The Neshaminy School District in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, established its Professional Development Center in an effort to help all teachers and administrators to have more impact on student achievement by refining and upgrading their professional skills. The district chose to implement Madeline Hunter's Essential Elements of Instruction Program.…

Investigated were the relationships among teacher success in implementing innovative programs, their perceptions of self-efficacy, and the perceived value of the programs. Significant increases were found in teachers' success in a sequence of development leading from innovation improvement to subsequent increases in perceptions of self-efficacy.…

Higher education, a setting devoted to the enhancement of learning, inquiry, and development, continues to lack effective development for faculty. Mentoring relationships seek to provide enhancement, yet few mentoring programs exist. This literature review examines forms of mentoring, its benefits, barriers to implementation, means for successful…

This report summarizes the results from new teacher surveys conducted in the Austin Independent School District during spring 2007. New teachers were asked about activities and support provided by their mentor teachers, their level of implementation of instructional practices, and their professional development needs.

The American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Plus 50 Initiative (2008-2011), funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, was created to build the capacity of community colleges nationwide to develop programming that engages the plus 50 learner. The Initiative supported a pilot group of 13 two-year institutions to develop or expand college…

The federal Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, project strives to equalize low-income students' access to higher education by increasing their participation in rigorous coursework, providing expanded opportunities for low-income students and parents to learn about postsecondary educational opportunities…

Evaluation of the school-based, collaborative inservice program implemented by 10 elementary schools in Jefferson County, Kentucky, indicates that ideal conditions are not essential to school improvement. Based on the effective schools research model, the project also provided evidence that local schools will adopt successful programs after pilot…

Effective faculty professional development programs in independent schools can lead to a collegial, intellectually stimulating school culture. These programs can inspire exciting partnerships. Importantly, there's a "trickle down effect"; energized faculty lead to energized students. Yet, many independent schools lack faculty…

Presents a corporate model for faculty development programs. Reviews corporate training programs, including planning, implementation, and motivations. Discusses the application of these corporate concepts to professional development, instructional development, personal development, and new staff orientation for faculty. (CH)

The Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative (PAHSCI) seeks to improve student achievement in high-need high schools across Pennsylvania by enhancing the teaching of literacy skills across subject areas. It is ambitious in its scope as a statewide initiative and distinctive in its direct focus on instruction as the pathway to improving…

The study examined implementation of the Dean's Grant Projects which funded institutions of higher education to change their preservice teacher education programs and the capabilities of teacher education faculty to incorporate skills necessary for mainstreaming handicapped students. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model was used to investigate two…

Describes a staff development program used at Corbett Middle School in Gresham, Oregon, that introduced learning style theory and in subsequent years focused on helping teachers implement teaching methods that applied the theory effectively and creatively. The program's goals, processes, support services, and evaluation are discussed. (PGD)

Goal setting, empowering champions (individuals who make a difference in initiating change), faculty-initiated activities, and faculty-staff development opportunities are the four major factors in determining success in computing at the University of Georgia. Each of these areas is discussed. (JN)

This issue contains a summary of the recommendations that emerged from discussions at a conference on early childhood learning. Several key areas emerged from the conference work groups, including universal access to daycare, improving the quality of professional development, and increasing parental involvement in early childhood education. The…

Chapters in this guide provide practical guidance and useful information and resources relating to important aspects of faculty development, from setting up a faculty development program to assessing teaching practices. The chapters are: (1) "Faculty, Instructional, and Organizational Development: Options and Choices" (Robert M. Diamond); (2) "Ten…