The World Economic Forum (WEF) found that Botswana's information and communication technology (ICT) networked readiness index (NRI) had declined from position 89 in 2012 to 104 in 2015. A decline in Botswana's ICT NRI resulted in a modest gross domestic product (GDP) growth increasing from 4.2% in 2012 to 5.0% in 2015. The purpose of this…

This article presents a professional development programme which brought an indigenous minority group of tertiary staff together. We describe a peer-mentoring model, piloted in 2009 at The University of Auckland, New Zealand with university staff in order to promote staff advancement. The participants were all Maori, the indigenous people of New…

This paper presents findings from a larger, qualitative study that explored the potential of a school-based teacher community of practice as a model for a transformative form of teacher professional development. This paper reports on initial findings from a grounded theory exploration of the factors that facilitated and constrained the evolution…

This study examined the application and perceived effectiveness of the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in a community college Student Affairs Division. The two research questions were as follows: (1) How does a Community College apply CAS standards? (2) What is the perceived effectiveness of applying those standards? A case study…

This article describes a case study of an educational organization, the Big Picture Company, trying to implement a highly unusual school design. It offers a close look at its professional development strategies and how its comprehensive program helps create a culture where teachers can, and do, learn. I detail five professional development…

This case study of teachers' professional development in instructional technology explores three assumptions: teachers are at various levels in their knowledge and use of technology; staff development needs to be based on currently construed best practices; and teacher's professional development in technology may serve to further larger goals of…

The professional development and accountability of new staff are discussed, and the University of New South Wales' department-based plan for new staff development is described. The program involves planning sessions and record keeping of responsibilities, achievements, needs for professional development, and the resources provided to assist staff.…

The Head Start Supplementary Training Program offered college education and training opportunities to Head Start employees in order to enable them to become more skilled and responsible staff members and to increase their earning power and job security. The training program offered academic programs leading to Associate of Arts and Bachelor of…

This paper describes two case studies that assessed the effects of staff training in schools participating in the accelerated schools model (Levin 1990). The model stresses the importance of total school-community involvement and shared decision making during all stages of the acceleration process. The two schools included a middle school (grades…

Outlines the York University teacher education program and assesses the degree of professional growth occurring among teachers supervising York university student teachers. Notes results that only partially support commonly held ideas that association with a university teacher training program promotes professional growth. (SB)

This practice-oriented book brings together research and evaluation approaches and supporting case studies from educational researchers and teachers. The emphasis is on changing practice in higher education and the research that underpins desirable development. Following an introduction, chapter 1 presents Educational Development Changing Practice…

Evaluation of the Teaching and Learning Project Scheme at Southampton Institute (United Kingdom) examined the effectiveness of a scheme that released staff for limited periods of time for work concerned with teaching and learning. An internal, local evaluation methodology was used that involved questionnaires and interviews. The evaluation set the…

This project had three goals: (1) to seek out the policies and practices currently in place to prepare academic teaching staff to develop, write, and teach in distance education; (2) to identify effective professional preparation and staff development practices for distance education currently in use in Australian postsecondary institutions; and…

Maximum academic achievement for gifted and talented students can only be accomplished when teachers are given the tools, support, and training needed to strengthen instructional skills and develop knowledge of the social and emotional needs of the students they serve. Providing meaningful professional development to develop or enhance these…

This report provides education leaders and policymakers with a lens to examine model professional development in education and the private sector. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of how organizations support or fail to support a work culture that values ongoing education, and to better understand what comprises the…