Hiring new teachers and continuing their professional growth so that they remain in the profession and become effective teachers have been a challenge for decades. Research suggests that induction programs can achieve these outcomes if they are highly structured, include mentoring, focus on professional learning, and emphasize collaboration that…

In 1998, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) launched an ambitious effort to create on-line science courses for K-12 educators that would immerse them in exciting science topics and give them access to the Museum's scientific resources (scientists, research, expeditions, collections, and exhibitions). This project, called Seminars on…

Reviews published studies (referenced in ERIC Document Retrieval Service) dealing with teacher inservice in environmental education. Includes a chronological summary of the studies between 1970 and 1980. Findings reveal that a wide variety of formats were used but that program effectiveness studies were extremely limited. (ML)

Examines the parallels, and common goals and characteristics, between staff development and curriculum development and discusses the implications these parallels have for staff developers. (GLR)

This book provides information for teachers and administrators about peer coaching, and it centers on classroom observation by other team members. The book describes stages of the observation process, explaining how a peer coaching program can make teachers more effective and co-learners with colleagues. Each chapter includes scenarios describing…

The goal of any professional development program is to inform and change teacher behavior as a result of new information. Professional development activities need to be designed in a way that ensures that teachers' time and your investment in time and money pay off in increased student achievement. Getting teacher buy in is important when…

Nine recommended guidelines for teacher performance appraisal are offered as a basis for evaluating an appraisal system. Guidelines, involving a reward system, evaluation training, teacher involvement, classroom improvement, peer observation, alternative-data collection, paperwork, and supervisors, emphasize the positive qualities of teacher…

Assessment can assist key steps in the development of effective school improvement planning (SIP) programs. The article refers to an SIP Action Guide, highlighting four occasions during use of the Action Guide when assessment processes are key (assessment within action plans and assessment to identify strengths, concerns, and possible causes). (SM)

There are thousands of different inservice education programs. The purposes of this study were to identify the elements of effective teacher inservice education; to measure to what degree these elements actually exist in inservice education programs reported by Texas teachers; and to develop a strategy for effective teacher inservice. A modified…

A teaching master at a community college in Central Ontario implemented a practicum designed to increase the rate of child-directed activities in early childhood education programs. The primary goal was to increase awareness of early childhood educators, parents, and board members regarding the benefits of child-directed activities at early…

The director of a proprietary child care center implemented a practicum designed to train child caregivers in child development and developmentally appropriate practices. The practicum consisted of three evening workshops and used supplementary reading materials, discussion groups, classroom observations, and individual conferences. After…

Profiles the Texas School Teacher Exchange Program (STEP) and presents research results evaluating its effectiveness. Respondents rated statements about the program on a Likert scale. Results showed conclusively that the program is valued highly by the participants with few reservations. (MJP)

An elementary school teacher and counselor designed a practicum which provided a model that teachers and parents used to enhance the developmental and academic skills of kindergarten children. The major goal was to increase the acquisition of skills through the child's preferred learning modality. Teachers and parents were given training that…

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of recent educational reform efforts in Washington State and to determine what educators believe to be the most important future areas of focus. In particular, the researchers wanted to determine whether school-wide improvement efforts (i.e. School Improvement Plans (SIPs), School Improvement…

The question of what to do "after the workshop" has been treated only in passing by writing across the curriculum experts. When planning the writing across the curriculum program at La Salle University (Philadelphia), the writing faculty decided to make continued "after the workshop" interaction with the writing specialist an integral part of the…