Professional football players wouldn't dream of not watching game tapes as a strategy for preparing for their next opponent. By the same token, wouldn't it make sense for teachers to use video reflection from one day's lesson to prepare for the challenges of the lessons that lie ahead? Two principals share advice for cultivating a video-friendly…

Jones, an instructional coach, shares ideas for how to make changes in how PD sessions are offered to teachers. PD that empowers rather than bores teachers puts flexibility first, encourages teachers to be active within each session, and provides both sessions tied to specific school priorities and space for teachers to pursue many learning…

In an interview, educator and psychologist Thomas Armstrong says that schools need to do a better job of speaking to--rather than resisting or crushing--adolescents' neurological development. "Essentially, the curriculum in high school needs to be more affective," he argues. "It needs to be more engaging in terms of humor, vitality,…

When opportunities to learn present themselves, often teachers will turn away from them. Knight calls this the Zero-Learning Zone, a rut that educators can get in and miss out on professional growth. He offers warning signs for when you're in the Zero-Learning Zone and tips on how to avoid it to go on to lead a fulfilling, knowledge-filled life.

"It's not the circumstances students bring to school that limit students' growth but their lack of opportunity at school," writes teacher consultant Deborah Wolter. In this article, she argues that a deficit mindset in education--particularly about students who are seen as struggling for linguistic, economic, physical, or academic…

Teachers give a lot of feedback, and not all of it is good. This article discusses how to ensure teachers are giving students powerful feedback they can use. For feedback to be effective, teachers need to clarify the goal of the lesson or activity, ensure that students understand the feedback, and seek feedback from students about the…

Virtual schools have the potential to improve student learning--but so far, as asserted in this article, research tells little about how online instruction affects student performance. Most of the studies that pointed to good student outcomes were small in scale and based on specific programs or products. Few provide data to help understand…

Many teachers believe that denying students the opportunity to retake tests and redo assignments teaches them responsibility and prepares them for the working world. In reality, writes Wormeli, this practice has the opposite effect--it retards student achievement and maturation. In the real world, adults learn by repeated practice; they are not…

Competency-based education asks educators and the public to give up decades of habits and assumptions regarding the structures and methods of schooling. (Author/IRT)

Although there is not much data on microteaching because it has been in use only nine years, the available data indicates that it is very effective for teacher training courses. Bibliography. (AF)

The issue of adopting information technology (IT) based education and performance-based education in schools is debated. The arguments supporting each of the education policy are presented.

An evaluative study of teacher centers suggests that they make an impact upon classroom performance of teachers, improving their confidence and their relationship with pupils. (JD)