This paper introduces the purposes of school learning communities. Section 1, "Foundations of a Learning Community," presents a definition and discusses different approaches to reforming schools. Section 2, "Key Aspects of a Learning Community," highlights three components of learning communities (student learning, teacher…

This brief examines the impact of teaching on student achievement, necessary steps for ensuring teacher quality, and policies needed to support that effort. Research has identified the strong connection between student achievement and teacher preparation and skills. Efforts to generate consistently high teaching levels across all classrooms must…

Argues that middle school educators and administrators need professional preparation specific to middle school students' unique social, emotional, and educational needs. Focuses on the importance of the principal to gain appropriate training and foster professional staff preparation and development. Contains recommendations for creating…

This study examined teacher empowerment through the development of individual and collective teacher efficacy. A content-centered staff development program implemented in a Michigan school district by the New Zealand Ministry of Education and Oakland University helped teachers develop efficacy in the teaching of mathematics and in the ability to…

A national review of TAFE (Technical and Further Education) teacher preparation and development identified the skills and competencies that will be required of full-time TAFE teachers in the 1990s and those held by present full-time TAFE teachers in Australia. A questionnaire received 594 responses (a 50% response rate). Teachers reported their…

This book describes some of the research undertaken during the Teacher Education Project, a four and one-half year research and development project undertaken by the Universities of Nottingham, Leicester, and Exeter (Great Britain) and funded by the Department of Education and Science. This project involved observation of over 1,000 lessons and…

A project was undertaken to develop an inservice staff development program for vocational teachers working with disadvantaged students in local school districts in Pennsylvania. The focus of the inservice activity was on the improvement of instructional approaches such as individualized instruction, teaching and reteaching, small group…

This annotated bibliography comprises 13 items in the ERIC system concerning improving teacher effectiveness. Items cited discuss strategies including an objectives-based instructional program combined with mastery learning, teacher self-assessment techniques, administrators' role in helping teachers adopt more effective practices, improving…

Part 1 of this article discusses changes in Japanese teacher education since 1949, particularly the arrangement and reorganization of teacher education universities and faculties and the establishment of graduate schools of education. Part 2 presents findings from three studies that examine the psychological adjustment of teacher education…

The United States has engaged in intensive reform efforts in school mathematics education in the decade since the publication of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Standards for School Mathematics. This context has generated interest in how to best develop reform-oriented teachers. In this article the authors describe their thinking…

Teacher evaluation remains a controversial and disruptive area. The problems arise from the way evaluations are carried out. In many cases the evaluation system used is the problem. This book discusses teacher evaluation by providing characteristics separating effective and less effective systems. It presents eight commonalities identified in…

The introduction of this report summarizes the laboratory's functions, competencies, and purpose: "to work with all interested organizations, institutions, and agencies in improving the quality of education by applying the results of scientific knowledge and technological development to classroom practice." The three major report…

The resources of closed circuit television can improve teaching and learning in schools. Three junior high schools in Arlington Heights, Illinois have inaugurated a closed circuit television model program. The program's objectives are improvement of the quality of standard teacher-lesson presentations, redirection of teacher time and energy to…

Externally mediated self-confrontation by means of closed-circuit television and videotape recording has become a popular technique for letting student teachers discover for themselves the way in which their own behavior influences the teaching processes. This paper not only studies the way in which the student teacher perceives and evaluates his…

This document summarizes findings from a 1998-99 study of teacher development that investigated California's challenge to provide high quality teachers for all students. California's set of standards to improve education for all requires that all students have qualified teachers. In order for California's move toward academic excellence to…