This paper describes a method of analysing teacher growth in the context of science education. It focuses on the identification of pathways in the development of secondary school teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) by the use of the interconnected model of teachers' professional growth (IMTPG).The teachers (n = 12) participated in a…

A description is given of the development, implementation, and the functional outcome of a revised inservice education correspondence course on leadership development in vocational education, which was offered by the University of Illinois. When used as group study and with invited guidance and administrative personnel, the course was very…

This report, initiated at the request of the Lincoln Trail College (LTC) faculty, provides a series of recommendations regarding a continuing professional development program specially tailored to meet the needs and characteristics of the staff at LTC. A questionnaire was developed to determine activity relevance and availability, preference…

The authors describe the state-sponsored Illinois Vocational Instructor Practicum. This program provides financial support for teachers to spend up to eight weeks in a private sector position, allowing them to update their work when they return to the vocational education classroom. (CH)

State mandates for teacher professional development and continuing education, and funding for those mandates are a high profile topic in the North Central region. Examination of specific state requirements for professional development, the relationship among professional development, teacher certification, and continued employment, and direct…

Illinois, in partnership with the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, is transforming its teacher preparation and training sequence into a strong teacher development system that will result in improved teacher recruitment, preparation, induction, certification, professional development, and retirement. This paper outlines the…

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) study on teacher education is divided into four sections; (1) placing the problem of the ongoing need for teachers in perspective; (2) policy recommendations to the IBHE on relevant aspects of teacher education; (3) the rationale for recommendations made to the IBHE; (4) ideas and programs that could…

This paper describes the Renewal Institute for Practicing Educators, a staff development program designed specifically for rural teachers. The institute is a state-funded cooperative effort between school districts and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. It provides tuition-free spring and summer workshops for rural teachers in science,…

A fact-finding survey based on a questionnaire answered by 418 Illinois English teachers examined the teaching of language arts in grades 7, 8, and 9 in Illinois. It showed that teachers get very little supervision, that they feel that they need improvement in teaching composition, reading, and the "new grammar," and that composition…

A report recently released by the Center on Education Policy reveals that the four-year-old No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has indeed served to shine a light on the importance of professional development for K-12 educators. Beyond that basic fact, though, any real broad-based impact on the training of educators remains inconclusive. While the…