The elements of a good evaluation system are reviewed. It should be well planned, carefully implemented, reviewed annually by teachers and administrators, and have the support of all parties concerned. (MD)

Recognizing that reflective practice is an important approach for professional and staff development, this paper discusses the use of the teaching portfolio approach to improving reflection and reflective practices among early childhood education staff. The teaching portfolio approach involves collecting evidence of best practices; developing a…

This digest suggests post-tenure faculty development programs as a way to address pressures on the tenure system and calls for the elimination of tenure in higher education. The paper notes that tenure policies are being impacted by internal factors such as the uncapping of the mandatory retirement age and the aging of faculty, as well as by…

This book joins instructional design as the axis of school reform with collaborative observation as the proven method to sustain teacher growth and renewal. The acronym COMPASS (Collaborative Observation for Monitoring Practices to Achieve Sustained School reform) is used. The book details a four-part observation process, each component of which…

Discusses links between National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification and staff development. The assessment includes on-site teacher portfolios and assessment center examinations covering subject matter and teaching ability. Recommends that school districts provide staff development to help teachers acquire knowledge and skills…

Discusses theory and practice in the context of peer observation. Peer Observation is widely accepted in principle as a valuable contribution to teacher development, but in practice it is often resisted.(SM)

Describes a program-specific assessment rubric that can be used as a tool to help facilitate and implement the National Science Education Standards with regard to science as inquiry. Presents an overview of the inquiry-based inservice program and discusses the development and use of the rubric with program participants. Contains 36 references.…

Investigated the preparation cooperating teachers received and experiences they desired as evaluators of early field experience students. Interviews with cooperating teachers, university supervisors, and elementary field experience directors indicated that though preparation was not mandatory, respondents endorsed introductory meetings at which…

Outlines an emerging system for teacher professional-development based on profession-defined teaching standards and values. The paper describes the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a good example of such a system and notes the potential of such an emerging system for overcoming major limitations in the traditional systems of…

Surveys part-time faculty teaching transfer courses and finds that the most popular teaching techniques are lecture, class discussion, written feedback, and methods that encourage critical thinking. Reports that faculty who had participated in professional development were more likely to use small group discussions, demonstrations, and activities…

The Developmental Teacher Evaluation Kit (DeTek) and the Texas Teacher Appraisal System (TTAS) are compared in this report. The DeTek model is based on objective analysis, diagnostic procedures to guide inservice planning and professional growth, an ongoing cycle of evaluation and development, and provision of diagnostic instruments. It is limited…

These 10 papers focus on the key to excellence in vocational education in light of teacher assessment and effective assessment systems, challenges to testing students and teachers and the legal implications, basic and employability skills, and the need for vocational teacher technological update strategies. "Introduction and Colloquium…

Effective teacher evaluation rests on the discovery of the essence of teaching excellence. It is important to evaluate the essence of great teaching from as many perspectives as possible. Incompetent administrators make an effective teaching program impossible. To improve the teacher evaluation process, first look at the administrator evaluation…

Relates part-time faculty effectiveness to recruitment and selection, orientation, supervision and support, evaluation, and professional development opportunities. Recommends improved communication and interaction between part-time faculty and administrators. (DMM)

This book explores managing the performance of education staff in England and Wales and in Scotland. It compares the different policies of performance management as practiced in England and Wales and in Scotland. (The Scottish system of education is independent of that of England and Wales.) Chapter 1 provides an introduction to performance…