Most teachers have limited flexibility in terms of their schedules, their opportunities for professional learning and collaboration, and how they use their time. However, recent data suggests that rethinking teacher time could be important to improving teacher recruitment and retention. How can districts and schools provide teachers more…

Teacher retention is a complex and critical issue. A wide range of causes contribute to teacher retention, attrition, and heightened teacher stress. Retention indicates teachers remaining in the teaching profession, and attrition refers to teachers leaving the education field (Arroyo, 2021). Schools need help to retain high-quality teachers due to…

This descriptive qualitative study explores lecturers' perspectives on Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) in New Zealand Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with the five purposively selected lecturers from four TEIs, this article investigates the challenges and…

Students' demand for online learning continues. At the same time, results of multiple studies from the early 2000s through the present day point to a set of common concerns that may explain faculty members' hesitation and resistance to online teaching. However, less is known about how faculty members experience online teaching, especially the…

The working lives of teachers and leaders study is an annual survey of teachers and leaders in state schools in England. The survey explores teachers and leaders': (1) workload, wellbeing and flexible working arrangements; (2) attitudes to pay; (3) experiences of professional development; (4) views on pupil behaviour; (5) career reflections; and…

A shortage of qualified online faculty exists as learner demand rises. This replication research studied two sample populations--full-time and adjunct--of online faculty at a for-profit applied arts college. The purpose of this study was to discover the motivators and incentives that drive faculty to teach online, enabling college-level…

This digest discusses block scheduling and it relates to teaching standards, staff development standards, and assessment standards. The standards are examined in terms of how they can be achieved through the use of block scheduling, and conclusions stress the necessity of scheduling for maximum student learning. (DDR)

Secondary educators can create blocks of time for teachers and students to study and learn so teachers can enjoy professional growth opportunities without sacrificing students' instructional time. The article provides a scheduling plan, explaining how to modify schedules to offer teachers extended planning or development periods on a rotating…

One critical means of reaching the goal to improve student learning is to restructure school time for professional development. This publication examines issues in promoting professional development for all staff during regular school time. The overview describes alternative strategies for effectively finding and using time to support…

In 2002, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) initiated an innovative and ambitious program for improving student learning through the effective use of instructional technology. Until that point, most technology projects in schools were geared toward integrating technology into the curriculum, and they tended to focus on…

This paper investigates the questions and considerations that should be discussed by administrators, faculty, and support staff when designing, developing and offering a hybrid (part online, part face-to-face) degree program. Using two Web questionnaires, data were gathered from nine instructors and approximately 450 students to evaluate student…

In this article, the author discusses five common strategies for making online high school programs effective in one's school district. These are: (1) Prepare students for success; (2) Prepare teachers for success; (3) Use interactive, flexible course designs; (4) Monitor and support teachers; and (5) Monitor and support students. Despite their…

The Flexible Calendar Pilot Project at Evergreen Valley College focused on staff and instructional development, and assessing the needs and characteristics of the student population. The new academic calendar, based on faculty preference, called for a fall semester beginning in late August and ending in mid-December, an 18-day intersession during…

The California Community Colleges' (CCC) Flexible Calendar Program (FCP) allows districts to allocate up to 15 instructional days from the 175-day academic calendar to engage in staff, student, and instructional improvement activities. The CCC Board of Governors' Task Force on Flexible Calendar, drawing from three sources (i.e., program growth…

An eight-chapter manual describes how to involve school faculty in the development of effective middle schools. The author identifies the components of effective middle school programs and suggests processes for implementing the programs using group and staff development techniques. Chapter 1 discusses staff development programs to train teachers…