Video and coaching as vehicles for teachers' professional development have both received much attention in educational research. The combination of the two, video coaching, where teachers watch and discuss videos of their own practice with a coach, seems especially promising, but there is limited insight into how the design leads to desired…

Instructional improvement initiatives in many districts include instructional coaching as a primary form of job-embedded support for teachers. However, the coaching literature provides little guidance about what activities coaches should engage in with teachers to improve instruction. When researchers do propose activities, they rarely justify why…

This article summarizes current research on effective professional development and offers a checklist for school leaders to use when designing learning opportunities for teachers. Effective professional development engages teachers in learning opportunities that are supportive, job-embedded, instructionally-focused, collaborative, and ongoing.…

Reviews of professional literature identify characteristics of effective staff development programs and inservice activities. Purposes for staff development include: pedagogical growth and understanding and discovery of self as well as cognitive, theoretical, professional, and career development. (DF)

In a recent canvassing of American teachers about their inservice education experiences; 75 percent categorized these experiences as "fair to bad." Five major reasons for the lack of valuable inservice education are discussed. Supporting and constraining factors are highlighted. (MT)

In designing inservice teacher training activities, it is necessary to apply educational principles and teaching and learning techniques which are suitable for adult education programs. Four models for designing inservice teacher training programs are the Malcom Knowles Model, the Leonard Nadler Model, the Cyril O. Houle Model, and the William R.…

Discusses the need for more formalized orientation procedures for beginning teachers in Ontario, Canada. Reviews the literature on the goals of induction programs, provision of financial and human resources, program content and management, and commitments required of participants, manager, and policymakers. Contains 32 references. (SV)

This paper presents a review of the research and professional literature on staff development, an analysis of the characteristics associated with effective staff development programs, and recommendations for the design of effective staff development programs based on that research. The studies cited deal with: (1) the functions of staff…

The staff development program for the Network of Secondary School Demonstration Centers for Teaching Reading in the Content Areas is a long-range, highly structured, and comprehensive model. In addition to the support system for the learning and implementation of strategies for teaching reading in the content areas, the program employs…

Most inservice teacher education erroneously equates pedagogy and methodology with classroom instructional "recipes" and strategies. It should, instead, help teachers adapt to specific teaching needs and gaps in training. Continuing education that allows teachers to choose their own areas of study and to pursue them individually encourages…

Increased attention to inservice teacher education needs has isolated four major structural dimensions associated with the design of effective inservice programs. The INSERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION REPORT I: ISSUES TO FACE (ISTE) explicates an early model of program construction, utilizing these four concepts. Governance, concerned with the…

Fourteen research studies were conducted on exemplary practices in experienced teachers' centers, focusing upon specific interests or concerns of those operating or otherwise supporting the centers. Research was funded through small awards which would allow teacher center practitioners to collaborate with researchers to develop knowledge about…

The continuing development of educational professionals (teachers and administrators) takes place in three types of institutions. Advanced degree programs offered in colleges and universities that lead to the master's and doctorate degrees are the mainstay of continuing development. Second in importance are the staff development programs sponsored…

This annotated bibliography lists 29 journal articles and publications which deal with recent professional developments in the field of teacher education. (JN)

Summarizes adult and teacher education research and provides suggestions to design personalized programs for elementary science staff development. Discusses principles of adult education; research on inservice training components; the Concern-Based Adoption Model and teacher change; practical implications for K-6 science teacher workshops; methods…