Implementing new instructional strategies and programs is a challenging task, and the need for teacher renewal and updating is apparent when the advances in literacy research in recent years and the increasing gap between this knowledge and the training of most teachers are considered. Among the obstacles to teacher change are short-term inservice…

A method for improving curriculum and schools through the local development of competency tests in basic skills--the Competency-Rossville Model (CRM)--is outlined. The method was originated in the school system of Rossville (Illinois) and has been tested in five other midwestern school systems. The approach leads the faculty of the school, with…

Comparative research was conducted using gifted and average upper elementary and junior high school students to determine the effectiveness of utilizing microcomputers for the development of computer literacy and the implementation of curriculum courseware. Eighty students were selected as the treatment group and received instruction in the…

This study of patterns of microcomputer-based instruction in elementary and secondary schools had three objectives: (1) to describe how teachers who were nominated by their peers as "unusually successful" in their microcomputer-based mathematics and science teaching use technology for instruction; (2) to describe how these uses vary as a…

This report describes and assesses the effectiveness of activities conducted by the University of Toledo (Ohio)/Springfield Local Schools Teacher Corps Project. On-site staff development activities provided to staff at elementary, junior, and senior high schools are described: (1) two credit-bearing courses on elementary and secondary level…

A study examined the extent to which microcomputers were used in high school industrial arts courses and assessed the types of inservice experiences and instructional materials needed to expand such usage. To gather data for the study, the researcher mailed surveys to a random sample of 200 junior high school and high school industrial arts…

These proceedings include presentations that reflect the conference's focus on reporting current research in agricultural education. Twenty-one papers are presented in six general sessions: "Future Research Needs for Improving Vocational Agriculture Teacher Education Programs" (David L. Williams); "Assessment of Competencies…

Project-based learning (PBL) that has authenticity in the pupils' world enables the teaching of science and technology to pupils from a variety of backgrounds. PBL has the potential to enable pupils to research, plan, design, and reflect on the creation of technological projects (Doppelt, 2000). Engineering education, which is common in Israel,…

A project was designed to develop a system that would prepare adult vocational instructors to design, develop, and implement competency-based programs for their students. Additional objectives included identifying occupational competencies, developing and field testing vocational materials, and evaluating participating instructors' teaching…

Lists of project accomplishments and the complete third-party evaluation report constitute the major contents of this final report of a three-year project to assist Bedford County Public Schools (Virginia) in implementation of a model for K-14 career education. Major conclusions reported are these: (1) A comprehensive plan for career development…

This six-chapter report describes a study of staff development for community services faculty at North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) and proposes a model program. After Chapter I introduces community services instruction at NHCC, past staff development efforts, and the scope and limitations of the study, Chapter II reviews the literature on…

The discrepancy between educators' expectations for inquiry behavior and the actual status of such behavior (teachers feeling more comfortable teaching facts and feeling ill-prepared to guide students in inquiry learning) prompted a quantitative assessment of the existing research (reported between 1965 and 1980 in doctoral dissertations and…

The Utah Pupil/Teacher Self-Concept Program is designed to train teachers in the use of verbal behaviors that improve the self concept of students by replacing judgmental statements with positive descriptive messages. The program is based on a successful prototype used with elementary school teachers. Four individualized modules were developed to…

This report discusses several activities of the Industrial Education Information System project to establish a data base to determine number and types of industrial education programs and background on teachers. Chapter 1 contains a general description of activities. Chapter 2 is a review of literature relating to causes and results of position…

Results are presented of a 1977 survey of 257 Papua New Guinea science teachers on: (1) teacher qualifications; (2) teaching experience; (3) science periods taught per week; (4) other subjects taught by these teachers; (5) distribution of teaching time; (6) difficulties with the new science syllabus; (7) inservice needs; and (8) improvements in…