect does type of supervisory dialogue have on preservice teachers' reflective practices?" and (2) "what effect do different post-lesson tasks have on…

This report summarizes the findings of a study of the professional development or inservice training needs of experienced teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). An introduction to the findings of the survey is devoted to a discussion of the teachers' perceptions of the important factors that influence their teaching in DCPS.…

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) appointed a Task Force on Shortage/Surplus/Quality Issues in Teacher Education, which conducted a survey to: (1) assess the perception of change occurring in teacher education programs to improve the quality of graduates; (2) investigate the perception of changes in state teacher…

Much criticism is being leveled today at the teaching profession, both for failure to provide students with high levels of cognitive functioning, and for failure to apply careful and systematic thinking to the execution of the many demanding instructional tasks required of the teacher's role. A special pilot study tested the effects of a…

The problem-solving mode of teaching science implies change for teachers, administrators, state education departments, and other individuals charged with implementing educational innovation. This study provides a descriptive record and interpretation of the words and actions of an elementary school teacher beginning to learn about teaching science…

A study investigated whether instructors in schools with formal staff development programs were more technologically up to date than instructors in schools with less formal programs. The study used existing data from program evaluations of five postsecondary technical institute (TI) instructors. A survey instrument collected data from 120 (of a…

This study surveyed faculty and students of Indiana University to ascertain their attitudes toward the evaluation of faculty by means of student ratings. Questionnaires were mailed to 200 faculty members, and 510 students were surveyed in classes. Results included the following: (1) faculty expressed generally favorable attitudes toward the use of…

The purpose of this investigation was to search for new educational policies that would help renew and invigorate old ideas and concepts about inservice and professional development programs in the public schools. The methodology included both qualitative and quantitative functions. The key technique was an interview schedule with Likert-type…

This paper consists of an examination of current thinking on the factors influencing teacher training effectiveness and of a report of preliminary findings from a study of inservice teacher education. Previous research identifies five major components of training common to most inservice programs as presentation of theory, demonstration or…

The institute provided an opportunity for 83 English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to practice with an existing class of non-English speakers. Participants were divided into small groups, and each group was assigned a master teacher to supervise the entire three weeks of activities. Activities included: demonstration and discussion,…

Practicing teachers who took a Masters of Instruction program showed a mastery of economics comparable to regular college students taking intermediate theory courses and significantly more positive attitudes toward economics. However, the study raised serious questions concerning the effectiveness of college economics teaching and the economic…

Part of a larger study on the experience of teaching in the steel mill learning environment was an inquiry focused on professional development. Teachers and coordinators were all members of the Teachers Action Research Group for Educational Technology (TARGET), a group of adult educators interested in improving learning and teaching in career…

The faculty of one rural middle school in Ohio received professional development funds to implement a 5-year school improvement plan (Ohio's Venture Capital initiative). A study of the project investigated: (1) how the experience affected teachers' perceptions of their roles as reflective practitioners and as resources to their colleagues; (2) how…

This paper examines district leaders' theories about teacher learning and change, identifying and elaborating three perspectives--quasi-behaviorist, situated, and quasi-cognitive--based on a study of nine school districts. The quasi-behaviorist perspective on teacher learning dominated among the district leaders in the study. To account for the…

This paper details one young woman's journey in a 16-week mathematics content course for pre-service teachers. It analyzes her initial efforts at problem solving in groups, and her ability to see and recall explicitly connections that were inherent in the instructor's conceptions of the problems. Using her writing during the course, the paper…