Surveys are a commonly-used tool for measuring satisfaction with staff-development workshops. The four main sources of error and bias in most surveys are sampling slips, non-response nonsense, time-slice traps, and questionable questions. The paper discusses several typical survey problems and presents tips for making surveys into effective tools.…

Parkway School District in Chesterfield, Mo., creates a system in which all their employees have opportunities to experience ongoing professional learning. District leadership believes that all employees, whether or not they interact with students, contribute to the school district's success. The Parkway support staff development is building a…

Study synthesized the practical wisdom of 25 staff developers nationwide who worked with high school teachers in the area of thinking to determine whether they had an informal knowledge base. Though they offered diverse perspectives, they agreed on several key goals, activities, and organizational changes. (SM)