Idea man par excellence, Lee Shulman has long set directions for research on teaching. After founding and directing the Institute for Research on Teaching at Michigan State University, Shulman, now at Stanford, continues his far-reaching investigations into the interplay of content and pedagogy and into assessments of teaching that faithfully…

Research shows that adults respond primarily to positive reinforcement, want to be involved, and prefer to operate in a collegial environment. Traditional teacher evaluation violates many of these understandings. Fortunately, schools are beginning to experiment with observations and mentoring for beginning teachers and long-term…

Interviews an administration department chair at University of Illinois, who is also a staff evaluation consultant and author. Discusses reservations about evaluation rating scales and state-mandated systems. Although broader criteria are needed, linking staff development to evaluation involves teachers in goal setting and promotes understanding…