The Freedom to Learn (FTL) program is a statewide initiative coordinated by the Michigan Department of Education and Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Now beginning its third year, the program targets underperforming middle schools in 100 of the state's 500 districts. More than 23,000 students and 1,500 teachers have been issued HP nx9010…

The goal of the Health Sciences Faculty Education Project at Oregon Health & Science University was to enhance the capacity of health science programs and faculty to admit, teach, accommodate, and graduate students with disabilities. Multiple approaches were implemented to achieve this goal. A key strategy was an inservice training program…

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there was a difference in the internship experience between student interns placed in either an urban Professional Development School or an urban non-Professional Development School. Student interns from two urban universities who have partnerships with neighboring urban school districts…

The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota and the Science Museum of Minnesota have developed and implemented a successful program for middle school (grades 5-8) science teachers and their students, called Brain Science on the Move. The overall goals have been to bring neuroscience education to underserved schools, excite…

Background: The widespread and diverse models of professional standards for teaching raise questions with respect to the need to provide teachers with a pathway for continuing professional development balanced with the public nature of surveillance and accountability that may accompany standards. Ways of understanding technologies of power in…

Educational process reflection (EPR) is a professional development model aimed at supporting preschool teachers reflecting on and changing their practice. A particular focus is on interaction between practitioners and children, and between the children themselves. In this article, I first describe the theoretical frameworks that helped shape EPR,…

In this paper, the authors describe a model of professional development for early childhood science teachers based on their experiences over the past two years with Project ASTER: Active Science Teaching Encourages Reform. In this project, they have identified seven elements that constitute a quality professional development program. These…

Inverness Research studied the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Seminars on Science program for eight years, from its inception in 1998 to 2006. In 2009, Inverness Research conducted additional studies of the AMNH's new online course, The Solar System. This paper presents teacher survey ratings for The Solar System, along with profiles of…

This paper explores a case of teacher professional development in Botswana where a blended learning solution was attempted. The analysis of the implementation environment reveals deficiencies in policy, schools (workplaces), and training providers. The paper concludes with three recommendations: 1) Schools should support ongoing teacher learning…

A deeper understanding of the adult-learning process has produced a substantial consensus about the critical attributes that constitute effective professional-development practices. This volume presents findings of a study that examined the design, implementation, and impact of systemic reform efforts to in-depth case studies of three…

The press for the professionalization of teachers is based on the assertion that a strengthened profession will more effectively meet students' needs and improve the overall quality of education. This volume, the second in a set of three, presents detailed individual case studies from a study that examined the design, implementation, and impact of…

This evaluation of the State Incentive Grant (SIG) training program in 1993-94 compared five schools in the city of New York with relatively high involvement in SIG training and good planning with five schools reported to have low SIG involvement and poor planning. The evaluation also included a sampling of workshops at the District 75 annual…

A study was conducted to evaluate the Inter-American Center for the Teaching of Statistics (CIENES), a center established in Santiago, Chile, by the Organization of American States (OAS) to improve statistical reporting and training. Study objectives were to evaluate the administration of CIENES, assess operating costs and program results,…

The effectiveness of a four-week residential summer institute, developed by the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS, Mid-Atlantic), the University of Pennsylvania, and Bryn Mawr College, to train women for administrative positions in higher education was assessed in a 1978 study and will be evaluated in a longitudinal analysis. The institute…

Keeping high school students in school and helping them gain competence and confidence in skills so that they can be successful in the world of work and/or college is an enormous challenge. The results of one study clearly demonstrated a direct correlation between one's self-esteem and academic competence. The more competent one feels, the better…