To identify the communication concerns of preservice (prospective and student teachers) and inservice teachers and to determine the differences in those concerns with regard to a three-phase conceptualization--concern with self, with task, and with impact--a study was conducted involving a total of 227 prospective, student, and inservice…

The research reported in this paper identifies the "core curriculum" and "optional curriculum" suggested by widely used textbooks of elementary school mathematics and describes the influence of each on teacher autonomy in selecting the content of instruction. Preliminary analyses suggest that the "core curriculum" is generally consistent with…

The guidelines used by the Bowling Green State University, Ohio, speech communication department to assess graduate assistants' teaching skills are outlined in this paper. Visitations by observers, in conjunction with introductory sessions, weekly staff meetings, and teacher's manuals, can provide follow-up feedback regarding the implementation of…

Reported is a study of the development of a set of elementary school science teaching competencies with significant elementary school teacher input and of a comparison of ratings of elementary school teachers with science teacher educators on three scales: (1) when a competency should be taught, (2) what role the university should have in teaching…

A summary of a Research Design Conference held by the California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing to discuss planned research on teaching and potential designs for such research is presented. The first section is an overview of the need for research on teaching, a brief statement of the needs of the Commission for Teacher…

This study examined whether there was a relationship between preservice elementary teachers' competency in science process skills and attitudes toward the field of science. Study data came from 46 students enrolled in an elementary math and science methods course during their first senior semester, just before entering student teaching. Study…

This paper describes efforts to introduce teachers to three aspects of problem-based learning: (1) learning cases; (2) student-centered learning; and (3) small group cooperative learning. Problem-based learning was woven into the design of professional development institutes because of the organizers' idea that as teachers grow professionally in a…

This paper describes the rationale for and progress in a substantial research project that aims to develop an understanding of science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. The background to and purposes for the project are explained. Related projects that study pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) are also described. Approaches to identifying…

Foreign Language Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) were established in Poland as a need for drastic changes in education, and a need to introduce western languages at all levels of schooling in 1992 arose. By the year 2001 TTC managed to graduate the number of teachers the market demanded, yet the quality of education provided emerged as a need to…

This study surveyed undergraduate students and graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) to determine how the attitudes of both groups influenced student evaluations of the performance of foreign and domestic (American) TAs. A total of 278 undergraduates, 29 foreign TAs, and 33 domestic TAs participated in the survey. It found the strongest…

This report describes a study which examined group-order managing skills used by early childhood student teachers in Taiwan, how these skills were used, and the level of student teacher satisfaction with these skills. Fifty-six student teachers from a 2-year training program at the National Taipei Teachers College completed an event-recording form…

This study examined the behavioral expectations and norms for college and university faculty particularly whether they varied with respect to the level of commitment to teaching at different institutions and in different disciplines. A cluster sampling design was used to select a random sample of the population of faculty in biology, history,…

This paper describes a staff development model that was designed and implemented to address the professional training needs of staff working with autistic children in rural, northeastern Oregon. The county coordinator of child development and school psychology and the regional autism specialist held monthly, multidisciplinary professional meetings…

This study was conducted to examine a campus-wide service activity, provided by School of Education faculty and administration. The program described aims to enhance student development by improving teaching across the university campus. University faculties are challenged to extend the mission of schools, colleges, or departments of education…

This study examines the role of effective mentor teachers by analyzing the strategies and skills they used, the obstacles and problems they encountered, and the outcomes they achieved. Data for five case studies were collected from five elementary mentor teachers, their proteges, and their principals--participants in the Oregon Beginning Teacher…