Recent trends in agricultural education have demonstrated that the number of middle school programs and students has been increasing. Despite this, middle school agricultural education students, teachers, and programs have been underserved. For example, middle school agricultural education teachers lack the training and resources to meet the needs…

The need of business enterprises for professionals trained for the challenges of cross-border assignments will increase exponentially through the decade. Business schools will be hard pressed to deliver programs with the scope, scale, and effectiveness necessary to address the unique competencies required for cross-cultural understanding and…

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.…

Local school systems, Local Education Agencies [LEAs], and universities, Institutions of Higher Education [IHEs], work together in a variety of ways in the initial preparation and ongoing professional development of teachers, although it is difficult to ascertain the number of LEA/IHE partnerships. These relationships typically allow for a…

Australia's training programs for academic department heads are examined in relation to the tradition of academic staff development, the changing nature of department heads' responsibilities, and increased concerns about the effectiveness of institutional management. It is suggested that training programs be one element in a comprehensive…

Draws on the authors' experience of developing and presenting an Open University Masters level course: Guidance and Counselling in Learning. Explores the diversity of contexts for guidance practices and the assumptions about the relationship between theory and practice that is embedded in various approaches to professional development. (Contains…

There are many factors that affect the design of effective professional development (PD) programs. This review of literature focuses on some of the theoretical models used to explain teacher change, the contextual factors that impact teacher behaviors and curricular change, and the role of continuous professional development in changing teaching…

Staff development programs and activities are common methods of stimulating change in the behavior of educators. These programs may be designed for a number of purposes, including (1) problem-solving within the local school or district; (2) remediation to develop work-related skills; (3) motivation to change and improve staff; and (4) development…

Notes that with prospects of smaller undergraduate enrollments in the years ahead and with the need to create new challenges for schools and departments of journalism, continuing education programs can become a major activity for imaginative and progressive journalism educators and administrators. (RL)

Provides some general tips on planning a workshop or short-time education experience for newspaper professionals. Offers a four-month schedule for such conference planning. (RL)

This paper presents a brief overview of research relevant to early childhood education, reviews some recent intervention programs for preschool and kindergarten children, and investigates the need for policymakers to establish programs based on research findings. Particular attention is given to an intervention research study conducted with…

Describes a prepracticum which creatively incorporates adult learning pedagogy, service-learning, and a semester-long role play to bridge the theory-practice gap in the preparation of students for practicum-internship and professional practice. (Author)

Reviews three books on creative movement and physical development appropriate for early childhood teachers: (1) "Hello Toes! Movement Games for Children" (A. F. Barlin and N. Kalev); (2) "Movement Activities for Early Childhood" (C. T. Hammett); and (3) "Designing Preschool Movement Programs" (S. W. Sanders). (MDM)

In a review of the literature regarding the current and projected status of public relations degree programs and major trends in public relations practice in the United States, this paper analyzes aspects of the political/economic/social/cultural environment (PESCE) affecting the practice and teaching of public relations. The paper covers PESCE…

A recommendation is made for a six-year program of initial teacher preparation--five years of campus-based, but field-oriented, preparation followed by a sixth year of supervised internship with provision for follow-up of beginning teachers in their first year of regular employment. The following aspects of this topic are discussed: (1) needs and…