Despite the growing number of international professional development programs, there is very little published research regarding the structures and effectiveness of these programs. This paper shares the design and development of the technology component of an international professional development (PD) program designed for secondary English as…

This paper presents the findings of a study conducted in China to identify the potential benefits of incorporating robotics as an educational tool for 100 primary and 320 secondary school teachers of general technology. The Professional Learning Program was conducted from 2010-2013 in China. The major focus of the program was on the development…

This comprehensive guide discusses how to design staff development in science and math. It is tailored specifically to the needs of individual schools or departments. Vignettes from real schools illustrate concepts within the book. The book provides 15 strategies for professional development and describes each one with its underlying assumptions…

Sixty students began study in the fall, 1968, in a comprehensive pilot program for the professional education of teachers. Step 1, "Early Engagement and Awareness: Personal and Professional Decision Making," is a period of self-assessment, selected direct experiences, and interaction with teachers and occupational information. If the…

The development of a Doctor of Arts (D.A.) program in history at Illinois State University's Department of History is presented. The program proposal was approved in 1974 and a full complement of graduate students were accepted into the program by summer 1975. The overall objective of the program is the improvement of history instruction and…

This paper provides background information from the professional literature related to teacher mentoring programs. It is organized into four sections. The first section, "Mentoring Rationale" discusses the need for new teacher support, the success of mentoring as a useful induction strategy, and benefits to participants. Section two,…

This policy brief presents excerpts from an article by Judith Warren Little that addresses the problem of the "fit" between current state and local reforms and prevailing approaches to professional development. The brief addresses first five major themes of reform and their implications for teaching. These themes are: reforms in subject…

The mission of the Mid-continental Regional Education Laboratory (McREL) is to improve practice and increase academic performance in the schools of the seven-state mountain-plains region. McREL's principal approach to the dissemination and utilization of the effective schools research has been training teachers to use research. Based on the…

An important component of sound middle school education is a commitment to providing coordinated advising and counseling services in the school setting. This handbook describes how middle school professionals can develop small group advisory support for each student. Known variously as home-base, advisor-advisee, or teacher advisory (TA) programs,…

This primer describes the comprehensive nature of the role of the public school teacher working directly with children from non-English-language backgrounds. Intended primarily for less experienced teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL), it may be useful to aides, tutors, administrators, counselors, health professionals, mainstream…