The professional development school (PDS) is a model of choice for many teacher preparation programs. This approach integrates the functions of teacher preparation, professional development, inquiry and research, and student achievement to bring about whole-school improvement and the simultaneous renewal of the teaching profession. Ideally,…

This discussion of the concerns-based approach to teacher preparation focuses on the works of Frances Fuller and the development of the concerns adoption model as a basis for effective preservice teacher education. An overview of the framework of Fuller's theory examines the salient points in the progression of concerns from non-concern, through…

This article is an attempt to focus upon the many changes which undoubtedly will take place and to discuss some of those issues considered significant. (Author)

The impact of world technology on the Malaysian education scene has been tremendous. The system of education, while trying to maintain its local cultural values, is greatly influenced by the world culture. This phenomena is also seen in its teacher education programs. But what has this impact done to the development and progress of teacher…

Levels of use of the innovation represent behaviors demonstrated by individuals as they grow in the process of innovation implementation. Eight levels of use have been defined, ranging from lack of knowledge about the innovation through highly sophisticated, impact-oriented use. Operational definitions include seven categories of adopter knowledge…

Since its inception in 1965, the Illinois Research Coordinating Unit (RCU) has continued to be involved in innovative activities for measured change in vocational education. The use of ancillary monies for contractual research and development activities has been the major thrust of the unit. The Illinois RCU has played a significant role in…

The following questions are addressed in this paper: (1) What should be the goals for teacher education as we move into the twenty-first century? (2) Given the present organizational framework for teacher education, how is change which is responsive to the future needs of teachers and learners possible? How can such changes be planned and…

The primary problem of teacher education is seen as a developmental issue. A justification of a reflective inquiry in teacher education is presented emphasizing its benefits for teacher empowerment. A brief synopsis of an attempt to implement these ideas in a foundational course in educational psychology is offered. (JD)

Today, after nearly 100 years of pressure toward consolidation, communities which have resisted consolidation for the last generation are finally getting some support. Some of this support comes from simple facts and figures. There is strong evidence that centralized schools are expensive, remote from the communities they are supposed to serve,…

During the early 1990s, the concept of "full-service schools" has gained momentum in educational and social reform movements as an effective vehicle for providing integrated, comprehensive, and intensive services to at-risk children, youth, and families. The essential feature of full-service schools is to provide a system that connects…

These eight conference papers discuss adult learning, instructional theory, and related issues in research and practice. Focusing on processes of educational change, the first paper considers how experienced teachers, educational theorists, and researchers possessing empirically tested knowledge can cooperate in program planning. The next paper…

A study synthesized critical findings and implications for teacher preparation from three major research studies and databases completed in 1987-88 by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education: Postsecondary Occupational Education Delivery: An Examination (Hollenbeck et al. 1987); Vocational Teacher Education: A Survey of Preservice…

This paper describes a method of research to examine the process of effecting educational change through adopting innovative ideas. Twenty-nine elementary teachers in the process of adopting a complex curricular innovation were studied. Because of the complex nature of this process, ordering theory was used as the method for analyzing the adoption…

A total of 135 state directors representing 53 state vocational education units attended a 4-day seminar which focused on the foundations of the career education concept, systems for implementing programs, and conceptualizing the role of state vocational education divisions in bringing about the necessary changes. Some major presentations were:…

Issues in the education of gifted and talented students from minority language groups are discussed, including the definition of giftedness and how it affects minority language students, the reasons for underrepresentation of this group in gifted programs, commonly used techniques for identification of students in this group, and the suitability…