Discusses how to make instructional improvement decisions using data-based assessment. Describes three steps in using data-based assessment: developing the right questions, collecting and analyzing the data, and providing staff support to make effective use of the data. Effective use of assessment data requires both quality data and sufficient…

We describe a simple undergraduate exercise involving the titration of a weak acid by a strong base using a pH meter and a micropipette. Students then use their data and carry out graphical analyses with a spreadsheet. The analyses involve using mathematical concepts such as first-derivative and semi-log plots and provide an opportunity for…

This chapter defines key terms and orients readers to the ideas explored in the rest of this volume.

A group is a learning community when members share a common vision that learning is the primary purpose for their association and the ultimate value to preserve in their workplace and that learning outcomes are the primary criteria for evaluating the success of their work. Some attributes of a learning community include modeling, continual sharing…

Education reformers have increasingly invested in developing collaborative communities within schools as a central strategy for improving teaching and student learning. This strategy comes in various guises, including small schools, small learning communities, and teacher teams. Several assumptions about how these communities will enhance…

This article draws on evidence from a small-scale study carried out in two early years classrooms. The study investigated an approach that appeared to enable very young children to construct and to write an argument. Multi-disciplinary theoretical perspectives are utilized for an explanation of the findings, with the work of Kress (1989) and…

Over the last decade, Malta has been moving away from a highly centralized and bureaucratic system to one that encourages broader involvement in policy-making and more collaboration among stakeholders. As a result, educators and schools have greater responsibilities to determine the way forward and to develop schools as learning communities.…

A growing body of literature suggests that when schools become professional communities there are expected benefits in terms of teacher learning, school improvement and student achievement. In this article the concept of professional communities is examined for certain subject departments in Dutch secondary schools. The authors report on research…

Seven experienced university teachers who already required reflective journal writing from their students undertook an innovative experiment in which they made the same demand of themselves, with their own continuing professional development (CPD) in mind. Six of them received and considered confidential facilitative comments upon each journal…

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of programs offering support, guidance, and orientation for beginning teachers during the transition into their first teaching job. This study examines whether such programs--collectively known as induction--have a positive effect on the retention of beginning teachers. The data used in the…

This paper describes two teacher educators' practice of incorporating "jugyoun kenkyuu"--the Japanese lesson study approach--in teacher preparation programs. To ascertain the effectiveness of using this approach in undergraduate and graduate education programs, the authors conducted a research study among 17 undergraduate students and 51 graduate…

"Quality teaching", "curriculum change" and "innovative practice" are just a few of the common phrases used by university academics as a basis for defining and justifying their actions as educators and policy-makers. Yet our analysis of 25 interviews with academics revealed differences in their conceptions of these terms. While the impact of such…

In this article, the authors describe an innovative composition pedagogy they collaborated called "Showdown in Superior!". In order to simulate a current public controversy over a proposed mine in Superior, Arizona, three writing classes assumed roles as competing interests and composed researched and reasoned arguments that supported…

Each edition of the IDRA Newsletter strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on Curriculum Quality and includes: (1) Suggestions for Conducting Effective Teaching Demonstrations in Classrooms with Diverse Learners…

The purpose of this paper is to provide brief descriptions and links to a number of reputed websites on various topics and issues of special education. The web sites are organized in the following categories: (1) Teaching in Inclusive Classroom, (2) Policies, Procedures, & Process of Special education, (3) Students with High Incidence…