Four conditions for creating or refining alternative teacher certification programs are improving instruction, addressing shortages of qualified teachers, placing teachers in hard-to-staff schools, and measuring teacher competence. Programs should be pragmatic, market sensitive, embedded in the learning context, and performance driven. (SK)

The author discusses how theory and practical action work together to maintain teachers' professional vitality. She examines the current concern with models and their influence on perception of reality. The author states that good paradigms bring more precision to professional practice, allow more accurate predictions, or provide for the…

The National Education Association's Teacher Education Initiative restructures teacher preparation around principles of partnership, coherent knowledge base, systemic internal change, systematic external change, equity and diversity, and teacher leadership. (SK)

The author states that an understanding of the legal doctrine from which malpractice charges arise, as well as of the rationale behind the courts' reluctance to decide educational matters, and a commitment to make improvements within the system to stop malpractice claims before they happen are the keys to avoiding educational malpractice suits.…

Questions concerning the use of microcomputers in schools are examined and are categorized by utility (what needs are we trying to fill), human factors (do microcomputers enhance one's growth or fulfillment), resources (what functions do they accomplish), and strategy (how will the impact of computer usage be assessed). (CT)

Discusses important goals for the future, such as an awareness of the acceleration of change, an "electronic partnership" with technology, wise use of computer networking, and building clearer psychological insights into learner-computer relationships. (CT)

The author argues in favor of "educational engineers" being grounded in the philosophies of education to understand the social meanings of the ideas with which they work. The leaders must set for themselves a long, continued study of the techniques that will make the idea operate in the learning situation. (CT)

Presents ideas to improve education, including employing increasingly effective group procedures, teaching techniques of cooperative planning and group problem solving, developing skills of cooperative assessment and self-evaluation, and developing skills of propaganda analysis. (CT)

Discusses several statements about education and schooling concerning children's learning ability, the need for lifetime learning, influence of the home experience, the importance of good teachers, and the importance of program improvement at the local level. Six goals for improving future education are stated. (CT)

Alternative teacher credentialing should be evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in improving the quality of education cost effectively, attracting high quality and more diverse teachers, and forging closer links between teacher education reform and elementary-secondary school improvement. (SK)