Since 1999, the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) has provided funding to provincial school authorities for projects designed to improve student learning and performance. Conducted in three-year cycles, this unique approach has successfully helped to initiate approximately 1,600 grassroots projects led by school districts, teachers,…

The New England Head Start Teaching Center (NEHSTC) is one of 14 federally funded programs created to test the efficacy of participatory, hands-on training for enhancing Head Start service delivery. An outcome evaluation of the program was conducted after 3 years of operation. The research design of the evaluation was a nonequivalent comparison…

All proposals for education reform include professional development as a significant element in promoting change. Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of professional development and its role in educational reform. Consequently, evaluation of professional development programs is increasing and expanding to include student…

Peer coaching, teacher input, and focus on teaching improvement are important ingredients in an inservice teacher training program in a Palos Hills, Illinois, school district. Program goals and guidelines for training sessions and peer coaching teams are detailed. (CJH)

This report summarizes responses of Master Teachers to questions from a program application form and a survey administered at the conclusion of every Intel Teach to the Future Master Teacher training in the United States between March 2001 to July 2002. The data reported here demonstrate that Master Teachers' responses to this training have been…

During the summer and fall of 2003, Education Development Center's Center for Children and Technology (CCT) undertook a formative evaluation of the Intel Innovation in Education institutes. The institutes are one- to two-and-a-half day district-level trainings intended to introduce professional development providers to the online resources and…

In this book, the authors provide an overview of adult learning and its impact on professional development. The chapters provide a theoretical foundation along with practical advice on implementing team-based professional development among educators within school districts which will lead to true systemic reform. The following seven chapters are…

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the National Board Certification Pilot Project in Iowa. Initiated in 1998, the Project provides monetary incentives for teacher certification, reimbursement for registration fees, and a support program for teachers pursuing certification. The effects of this program on teachers professional…

To study the effectiveness of counselor supervisory methods, three groups of supervisees rated specific supervisor behaviors for frequency and effectiveness. Results showed beginning trainees emphasized the mechanics and task of supervision, while experienced supervisees perceived a less structured interaction that was more supportive and more…

Describes the Teachers College Writing Project and the author's school's involvement in implementing a classroom storytelling project. Notes that in the process of developing ideas, they found themselves discussing a theoretical framework. Concludes that by supporting the revelation of students' stories, educators promote the well-being of the…

The authentic professional development (APD) model is presented as an effective approach for providing professional development for teachers of classes that include students with learning disabilities. A study involving 57 teachers indicated higher implementation rates in classrooms of teachers who participated in the APD model rather than…

Used audio conferencing for continuing education of Francophone and Anglophone addictions workers across Canada. Evaluation revealed that program design enabled cost-effective, real-time linking of local groups of professionals with their peers and with external expert colleagues. Found that such contact promoted social goals of networking and…

Describes a training program implemented by the Arkansas Department of Education-Special Education designed to assist schools in developing and implementing inclusive policies and practices within a school. Finds that the program is having a positive influence in creating more inclusive programming for students with disabilities. Offers…

Compares the professional development programs developed by the Small Business Development Centers in Michigan and Florida. Looks at the staffing, needs assessment methods, program structure, training methods and materials, competency measurement methods, and program evaluation of the two programs. Provides a checklist for creating professional…

This second of a two-part series on the training industry focuses on the internal perspectives of the training and learning process itself. Discusses the importance of returning to the core values of the training profession, in order to assure that the training/learning system works at full capacity. A table outlines the core principles,…