Human competence is a vital element for any organization that expects to survive and then thrive. Developing individual performance ability is necessary but not sufficient because trained people alone will not make an organization successful. We must determine what people should deliver and why it should be delivered in order to add measurable…

The diffusion of innovation is critical to societal progression. In the field of education, such diffusion takes on added significance because of the many stakeholders and accountabilities involved. This article presents the argument that efforts at diffusion which are designed from a top-down perspective are not sustainable over the long term…

This article discusses the professional dimension of making technology-enhanced learning (TEL) a part of European higher educational practices. In order to position the article in a European context, three of the most important European research Networks of Excellence (NoEs) aimed at understanding, developing, and implementing TEL and educational…

This article addresses the professional dimension of the model for e-learning sustainability developed by Trentin (2007) and, in particular, the associated professional learning of teachers. It is set against a background context informed by the EU policy agenda for Improving Teacher Quality, which is considered specifically in relation to the…

A number of indicators, including new professional organizations, the proliferation of software tools, and the launch of a new international journal, are signaling a critical mass of interest in ePortfolios in educational settings. This article describes the current ePortfolio landscape by examining the key promises offered by such tools in…

The emergence of mobile technologies has afforded educators new ways of thinking about teaching and learning. When mobile technologies target specific instructional initiatives, they become lifelong learning tools for students and an integral part of the learning process. The key to success is creating logical and meaningful connections between…

Discusses the design of Web pages and sites and proposes a four-level model of Web development expertise that can serve as a curriculum overview or as a plan for an individual's professional development. Highlights include page design, media use, client-side processing, server-side processing, and site structure. (LRW)

Presents a conceptual framework for a model of professional education based on an interdisciplinary approach developed at the University of Calgary. Highlights include professional growth; experts' behavior; mentorship; professional knowledge base; elaboration theory; and fuzzy logic. (Contains 21 references.) (LRW)

The second in a series of three, this article reviews some major educational priorities currently being pursued by development agencies, and examines some of the ambivalent perceptions about agency activities in recipient nations. Improved programs in teacher training in developing countries are recommended. Ten references are listed. (MER)

Considers the role of technology in education. Topics include models of computing; goals of education; opportunities that technology provide, including virtual communities, curriculum development, and a leverage for change; and challenges, including limited resources for professional development, lack of effective instructional design, and…

Discusses principles of goal-based scenario (GBS) learning environments based on an examination of situated and unsituated knowledge. Topics addressed include flexibility; learning strategies; transfer of training; motivation; retention; and the use of GBS for professional development courses. (seven references) (LRW)

Describes how multipoint desktop video conferencing (MDVC) is used in preservice teacher education programs in Singapore to enhance the professional development of student teachers by allowing them to share ideas, experiences, and teaching resources in real time with an audience wider than the schools in which they teach. Summative evaluations…

Presents an overview of case-based instruction and a description of how this method might apply to teaching instructional design. Benefits of case studies are reviewed, including promoting professional and personal growth; challenges for instructors and participants are considered; and guidelines for the development and use of case studies are…

Describes on-the-job training models developed by the Pilot Mini District of the Cincinnati Public Schools for integrating computer technology into classroom instruction: (1) Shadowing; (2) One-on-One for One; (3) Rotating Topics; (4) Walk-in Clinics; and (5) Student Exchanges. (AEF)

Describes an interactive multimedia Business Practices Course, developed to help reengineer point-of-need training for professional development, in which the learner conducts a business review of a company's current operations and makes recommendations to improve productivity and increase customer satisfaction. (six references) (LRW)