In powerful learning environments, rich contexts and authentic tasks are presented to pupils. Active, autonomous and co-operative learning is stimulated, and the curriculum is adapted to the needs and capabilities of individual pupils. In this study, the characteristics of learning environments and the contribution of ICT to learning environments…

In December 2005, the General Teaching Council for Wales, acting on behalf of the General Teaching Councils' (GTCs') Five Nations Group, commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to conduct research into the contents of the standards and routes to teaching qualifications in the UK nation states and the Republic of…

A plan is proposed for the revision of the National Teacher Examinations. The plan is based on measuring what is taught in teacher education curricula. Preservice pedagogical education consists of two types of studies: academic pedagogy and clinical pedagogy. Academic pedagogy consists of concepts and principles pertaining to the making of…

The National Teacher Examinations (NTE) Core Battery and Specialty Area tests were assessed to determine (1) test validity and (2) minimum performance standards for use in the state of Tennessee. The NTE was reviewed by 316 teacher education personnel, who focused on its relevance to teacher education programs. A group of 288 local school district…

An 11 page chapter from a sixth grade social studies text was used in a study assessing the complexities of comprehending social studies materials and the sensitivity of prospective and experienced teachers to these complexities. A sentence-by-sentence analysis of the thinking operations required for mastery of the material showed that numerous…

A two-week summer training workshop will be conducted as the first step in a year-long relationship between six local communities (Providence, R.I.; Richmond, Va.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Lac du Flambeau, Wis.; Yakima, Wash.; Jacksonville, Fla.) and the University of Florida, Gainesville. (Each will use the Florida Parent Education Model--see SP 002…

This qualitative study examined the nature of teacher leadership as it was perceived by 12 inservice elementary school teachers. Data collection involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the teachers. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results indicated that half of the respondents were unfamiliar with the term…

Describes a two-year project in which a camcorder was used by six student teachers in early childhood classrooms to increase the student teachers' awareness of their own performance and enhance their understanding of the five- to seven-year-old children in their charge. Discusses the positive responses of the children, the student teachers, and…

This final evaluation measures the effects of an intensive staff development program in building and applying strategies to develop initial cognitive skills (BASICS) in children. Volunteer teachers from school districts in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Milan and their students in grades K-2 participated in the project. The main concept providing…

Describes criteria used to evaluate student teaching performance, and investigates the degree to which criteria related to academic learning time (ALT) and classroom management (CM) were incorporated into elementary student teachers' (n=368) summative rating scales. Only 15 percent of criteria were linked to ALT and 4 percent to CM. (SM)

One of the major problems facing education today is the inadequate mathematics' preparation of pre-college students and their teachers. Most colleges and universities have well established programs for students planning to teach mathematics at the secondary schools; however, in many institutions pre-secondary mathematics has been addressed only…

This publication is a guide to assessing the competence of prospective elementary school teachers in the liberal studies teacher preparation programs in California. The guide was developed as part of a statewide response to legislated entry and exit standards for teachers in elementary and secondary schools. An introduction describes the…

The level of agreement among principals and teachers concerning the certification competencies needed by beginning teachers was studied, and an effort was made to determine the level of preparation or experience at which the competencies are mastered. Twenty-seven principals, 27 elementary school teachers, and 5 secondary school teachers from…

Presents several instructional techniques. Discusses cueing, set, continuous reinforcement, and using positive feedback. Considers the learning styles of students and the type of classroom that is conductive to learning. Provides examples. (MVL)

It is argued that teacher assessment should be extended to include students' learning gains. The conditions that must be met for such an assessment system to be implemented are described, and some alternative strategies for extending the focus of teacher evaluation and program evaluation to include student learning are discussed. (SLD)