The pressure to improve instruction and teacher effectiveness continues to grow in our nation's public elementary schools. As a means to achieve instructional improvements, school districts are increasingly adopting instructional coaching initiatives. This study explored instructional coaches' perspectives on their preparation for the role of…

The World Economic Forum (WEF) found that Botswana's information and communication technology (ICT) networked readiness index (NRI) had declined from position 89 in 2012 to 104 in 2015. A decline in Botswana's ICT NRI resulted in a modest gross domestic product (GDP) growth increasing from 4.2% in 2012 to 5.0% in 2015. The purpose of this…

Paraprofessional training is essential for high quality special education services. Yet, educators may struggle to select appropriate materials for paraprofessional training. A review was conducted of 26 paraprofessional training materials using a rubric designed to evaluate the alignment with federal legislation and professional standards, and…

The 1979 American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) President, Jan Margolis, discusses the organization's challenges and role. Identifies 1979-80 ASTD goals which cluster in four areas: representation and leadership in the human resource field, professionalism, member and leadership development, and maintaining a healthy organization.…

Emphasizes the importance of the planning and the process of organizing staff meetings. Specifically addresses the areas concerning clarity of purpose and structure of meetings, as well as promoting learning and connecting during meetings. Provides specific strategies to achieve these goals including suggestions for self-assessment. (SD)

Suggests strategies for mobilizing more leadership and power in the early childhood profession including: (1) getting teachers, providers, and directors to the table; (2) taking time to reflect and raise questions; (3) using a constructivist, empowering pedagogy; and (4) forging relationships of integrity and respect. (SD)

Inner-city schools located in high poverty communities often operate with insufficient resources to meet the educational needs of students. Community residents serving as paraeducators offer the dual benefits of expanding instructional capacity and fostering family-school relationships, provided they are appropriately prepared and incorporated…

Many drug agencies are now recognizing that in order to be effective in dealing with the changing drug problems, their staffs require additional training in many areas. This paper presents one method by which to assess training needs; this approach relies heavily on the needs identified by actual drug abuse agencies staff. (Author)

All individuals desiring employment as substitute teachers for the Oklahoma City Public Schools are required to attend a professional substitute teacher institute. Certified and noncertified applicants are eligible; retired teachers who have been employed within the previous 3 years are exempt. Curriculum and instruction for the institute,…

An evaluation was conducted to determine the effects of the General Electric Foundation Summer Institutes on Career Education and Guidance over a one to two year period in participating school districts and communities. The study evaluated the team-oriented institutes held in 1976 and 1977 at the University of South Carolina and Indiana…

Increased attention is being given to division-wide professional staff development. Readers are invited to consider the Mini-U format. (Author)

Developed in anticipation of the adoption of AACR2 by the library community, two plans reported by the General Libraries address the impact on the catalog and staff training. No conflict is anticipated in the absorption of AACR2 and the focus of the first report is on the mechanics of integrating AACR2 headings with headings already in the…

This paper discusses the structure and process of an A.R.C. workshop, an innovative approach to inservice training. Following a general introduction, including impacts on workshop participants, the paper details four basic components of a workshop: (1) the opening session, (2) examining readiness for professional development, (3) exploring…

This research describes how the Pemnatapan Kerja Guru (PKG) Project in Indonesia developed into one of the largest continuing inservice programs in the world. Working with UNESCO and UNICEF, the Ministry of Education began a radical innovation of inservice training of secondary teachers already in the classrooms. Beginning with science teachers in…

Seminar report and recommendations of the Ontario Society for Training and Development's Professional Development Committee on competencies needed by professional training and development personnel, including checklists of skills and abilities in the various competency areas. (MF)