This paper presents the preliminary results of a longitudinal study to assess the development of critical thinking as preservice teachers progress through their educational program. Students will be assessed during their final year in the program to help give an overview of the growth of their critical thinking skills. The Cornell Critical…

This study investigated whether training cooperating teachers using a Praxis III/Pathwise model to frame discussions on teaching and learning would enhance development of pedagogical skills, examining the effects of mentor training on student teachers' demonstration of 19 target criteria. Student teachers were randomly assigned to field…

This study compared the perceptions of school principals with those of novice teachers regarding beginning teacher competencies. Participants were elementary school principals from Hong Kong and recent graduates from the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Surveys of the two groups indicated that, in general, school principals were satisfied with…

The electronic dissemination of information via computer networks is having a considerable impact on educational institutions in terms of the mechanisms that they are able to employ for course delivery. As a result of this, the number of courses that are taught electronically through the Internet and/or the World Wide Web has increased…

This qualitative study used phenomenology to investigate African American college students' perceptions of exemplary mathematics teaching practices. Data collection occurred over 12 weeks from February-April 1999. The data collection involved interviews, surveys, exemplary teacher observations, and autobiographies. Initially, participants were…

This report argues that the most effective way to raise academic achievement is for teachers to become inquiring professionals with action-research and reflective-thinking skills. The report defines effectiveness and examines the views of various stakeholders about what qualities they value in school, arguing that effectiveness is a complex…

This paper explores the complexities in transitioning from the role of a counselor to that of a counselor educator, integrating a review of the literature on counselor pedagogy with personal experience. The role of the counselor, the teacher, and the parallels and disjunctions between those roles as well as possible ways to bridge them are among…

A training needs assessment instrument was developed by a school district (Lubbock, Texas) with 59 campuses that each plan and provide site-based staff development. The instrument was designed to obtain information regarding self-perceptions of educators' efficiency level in various professional teaching competencies/skills, and their…

A conceptual analysis deals with the question of what is meant by the term "teaching." In other words, what are the necessary criteria of teaching? Criterion 1 is that there be someone in authority to fulfill the role of the teacher. Criterion 2 insists that someone fulfill the role of pupil. These patently obvious criteria are not…

All teacher certification programs at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) meet state standards for teacher education programs. Most admission and retention requirements are similar to those of other teacher preparation programs, though one unique component helps scrutinize teacher education students in the retention program: students must…

Humor is an important tool for the teacher in college classrooms. Generally, laughter is a great benefit in anyone's life, having even physiological influence. Laughter reduces stress and may facilitate creativity. However, the use of humor can both enhance and hinder the learning process. Various researchers have tried to identify structures,…

The key to initiating a training program for new composition instructors or teaching assistants (TAs), or for successfully maintaining one already in place, is to understand that TAs need to be acclimated to the discourse of composition. In addition, departments must clearly define the theories and goals underlying composition instruction, and…

Basic questions concerning the purposes and functions of faculty evaluation in higher education are considered, along with background of the practice. It is contended that the purpose of faculty evaluation ought to be the improvement of instruction, and that the administrative uses of faculty evaluation for decisions of promotion, tenure, and…

Although the effect of teacher expectations on student performance has been well documented, little research has focused on the effect of teacher personality styles on student-teacher interactions. To investigate the effect of teachers' locus of control and their expectations of their own effectiveness on student success, 77 female college…

A summary of a conference session addresses issues involved in determining and evaluating competencies in teachers of visually handicapped children. Four papers are presented on the implications of a project initiated in 1978 at the University of Michigan that established 70 teacher competency statements in 10 goal areas. The first paper,…