The purpose of this monograph is to discuss the minicourse as a model for the continuing education of teachers. The first section defines the minicourse and describes its evolution. The second section discusses the characteristics of the minicourses at the Centre for Advancement of Teaching (CAT) at Macquarie University, New South Wales,…

Too often the dialect of the teacher or the student, or both, creates interferences which hinder the educational process. By being aware of potential problems in pronunciation, lexicon, and syntax, the teacher can explain or avoid language interferences. Furthermore, the teacher can consciously help the student avoid pejorative connotations some…

Discusses how minicourses offered to elementary school teachers can provide background information and experiences in topics such as aquatic biology and environmental education. Presents results of a questionnaire that evaluates the effectiveness of this approach in aiding elementary school teachers to teach science. (CS)

The goal of Minicourse 5 is to increase the skill of inservice teachers (grades 4-6) in tutoring students whose understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures is weak. Emphasis is on actively involving the student in the tutoring process and developing his understanding, rather than rote learning, of mathematical concepts. The course…

Minicourse 4 on interaction analysis, an autoinstructional package based on the use of microteaching and the videotape recorder, was designed (1) to train teachers to categorize their own classroom behavior, using Flanders' system, to an 80 percent correct criterion level; (2) to increase frequency in classroom discussions of category 2, 3, and 4…

This report covers the evaluation of preliminary field testing of a 1-year experimental training program designed to reach a larger number of Head Start teachers and teacher aides at a lower cost but provide an inservice program that was at least as good as an 8-week college program. The program began with a 4-day workshop for 60 teachers and…

The teaching of reading as a decoding process was an educational strategy used by the Minicourse 18 model of teacher education. This report analyzes the field data taken from four school test sites and assesses the effectiveness of the strategy. Multivariate Statistical analysis shows the program has a significant effect in course-approved…

This trainer's manual describes a college level mini-course on moral education. As a result of the course experience, participants will gain an appreciation of the importance of moral education, learn to lead moral discussions, and incorporate relevant moral issues into the elementary and secondary curriculum. There are three parts to the…

This paper provides information on the cost of the research underlying the Minicourse model as compared with the development cost of the Minicourse packages. It also estimates the cost that would be involved in achieving 30 percent implementation of Minicourses by elementary and secondary school teachers in the United States. Research costs are…

Reports how a school district's elementary science curricula and in-service programs were improved through a series of minicourses. Appraises the procedure, components, and requirements of this approach. Also describes the science loan kit program that was implemented to facilitate hands-on instruction. (ML)

Nineteen teachers took part in a brief, one session, in-service course in which they were trained in behavioural techniques with the main aim of helping them increase their rates of approval contingent upon required behaviours from their pupils and to decrease their rates of disapproval. Subsidiary aims were that the teachers would be enabled to…

With nationwide acceptance of writing across the curriculum, educators are now realizing the next wave in curriculum reform: speaking and listening across the curriculum. There is a movement to introduce speech across the curriculum of secondary schools and higher education. To learn any subject or interest area, students will utilize the skills…

The conclusion of this study involving a treatment group and a group receiving no treatment was that teaching faculty could grow significantly in knowledge of teaching objectives, behaviors, skills, and processes in a training program. (RC)

Like most two-year colleges, Chipola Junior College has had to respond quickly to the impact of the microcomputer revolution. A demanding clientele of students and community members, a faculty and staff unprepared for microcomputer technology, and limited equipment resources dictated the rules of change. After it was determined that computer…