On September 30, 1986, 22 educators met in a forum on the Quality of Teaching in Puerto Rico to examine the problem of declining quality in the teaching force. Specifically, participants were concerned about working conditions, preparation, and professional development of teachers. After identifying the causes for the decline of teacher quality in…

Noting recent state legislation (HB 1706) in Oklahoma that is focused on the improvement of teacher preparation programs at the university level, this paper details the implementation of such improvements at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. The first section of the paper considers requirements for improved classroom preparation in both…

Based on results from a sample of the entire Montana public high school system and 5 Montana teacher training institutions, followed by a telephone survey of 15 superintendents/curriculum directors and directors of placement from the 5 institutions used in the original study, there were indeed definite hiring preferences shown toward applicant…

The history of the Doctor of Arts (D.A.) degree and issues related to its development are briefly traced, and D.A. programs presently available and the success of degree recipients are addressed. Attention is also directed to other types of degree programs that are available, including their advantages and disadvantages, factors involved in…

An in-depth study was conducted of instructional improvement activities at Kansas State University, including a student evaluation instrument of teacher performance, called Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment (IDEA). Faculty reactions to the total evaluation system, the use of results for multiple purposes, and the current…

Video recordings provide an authentic feedback of classroom interaction, and microteaching a systematic method for analysis of these tapes and the acquisition of special teaching skills. Their combined use in teacher education has resulted in improved teacher-classroom interaction at the college level. The development of individual and group…

Clinical supervision is an ongoing series of professional development cycles through which preservice and beginning teachers move from being apprentices at induction and probationary levels to being members of peer evaluation teams and self-reflective practitioners. Development of collaboration between field experience offices and local school…

This book examines how a relationship between the University of Vermont and school districts throughout the state enables teachers to earn graduate credits through year-long Problem-Based School Development Institutes. The institutes take participants through a cycle that includes identifying a problem, conducting background and action research,…

This report proposes an agenda that business leaders can use to help improve education. It is the result of the 1999 National Education Summit at which business leaders, governors, and educators pledged to improve the quality of teaching with significantly increased investments in teachers and accountability for results. Recommendations were…

This paper describes the Professional Renewal Program for Educators (PRPE), a faculty-driven, tripartite effort developed to increase the knowledge and skills of education faculty, arts and sciences faculty, and P-12 classroom teachers in the areas of instructional technology, cultural diversity, and democratic principles in public education. Led…

This book examines the current standard practice of confining teacher preparation to 4 years of coursework, examining the growing interest in career-spanning teacher education. There are 12 chapters. Section 1, "Collaboration: Building Bridges to Transform Institutional Cultures," includes: "Overview and Framework" (Linda…

This study identified facilitators of and barriers to collaboration in Professional Development Schools (PDSs). Researchers conducted a meta-ethnography, which synthesized qualitative research and attempted to analyze processes and outcomes across many studies. Case studies of the collaboration process in PDSs were collected and screened, then…

This paper examines a university professor's roles in and experiences with teacher action research to promote professional development. The first section discusses the importance of linking preservice teacher action research investigation with inservice action research teams in schools. It explains that this approach begins with a structure and…

Investigates a variety of instructional strategies and teaching methods used in a graduate level multicultural education class. These included autobiographical analysis, role playing, and dialog journals, as well as, more traditional methods such as guest speakers and lectures. Discusses how the insights gained could be used in future research.…

To explore the implications of recommendations from national reports on teacher education reform, a university course was designed for teachers using practical inquiry to structure the use of craft knowledge, collaboration, and reflection. Participating teachers reported that they gained confidence in their teaching choices through the course.…