Introduces a theme issue on the Saber-Tooth Project, an ongoing reform effort involving a university and school district that collaborate to improve middle school physical education by improving teaching conditions and engaging teachers in professional development emphasizing curriculum improvement. The monograph explains the nature of…

Reports the impact on instructional practice of a mathematics professional-development program for middle-grade teachers which enhanced content and pedagogical knowledge within an infrastructure supporting collaboration and reflection. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated that teachers' curricular approaches became more balanced; classrooms…

This study used observation and interviews to compare the discourse in workshop sessions that were part of a discrete-mathematics professional-development project for secondary mathematics teachers with the discourse in one participating teacher's high school mathematics classroom. By emphasizing the distinction between univocal and dialogic forms…

Expounds that "The Geography Discipline Network Guides on Teaching, Learning, and Assessment" that were produced by the English Geography Discipline Network are a worthwhile addition to the efforts to promote geographic literacy. Maintains that there are deficiencies since the guides aim only at individual lecturers and instructors of geography.…

Includes 15 articles by legislators, professional associations, and experts addressing issues of teacher professional development, the state and federal government's role, the effect of teacher quality on educational reform, and the use of standards. (SK)

Over the past two decades, scholars and practitioners in a variety of industries have considered work redesign among a constellation of strategies to promote employee recruitment and retention, development, motivation, and performance. Although educational policymakers in the middle to late 1990s shifted their attention to standards, systemic…

This book draws on recent scholarship in adult education to provide practical ideas for adult educators on how to stimulate and support their own development as educators and better understand the process of professional development as adult learning. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the diverse contexts within which educators work and the nature…

This study examined Texas school district spending on staff development and analyzes characteristics of district staff development programs. The study reviewed two statewide programs that provide extended staff development opportunities to participating schools to see if gains in student learning could be documented. The report also looked at both…

In February, 1996, representatives of departments of education and major teacher education colleges in 39 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Department of Defense met at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. to identify and discuss issues surrounding the preparation and credentialing of science…

In response to the restructuring of a school's literacy program, a study was designed to address three research question: (1) What levels of concerns are raised by teachers in the areas of "self,""task," and "impact"? (2) What responses do these concerns elicit from university researchers and other participants? and…

After a decision was made at a Texas elementary school to adopt a whole language philosophy toward literacy instruction, a study was designed to address three research questions: (1) What levels of concerns are raised by teachers in the areas of "self,""task," and "impact"? (2) What responses do these concerns elicit…

The paper examines ways in which ideas from conceptual change research have been applied to teacher education, focusing on the teacher education program at Monash University (Australia). Three developments have contributed to a sounder basis for linking interest in conceptual change research to practice at Monash University: (1) the research…

The theme of the conference reported on here was school reform and related issues. An introductory statement, "Thoughts on School Reform," by Jerome Bruner, and a list of conference participants are followed by a group of papers on education and politics. The papers are "Reform and Partnership in Education," by Albert Shanker;…

This paper is intended to provide a basis for discussion about staff development in the mathematics education community. It is directed to those who plan staff development programs intended to improve elementary mathematics teachers' classroom practice. Discussion includes the importance of establishing program goals and considerations of the…

This publication contains the final report of the Committee of Enquiry into Education in South Australia, the major task of which was to examine and make recommendations to the Minister of Education on the educational system of South Australia. The report begins with a summary of recommendations. Following this summary, there is a discussion of…