In China the global challenges of fast-evolving technology and multidisciplinary studies are complicated by the newness of the market. Only 40 years ago, professors were condemned to manual labor if suspected of capitalist sympathies, and most universities were shut down during the decade-long Cultural Revolution. The government is preoccupied…

Researchers have advocated building a knowledge base for teacher education based on practitioner knowledge. In this article, the authors, two teacher educators, present knowledge gained from their systematic study of two lessons to help prospective teachers learn to study teaching. They offer a detailed look at the lessons' successes and…

Research supports the effectiveness of matching instructional methods with student learning preferences (Dunn et al., 1995; Pascarella and Terenzini, 2005). Several challenges exist, however, for mathematics departments to design classroom learning experiences that allow students to learn mathematics and learn how to study math through their…

Overcome budget cuts, lack of leadership, top-down mandates, and other obstacles to professional development by using this book's take-charge approach. Joseph H. Semadeni guides you through a systemic method to professional development that: (1) Motivates teachers to continuously learn and apply best practices; (2) Makes adult learning activities…

The purpose of this report is to provide descriptive information about educational technology practices related to the core objectives of the U.S. Department of Education's Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. The EETT program is part of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" ("NCLB") and, like other elements…

An essential part of moving forward with the Understanding by Design[R] framework is to make sure its principles and strategies are reflected in all aspects of your school improvement efforts, including curriculum planning, leadership, teacher professional development, and action research. Here's a book designed to help you. From creating your…

A project at Bucknell University is described that was designed to: evaluate faculty teaching, conduct faculty seminars and workshops, disseminate sources of information to faculty, provide funds for the support of instructional improvement projects, develop a means of relating the quality of teaching and scholarship to a system of financial and…

The effectiveness of instructional development evaluation programs is assessed. It is suggested that although it is a basic tenet in instructional development that teaching improvement is closely linked to effective evaluation, it is ironical that most instructional development programs have themselves been evaluated only superficially, if at all.…

Participants in this resource sharing conference in Alaska, which focused on the identification of educational resources and linking users to resource providers, included representatives from business, industry, and other agencies, as well as educators. The objectives of the conference were (1) to provide providers of services with a better…

The first intensive exposure to organized dissemination at the state, regional, and national level for many of the participants, this 2-day conference consisted of a series of sessions held in Honolulu and neighboring islands. Explanations of how these dissemination efforts are organized and operated were followed by detailed information on the…

Selected by Department of Education staff to initiate a resource exchange effort, a core group of 19 representatives of educational agencies and organizations was invited to attend this conference intended to increase individual and group knowledge of the resources and services available from their organizations. A pre-conference mailing included…

Input into the design, content, and development of a comprehensive resource tool--the Montana Educational Resources and Services notebook--was provided by the 16 members of a planning team made up of Office of Public Instruction (OPI) managers and consultants, selected Montana educators, and Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Dissemination…

The approximately 100 participants in this conference, who represented a wide variety of educational and noneducational agencies in and outside Oregon, learned new strategies for networking; shared information about the extensive base of human and material resources available to support school improvement in the state; developed ideas on how…

Building upon groundwork established by previous meetings, this session of the Washington Dissemination Task Force focused on the preparation and intensive study of a policy and guidelines on dissemination for the Office of the State Department of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the identification of future responsibilities of the group. Conference…

The planning and organization of this project are described, as well as such activities as the formation of the steering committee, identification of resources, support for dissemination planning conferences in each of the six member states (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington), and the development of the State Consultant Model.…