This annual journal issue contains 22 papers on issues of faculty development, diversity, adult learners, and instructional improvement in higher education. Many of the papers were developed for the annual conference of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). The papers are: (1) "What Theories…

Teachers in urban schools, on gaining seniority, frequently leave these culturally diverse and complex schools, only to be replaced by new teachers who are less prepared. This exploratory study examined the staffing patterns of elementary schools from 1991-1992 to 1993-1994 in the San Diego City School District (California), focusing on the policy…

This paper describes the experiences of four university teacher education institutions collaborating in an European Union-funded project called the REFLECT project: the Universities of Barcelona (Spain), Exeter (England), Trondheim (Norway), and Utrecht (Netherlands). The project s focus is on the development of reflective competencies in…

The combination of quantitative and qualitative methods as a way to improve research into the clinical preparation of teachers was studied using varied clinical-instruction models to quantify preservice teachers' perceptions of being prepared for inservice teaching. A traditional professional model emphasizes the idea of the teacher as leader and…

The framework for teaching described in this book is based on PRAXIS III: Classroom Performance Assessments criteria developed by the Educational Testing Service. This framework identifies those aspects of a teacher's responsibilities that have been documented through empirical studies and theoretical research as promoting improved student…

This framework defines a vision of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that should characterize California's beginning teachers in their initial years of service. Discussion and development of the framework are part of the California New Teacher Project, a pilot study of policy alternatives to enhance the success of novice teachers. Following a…

In 1990, a county school district in the metropolitan Atlanta area collaborated with West Georgia College's School of Education to equip experienced teachers with the skills necessary to nurture new teachers to become more reflective and to share in cooperative learning. A study was conducted to examine teachers' perceptions of the program and of…

This study was conducted to investigate differences in the pedagogical content knowledge of beginning and experienced teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL), with respect to student and curriculum knowledge, lesson planning, interactive teaching, and postlesson reflections. Participants in the study, two beginning and two experienced…

In 1986, the Florida State Legislature passed a law requiring teachers to demonstrate knowledge of their subject areas before being granted teacher certification. The state also provided funding for developing subject area examinations. The generic procedures for developing these examinations are outlined. During the first phase of the project, an…

The present study extends a previous study of student teachers' teaching potential to first-year teachers and includes variables addressing commitment to a teaching career and efficacy. Respondents consisted of 126 first-year teachers who completed questionnaires at student teaching, graduation, and one year following graduation. Seven tables are…

This study describes the emerging themes and issues that impact on learning to teach science. The study examined whether the "language of schooling" that novices have been exposed to conflicts with the actual demands of practice, and how this conflict is resolved. Study participants were 14 Australian science graduates who had completed…

This study examined the relationship between environmental factors of teaching climate for beginning teachers and the desire to remain in teaching. Data from 23,088 Public School Teacher Questionnaires from the Schools and Staffing Survey longitudinal database were analyzed to determine the effect of environmental demographic factors…

Teacher education is quickly evolving, reflecting the dynamic complexity and heterogeneity of U.S. society. Collaboration of state licensing agencies and university/college and school personnel is essential in pursuing creative options to meet student needs. This collaboration requires a careful examination of the roles played by each of the three…

A follow-up study of teacher education graduates was carried out for the purpose of evaluating, improving, and modifying programs for the preparation of educational personnel. An extension of a longitudinal study being conducted at Iowa State University, this component addresses the following basic concerns: (1) the quality of the program; (2) the…

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between teachers' experience and their perceptions of and reactions to problematic classroom situations. The purpose was to assist teacher educators to more adequately train beginning teachers who then would be better prepared to deal with problematic classroom situations. Subjects (N=49) were…