This booklet examines teachers' professional development from the standpoint of several recent reform reports, particularly the concept of the career ladder. A critique of this model serves as a reference point for an alternative approach to professional development called the "Career Lattice Model". This individualized model for growth…

This workbook presents a process by which teachers and administrators can take responsibility for their own professional development and plan for a particular project in a systematic and thoughtful way. Users will first identify an "area of focus" (job-related project, responsibility, professional interest, or district goal) and then formulate a…

Describes how New Mexico's Section 310 personnel reviewed the literature on self-directed learning and devised strategies for integrating self-directed learning into staff development training. Their plan for accomplishing this is described. (Author/CT)

Competency-based orientation for nurses provides a practical and cost-effective transition to the practice setting. The program requires a large initial investment in the development of self-learning materials and evaluation tools but greatly reduces instructor time. (SK)

This self-directed staff development project was organized in order to utilize the learning-on-your-own concept within the context of professional development. Information is provided about the project's organization, about the types of learning projects undertaken, about barriers and aids to completing the projects, and about the role of…

Participants in gifted program inservice and staff development are served best in a collaborative atmosphere where they are involved in self assessment of needs, mutual goal planning, use of materials and facilities appropriate for adults, and self evaluation of learning with supportive feedback and followup. (Author/CB)

Discusses a continuing education program which incorporates effective staff development techniques and utilization of instructional resources. Considers use of audio tapes in audio-assisted independent study as an appropriate delivery system, emphasizing staff growth and improvement as a community service function jointly planned with other…

Examines ways to use effectively the technology involved in teaching and learning online as they pertain to training child caregivers. Provides guidelines for early childhood administrators to prepare themselves to teach an online or web-enhanced course or training program. Identifies challenges and barriers confronting online learners. Lists…

This booklet describes the mini-awards programs that are provided by teacher centers as an alternative form of inservice teacher education. Mini-awards (or mini-grants) are monetary incentives given to an individual teacher or to a group of teachers to encourage curriculum and staff development and to address the professional needs of teachers.…

Discusses information literacy and presents a theoretical framework for higher education. Highlights include characteristics of an information literate person, including independent self-directed learning and the use of information technology; information literacy education strategies in the academic curriculum; evaluating information literacy…

Operating on the premise that teachers who continue to learn make more effective instructors, this book describes several strategies and approaches for continued teacher development. Activities such as coaching or advising each other, attending institutes, learning and putting into practice new teaching techniques or strategies, or conducting…

Describes practical applications of distance education programs serving the disabled based on the experiences of the Independent Study program at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Issues include information dissemination, planning, instruction, testing, and faculty training and support. (Author/AEF)

This loose-leaf compendium includes three types of brief research summaries: "topical synthesis,""close-ups," and "snapshots." The single topical synthesis is entitled "School-Community Collaboration to Improve the Quality of Life for Urban Youth and Their Families" (Kathleen Cotton). Close-ups consist of…