Consensus is growing that high-quality early education is a critical support to all subsequent learning. In early childhood education quality is generally considered holistically in terms of the physical environment, programmatic structure (e.g., length of the school day), curriculum and instruction, and the nature of interactions between teachers…

Principal evaluation systems without explicit and aligned professional learning simply re-create a system of compliance and fail to improve leadership capacity. Given the complexity of the role of today's principals, they must learn a new set of skills and knowledge to create innovative learning environments. To use principal evaluation as a tool…

This occasional paper describes the National Council for History Education's program of professional development for history teachers along with the principles that were used to institute the program. The manual is intended as a guide for educators to establish their own history colloquium programs. The 10 sections are: (1)…

This paper presents a qualitative study about how teachers entering the profession at different times over the last five decades made sense of their professional lives and continuing professional development (CPD) experiences against the backdrop of the CPD policy infrastructure and wider educational context in Hong Kong. The life history method…

This handbook is the result of the Treasury Department's efforts to increase professionalism among its procurement employees nationwide through its Procurement Career Management Program. First, the scope and objectives of the Procurement Career Management Program are discussed. The remaining sections of the handbook deal with the following program…

In response to the need for professional growth opportunities for principals, the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy (IPLA) was founded in 1985. The IPLA was created to be a national training model for principals, as leaders of instructors, empowered with effective behaviors and practices. The academy's focus is on four proficiencies: (1)…

Examines the origins and implications of the false dichotomy between teaching and research. Finds the roots of the dichotomy in public schools. Addresses problems caused by failure to recognize the links between teaching and research, including cultural dissonance, faculty isolation from their discipline, and benefits of faculty research. (DMM)

Outlines criteria for system of professional teacher development/retraining: provides for system/individual needs; includes retraining and ongoing development; is cooperative, integrated, accessible; uses principles of adult education; incorporates teacher involvement; and addresses real classroom needs. Considers obstacles of money, skills,…

Program and professional development staff in adult education currently employ a variety of strategies to select professional development materials, but generally lack a systematic selection approach. Selections are often based on familiarity rather than quality or how well-suited the materials are to the learning goals of instructors and the…

Executive coaching is an increasingly popular means of accelerating professional growth and enhancing managerial performance. Unlike most other training and development options, coaching is completely personalized and private. This guide offers practical suggestions and tips to aid in understanding the nature of a coaching engagement and in…

Reports the teaching effectiveness workshop experiences for engineering professors. Lists several workshop titles and describes participants' responses. Provides suggestions for successful workshops. (YP)

This paper focuses on the Purdue University (Indiana) Continuing Engineering Education (CEE) experience in producing distance education over the past 20 years. Discussion includes the role of several educational theories in the formalization of distributed learning; the importance of effective communication in delivery of distance education;…

Provides an overview of the continuing education programs in library and information science available in Iran, and describes a survey that assessed the effectiveness of short courses conducted by the Iranian Documentation Center during 1982-1986. Recommendations for curriculum development and future programs are discussed. (2 references) (CLB)

This study investigates the nature and scope of current staff development activities and their relation to better teaching or school improvement in a representative sample of school districts and private schools in Arizona and southern parts of California and Nevada. Findings are based on telephone discussions with 72 administrators in the region.…

Describes the objectives, development, and implementation of a professional continuing education program for academic library personnel. The program is evaluated in terms of staff response to various activities, director support, cost considerations, and overall effectiveness. (CLB)