The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) program seeks to address challenges of broadening participation in STEM at scale. The NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance ("Aspire," or "the Alliance") aims to diversify…

Teachers are often encouraged to work in partnerships to support their professional development. In this article we focus on three forms of working partnerships based in English secondary schools. Each has an intended function of developing teaching practices. The cases of mentoring, coaching and an adapted lesson study come from both initial…

This study examines the perspectives of Wyoming instructional facilitators, concerning three coaching constructs--namely, their instructional leadership roles, teachers' instructional practices, and the support that they receive from principals and teachers. Findings suggest that instructional facilitators were positive about their instructional…

In recent years, there have been sizeable shifts in higher education. These shifts include more diverse student populations, advancements in pedagogy, and research progress within discipline-specific knowledge (Austin, 2002; Braxton, 2006; Gibbs & Coffey, 2004; Sunal et al, 2001; Trigwell & Prosser, 1996). These changes along with student…

The majority of teacher candidates are eager to enter the field of teaching for their junior participation to try out methods, such the as Problem Solving Approach, that they have been learning throughout their classes at college. Teacher educators often place an emphasis on the use of Problem Solving Approach because it is natural to children.…

The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of Cardinal Stritch University's Undergraduate Teacher Education Program in preparing its graduates to teach all children. The researcher framed the study around four areas of concern common to beginning teachers from the research and literature: (a) curriculum, instruction and assessment…

This article examines mentoring as an instructional method and explore its potential for performance improvement. Highlights include key individuals and roles in mentoring; examples of potential mentor relationships; mentoring needs; and methods of mentoring, including traditional, peer, and team mentoring. (LRW)

A learning community is a relatively old phenomenon that has resurfaced; it is making educators at institutions of higher education stand up and take notice. Grounded in collaborative and cooperative learning theories, learning communities have created environments in which student learning is the center of attention. The social construction of…

Discusses benefits of mentoring for the novice, the organization, and the mentor. Outlines key principles of successful mentoring: proper preparation; formal training; effective pairing of individuals; organizational support; time for reflection and evaluation; and follow through. (AEF)

Explored the professional knowledge that two teams of interdisciplinary teachers exchanged during their daily interactions using observation of team planning meetings, teacher interviews, and teachers' personal reflections. The following five types of mentoring among highly collaborative teachers emerged: collaborative, clerical, professional…

Research shows conclusively that principals and other school leaders are essential to school improvement, and that these individuals benefit from the intensive, contextualized support that a coach or mentor can provide. But how does a coach support a school leader in mastering the professional and emotional challenges of school leadership for a…

This book contains the following papers about the framework of mentoring as a workplace learning strategy and the role of mentoring the education, health, and industrial cultures: "Preface" (Brian J. Caldwell, Earl M.A. Carter); "The Workplace of the 1990s" (Brian J. Caldwell, Earl M.A. Carter); "The Principles and…

This study developed and tested a model for using peer coaching to improve college instruction of culturally diverse students. The model's four elements include: change based on collegial relationships combined with peer interactions; dealing with classroom problems through positive behavior change of professors; presentation of observation…

The Hofstra University New Teachers' Network offers a multifaceted approach to university-based support for new teachers that also enhances the experience of students in its preservice teacher education program. This model is rooted in relationships that develop during preservice teacher education programs and has been successful at recruiting and…

This document describes the mentoring relationship from the perspectives of several virtual schools that have built mentoring programs to assist their new teachers. Each school's mentoring program is unique and has been designed specifically for the school's staff, size, and instructional approach. These schools have learned that a successful…