This paper reports on the learning outcomes described by experienced teachers attending a program designed to enable them to come together to engage in professional development through structured and systematic reflective practice. In the first part of the paper, we look briefly at some of the challenges of defining "reflective…

Teaching in higher education is examined in terms of the normal duties and responsibilities of the college instructor, some of the newer instructional patterns and innovations, educational technology, and skills needed to guide the learning process. Chapters include: the context of higher education; roles in the academic profession; basic…

A project is described that focused on parents' becoming more skilled in helping the schools do a better job of teaching basic skills in K-12 and on the problems of discipline and drug abuse. As background information on Pike County, demographic data are provided, and the development of community education is overviewed. Development of the support…

Materials in this sourcebook are designed for use by college administrators charged with developing in-service programs that provide instructional support, procedural information, and recognition for part-time vocational instructors. The introduction to the sourcebook examines the problems encountered by part-time faculty and then discusses…

A rationale, background information, fundamental theory, and implementation strategies are presented for a staff development model focused around a Teaching Center and designed to include part-time as well as full-time instructors. Limited financial resources and resultant demands for cost-effectiveness are first discussed, demonstrating the…

This document reviews the development of comprehensive community colleges in Michigan and sets forth recommended State Board of Education policies and Michigan Department of Education proposals to support and implement them. Issues addressed include open access, low tuition, geographical barriers, occupational education, general education,…

An alarming trend of low performance and legal problems dogged the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) in the early and mid-1990s. In 1997, the Maryland State Legislature adopted a law creating a partnership between the sate, city and BCPSS, creating a new Board of Commissioners to run the school district. Under this leadership, serious…

The 2004 National Education Technology Plan paints a hopeful picture of technology in American schools, highlighting examples of effective use and applauding the innovation that is occurring. The plan touts the benefits of the Internet and the opportunities it offers for improving education, such as enhanced access to interactive learning…

This report examines the impact of teacher quality on student achievement in Canada, analyzing current research, practices, and innovations to provide a better understanding of the complexity of teaching and effective teacher deployment. The nine chapters focus on: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Indicators of Teacher Quality" (defining teacher quality…

Choosing Higher Options in Community Education (CHOICE) Alternative School is devoted to professional development. This report documents the need for and planning of sustained and supported professional development for 4 staff members at the CHOICE Alternative School in Jamestown, New York. There was no focused plan or vision for staff development…

In 2000, the National Education Goals Panel examined the conditions that help ensure school success, conducting a series of four field hearings nationwide to find evidence of success and to understand why schools were succeeding. Participants at the hearings included students, teachers, parents, principals, superintendents, university presidents,…

In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education contracted with Western Michigan University to evaluate Pennsylvania's charter schools and charter school initiative over two years. The study used site visits, work sample review, document review, focus groups, portfolios and surveys to gather data regarding the movement's effectiveness, progress,…

This paper presents proceedings from a 2001 working conference of the State and District Support to Low-Performing Schools initiative, which presented research-based strategies and exemplary practice to improve low-performing schools. The presentations focused on state and district systems of support to low-performing schools; use of data to…

This manual is designed to introduce adult educators to the Internet and examine ways that it can enhance instruction. An overview of the Internet covers its evolution. These three sections focus on the three areas of the Internet essential to instructional application: communication, information access, and search tools. The section on…

The first section of this booklet discusses the union role in assuring teacher quality, focusing on the teacher development continuum (preservice preparation, entry level standards, induction programs and the granting of tenure, standards for granting tenure, and continuing professional development) and the union role in assuring quality teaching…