Today's ever-changing learning environment is characterized by the fast pace of technology that drives our society to move forward, and causes our knowledge to increase at an exponential rate. The need for in-depth research that is bound to generate new knowledge about curriculum and program development is becoming ever more relevant.…

This book describes how to use adult learning strategies in planning faculty development. Chapter 1 addresses concerns about success, demonstrating how to use an adult learning model to help faculty developers succeed. Chapter 2 presents the Adult Learning Model for Faculty Development, which has four stages grounded in adult learning and program…

The "Essentials of Best Practice in Professional Development for Sustained Change Model" is based on recent research in professional development, adult learning theory, shared leadership, effective schools, and the change process. The model views increased student learning as the goal; schools as the unit of change; professional…

Drawing on evidence from literature on professional development of teachers in Australia, this document discusses the essential aspects of inservice education and provides a checklist, with illustrative applications, by which to design and evaluate inservice education proposals. The checklist is based on four sets of assumptions relating to…

This chapter on designing and implementing effective staff development programs is taken from a guide to instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter focuses on assessment of staff development needs and identification of priorities for training. Staff development options are discussed in terms of formats (such as workshops,…

This guide to effective staff development planning draws extensively on the literature to discuss the concepts crucial at each stage of the planning process. An introductory section reviews the characteristics of adult learners (including what they want to learn and how they prefer to learn it), touching on adult development, learning and…

This book offers new practices for raising student achievement as it advocates for responsible changes in the policies, structures, and operations of schools, providing a perspective to help educators face the challenges of professional learning on a personal level. Its 11 sections focus on: (1) "Introduction: Essential Questions about…

Mindful of the need for quality professional development and its characteristics, large numbers of educators are self-selecting to participate in workplace/community learning (WCL) experiences. Viewed as an alternative to less desirable forms of traditional professional development, WCL displays characteristics of high-quality professional…

The end of communist rule in Romania meant that the country's Rroma (Gypsy) population could affirm its ethnic and cultural identity. However, educational opportunities for Rroma children remain low. The following are among the many factors that have led to social exclusion of the Rroma in Romania: existing policy priorities; high unemployment and…

This bibliography is intended to be relatively comprehensive--within the monograph literature--concerning the broad scope of topics that fall under the general rubric of "adult education." It excludes periodical literature, master's theses, and dissertations. The bibliography is divided into topical chapters, some of which are further…