It is suggested in this paper that practical arguments can be used in teacher education and staff development programs to introduce teachers to research-based practices. Practical arguments consist of three types of premises--value, empirical, and situational--that conclude with an action, or an intention to act. Such arguments are a useful way to…

This paper describes a study which explored the variables of teacher knowledge of content, teacher attitude toward the content, and span of time with regard to implementation of selected teaching practices in the elementary classroom. The 32 elementary classroom teachers who comprised the sample received 2 days of training in instructional…

Summary information is provided about the school sites that participated in the National Education Association's three-year inservice education project. The process by which over 600 inservice education materials were identified and screened for inclusion in the project's resource base is described, and the development of a dissemination system to…

To avoid implementation problems, thought must be given to diagnosis and systematic adaptive planning for the implementation of educational innovations. (MM)

Steps taken by a university to develop a successful and meaningful inservice teacher education program for public school teachers are described. Development of this program involves cooperative effort from several different sources. Faculty members, as part of their teaching load, are assigned to educational support teams that help school…

The focus of this book is on the planning of a comprehensive system of staff development and the governance, design, and implementation of specific programs within that system. Much of the book consists of recommendations that are based on the study of a wide range of staff development programs, research on teachers and teaching, information about…

This study used a questionnaire designed to assess teachers' and administrators' perceptions of teaching performance and their perceptions of the importance of various teaching knowledges and skills. The purpose of the study was to suggest how survey research can be used to examine teachers' perceptions of their performance in context and in…

Staff development programs should be established by using a set of assumptions grounded in research and best practice. The article examines faulty assumptions that guide too many programs, then presents 14 new assumptions that should guide effective practice and successful staff development. (SM)

This report on action research projects conducted by student teachers as a part of their preservice teacher preparation program focuses on how action research improves the understanding of educational practices by the practitioner-researchers themselves. Two major topics are discussed. First, specific types of claims about the impact of action…

A report is given of the development and progress of the Research Applications for Teaching (RAFT) project, developed at Mississippi State University. Based upon research findings relative to effective teaching and effective schooling, five curriculum modules were prepared and implemented in instruction. In the second year of the project the…

The reflections of two social scientists regarding an inservice education program for elementary school teachers were the basis of their approach to inservice programs: Teachers need to have analytical and inquiry skills that will allow them to read research reports and listen to inservice presentations, digest the information, and then apply what…

This report is a summary and review of a study on the effects of introducing an independent learning system in low socioeconomic (SES) schools. The report is organized into five sections. The first provides background information on the independent learning system, the research design and student variables of interest. The second section describes…

Drawing upon research findings on school effectiveness, the McREL School Improvement Program was designed to examine critically such factors as school leadership, building organization, school climate and environment, and how citizens and parents are encouraged to participate in raising morale and effectiveness. Focus is upon instructional…

Five research studies on teacher planning are reviewed to discover how basic descriptive research can inform the practice. Seven findings are discussed: (1) Planning is important to teachers and generally invisible to everyone else; (2) Planning differs in practice from traditional prescriptions for planning; (3) Planning during the first weeks of…

The purpose of this journal, addressed specifically to educators, is to describe, introduce, or translate results of research and development work funded by the National Institute of Education. The first article examines two secondary schools that are undertaking comprehensive efforts to improve their practices with help from the Wisconsin…