Examines technology trends that will make the most difference in schools in the 21st century: infrastructure needs (public and private funding); CD-ROMs versus software downloaded from the Internet and bandwidth; appliance, or single-use, versus multipurpose computers; virtual classrooms; and technology training for teachers. Provides a…

Advances in computer technology offer opportunities for rural social workers to reduce their isolation and enhance professional communication and for social work educators to stay in touch with the real-world environment of practitioners. Development of an online journal to enhance professional competence is discussed, focusing on meaningful…

Questions the legitimacy of transferring educational models and materials between countries. Reviews recent trends in educational management development in Western and less developed countries and assesses the cross-cultural transfer of "school-based management self-development." Suggests that indigenization of models may be most appropriate, but…

Presents four models of distance education and associated delivery technologies (i.e., correspondence, multi-media, telelearning, and flexible learning), and briefly discusses instructional design technology. A global faculty-development program at the University of Southern Queensland (Australia) for teaching at a distance is described; the…

Firm evidence shows that formative assessment is an essential ingredient of classroom work and that its development can raise achievement standards. Achieving this goal demands a four-point scheme for teacher development: learning from development, a slow, yet steady dissemination process, reduction of obstacles, and substantive research efforts.…

Discusses professional development schools (PDSs), focusing on their use in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learning. Examines the context of the PDS movement and describes a successful ESL PDS at Trent Academy, an elementary school in a low income, high crime area of Los Angeles that formed a partnership with a state university. (SM)

An interview with Susan Loucks-Horsley, director of professional development at the National Research Council's Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education, explores the importance of good teachers, deficiencies in professional development, rural problems, the importance of high academic standards, how the newer standards differ…

The Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative aims to improve math and science instruction in 48 schools in 6 Appalachian states. The three program components are "teacher partners" who act as resources to colleagues; access to educational resources, through a collaboration with five area universities and acquisition of telecommunications…

Considers the status of the education agenda of the Sea Grant Program as it turns 30. Projects described include Operation Pathfinder, which aims to educate minority teachers and/or teachers of minority students. Also described are a program in which seafood processors and resellers are trained in safety and health areas, and programs to train…

Preassessment teams are a collaborative problem-solving resource for teachers who have students with learning or behavioral problems. A survey of 48 rural preassessment team members found that they perceived themselves as a very effective support system for their colleagues, but desired more training in designing behavior management strategies…

This second of a two-part article introducing the steps in a school district's teacher professional development model discusses steps three through six: Web page or project; Internet Discovery (with its five phases-question, search, interpretation, composition, sharing); Cyberinquiry; and WebQuests. Three examples are included: Web Page…

This first of a two-part article addressing the need to provide teachers with the skills and the instructional techniques to engage and challenge students by providing relevant technology instruction directly with a clearly delineated scope and sequence that scaffolds the adult learning from simple to more complex learning. Includes a model for…

Recounts a one-month period in the professional and family life of Joyce Tsunoda, the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii Community Colleges. Focuses on the observations and experiences of a Japanese-American woman born, raised, and immersed in a multicultural setting, learning and developing as an American and as an academic administrator and…

Planning meetings requires careful attention to three essential elements: purpose, participants' needs and expectations, and a suitable agenda. Meetings are great for problem solving, professional development, and team building. Serving snacks; choosing a comfy, well-arranged setting; adopting brainstorming rules; and involving teachers as…

Steps taken by instructional designers in constructing a case study for use in faculty development are outlined, from the original case study idea to selection of an appropriate classroom incident, writing the case, and planning the teaching process (identifying relevant issues, preparing discussion questions, and organizing discussion). The text…