Recent studies have shown that strengths in spatial skills are a key to success in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers. However, these skills are undervalued in our educational system and thus seldom incorporated in classroom teaching. As a first step towards changing the current practices, we worked with a group of…

Our paper presents an in-service primary school teachers' training program which is based on the idea that the history of science can play a vital role in promoting the learning of physics. This training program has been developed in the context of Comenius 2.1 which is a European Union program. This program that we have developed in the…

Use this handy guide to get your PLC engaged, energized, and ready to implement formative assessment. Everything you need to organize and run your PLC--including agendas, schedules, handouts, and background readings--is included. With enough materials for seven sessions total, you can focus your PLC on all of the critical issues related to…

This paper reports on a study of the experiences of teacher educators in the introduction and development of e-portfolios over an eight-year period from 2002 to 2009 at a Swedish university. The study was conducted with 67 teacher educators in order to investigate how e-portfolios have been discussed, designed, used and disseminated during this…

This article proposes the Teacher Observation Programme for in-service teacher trainees. The program is reflective, collaborative, and builds confidence. It enables teachers to grow in their ability to self-evaluate. Trainees who have made decisions about their own observation, who have created and used their own observational tools, and who have…

In response to the need to train teachers to effectively integrate technology into elementary and secondary education, a teacher professional development program funded by a federal grant provided a selection of instructional technology integration courses to K-12 teachers. This study investigated the impact of these courses on the course…

Chapters in this guide provide practical guidance and useful information and resources relating to important aspects of faculty development, from setting up a faculty development program to assessing teaching practices. The chapters are: (1) "Faculty, Instructional, and Organizational Development: Options and Choices" (Robert M. Diamond); (2) "Ten…

This highly practical guide is grounded in the authors' experience setting up and running a successful professional development program to improve K-3 reading instruction. The book systematically describes how professional development works: how sessions are organized, what they contain, routines and procedures, and the roles of each participant.…

Written for individuals responsible for overseeing the staff training of preschool teachers, this guide consists of four sections. The first enables trainers to determine whether the training program, which is based on the 13 Child Development Associate (CDA) Competency Standards, meets the needs of their program. The second provides an overview…

Discusses the use of the seminar approach in elementary classrooms. Makes practical suggestions for implementation and outlines areas in which teachers need administrative support. Includes an interview with a sixth-grade teacher who has been using the method for two years. (FMW)

This guide outlines a program to familiarize elementary students with microcomputer operations, the widespread use of computers, and the computer's capabilities and limitations. The first section presents objectives, learning activities, and evaluation methods for six content areas: (1) What is a computer? (2) How do computers work? (3) Student…

Project LIFTS (Learning Improvement through Teaching Strategies) was designed to serve adult basic education (ABE) students enrolled at Johnson County Community College (Kansas) who are diagnosed as having a specific learning disability. These students enrolled in Basic English, a pre-General Educational Development Test preparation class, and…

This paper on conducting teacher training workshops concerning the use of simulations with gifted students defines a simulation, explains why simulations are effective in helping gifted students to learn, describes how a simulation works, and outlines the steps in teaching simulation strategies. (JDD)

A project was conducted to develop and deliver training on case management procedures for adult educators. The project trained adult instructors on techniques, processes, and procedures of effective client case management through a series of workshops and discussion group sessions. The case management approach is based on the assertion that…

Designed to be used as a model for workshop planning, this report describes the development and implementation of a series of four summer workshops, entitled "Computers Plus," which were designed to increase the computer literacy of teachers and administrators. Intended to provide introductory students with basic concepts, hands-on…