This report on action research projects conducted by student teachers as a part of their preservice teacher preparation program focuses on how action research improves the understanding of educational practices by the practitioner-researchers themselves. Two major topics are discussed. First, specific types of claims about the impact of action…

Differences in perspectives concerning planning between administrators and planning staff were investigated at a midwestern university through interviews, and the results were used to identify ways to reduce these differences. In addition, the literature concerning planning in higher education was reviewed to identify institutional and planning…

This address provides a historical perspective on the concept of school effectivenss and argues for an enlightened synthesis of normative and empirical values. The first part, "Early Images of Effective Schooling," reviews the evolution of discourse on school effectiveness since the turn of the century. Although the early discussions…

Professionalism and its relationship to scholarly productivity was studied. Specific areas of analysis were the degree of professionalism of criminal justice educators, rankings of a series of selected publications, and the relationship between professionalism level and journal productivity. Data were derived from responses by 1,028 of 1,274…

A ninth grade home economics course, taught in an Australian high school, was evaluated with the goals of providing staff with information on evaluation procedures and obtaining information upon which judgments and recommendations for change about a particular course could be made. Of key importance in this project was the presence of an outside…

A 56-item rating scale of research and evaluation competencies for vocational educators was developed. Four skill categories were included: (1) reviewing and analyzing completed research; (2) conducting research; (3) conducting evaluation; and (4) managing research and evaluation activities. Respondents were asked to rate each of the items,…

Discusses content area concerns for secondary teachers. Presents two ideas to help teachers build the bridge from research findings to content classrooms: (1) an inservice plan that specifically teaches content teachers strategies which they, in turn, can use with students; and (2) the use of action research in the classroom. (JD)

This paper discusses findings from an evaluation of the effectiveness of a pre-referral intervention program that was being implemented in seven school districts in the Southern Tier of New York. The initiative is known as 7 SHARE, which stands for 7 districts supporting and helping to affect regional education. The paper explores the methods used…

Fourteen female teachers participating in Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools' Students Achieving Independent Learning Program, which promotes strategies-based instruction to enhance reading comprehension of elementary school students, were interviewed about program effects. Teachers identified both strong points and shortcomings of the…

Considers the various meanings of action research historically and as it is currently manifested. Notes that, in attempting to define action research and to use it for the diverse goals of teacher professionalization, improved knowledge, and social justice, researchers sometimes overlook teachers' struggles with implementation and outside…

Examines the dynamic relation between response theory and responding practice, noting how the author commented on the writing of one case-study student. Argues that effective teacher response puts into practice certain accepted principles of response and adapts comments to the larger classroom context, according to the sequence of assignments and…

Examined the motivational effects of a teacher research initiative within an urban alternative school, studying participating teachers' self-efficacy, empowerment, collaboration, and perceptions of school climate via surveys, interviews, observations, and field notes. Growth occurred in general and personal teaching efficacies from pretest to…

Compared the views of university faculty and school personnel regarding collaborative research while involved in a Professional Development School (PDS) partnership. Survey and interview data indicated that 61 percent of participants had had prior research experience. Participants tended to have traditional, rather than collaborative, conceptions…

This article will draw on an investigation of teachers' research in a small-scale project involving 19 schools in the North West region of England. The teachers engaged in the research were funded by a government initiative, the Best Practice Research Scholarships Programme, and were mentored and tutored by university staff. The sample is very…

In this article knowledge productivity, a process that creates conceptual artifacts, is used as a way to investigate the outcomes of collaborative and enquiry-oriented activity by teaching professionals. It is an outcome of the motivation to learn (self-regulation) in that it studies the issues from different professional perspectives (reflection…