In this article, Dr Amanda Kirby, medical director at the Dyscovery Centre in Cardiff, Rhys Davies, a researcher for the School of Education at the University of Wales, and Amy Bryant, a psychology student at Cardiff University, report on their investigations into teachers' and general practitioners' (GPs') knowledge of six specific learning…

This study examines the development of teachers' metastrategic knowledge (MSK), a component of metacognitive knowledge, in the context of higher order thinking. Participants were 14 junior high school and high school science teachers who attended a professional development course. Data collection was carried out by triangulation of several data…

Participants in a science professional development field experience were surveyed for their perceptions of the impacts of integrating a wireless local area network (WLAN), pocket PCs, and laptops as tools for enhancing science inquiry. Pocket PCs and laptops were used for data collection and analysis and for communication of research results to…

In this article, the author, who is a school principal, discusses her strategies of implementing schoolwide discipline process. Seeking a solution, she attended a two-day workshop on schoolwide discipline. In the two-day workshop, she and her staff learned to institute a more effective approach throughout the entire school, an approach that is…

High-quality professional development is essential in supporting accomplished teaching. But how is the efficacy of professional development evaluated? The authors present several methods for conducting a critical analysis of professional development. Using a large-scale professional development initiative as the focal point, they first explain…

The term "mission creep" was originally coined nearly a hundred years ago to describe the gradual process by which a military mission's stated methods and goals change, and recently the term has been applied to incremental organizational changes. In this article, the term is used to describe what happens when a teaching-oriented college or…

Maintaining a high-quality professional portfolio is important for both preservice and inservice physical educators because a portfolio serves as a comprehensive representation of an individual and his or her accomplishments as a professional. For this reason, it is important that physical educators take an active role in updating and maintaining…

In this paper, the authors contend that professional development often focuses on, and advocates, a particular instructional strategy, such as the use of hands-on instruction. In the lessons observed in the "Inside the Classroom Study," however, it was found that instructional strategy did not determine lesson quality. Consequently, the authors…

Half-way through this first decade of the 21st century, educators are working diligently to ensure that all students learn and schools demonstrate annual yearly progress. Schools are scrambling to find ways to reach students who are struggling. Once again professional development is being seen as a major tool to support improved practice and to…

The study examines the perceptions of 104 mid-and senior-level student affairs administrators of positions, responsibilities, competencies, and theories important for professional practice for new student affairs professionals. In regard to competencies, the results of this study provide important information about preprofessional abilities that…

A unique professional development program took place for senior student affairs officers at The University of Salamanca (Spain) in June 2005. Participants had first-hand experiences with studying abroad and had opportunities to exchange ideas and perspectives with professionals from a variety of institutions from within and outside of the United…

In this article, the author discusses several good reasons for belonging to local, state, and national professional art education organizations. When one actively participates, he/she develops networks with other art educators. Professional organizations provide opportunities for professional development, service, and leadership. One's teaching…

The article proposes that the proper status for teacher education, both historically and in terms of its research-demonstrated importance, is one of full professionalism alongside other professional training regimes in universities. It proposes furthermore that the many reviews and reports of the past quarter-century have been attempting to move…

During the complex teaching act, there are moments that require teachers to engage in reflection to make critical decisions about how to respond to particular problems in practice. The present investigation provides a stimulus for capturing these reflections as four elementary practicing teachers are asked to describe their "bumpy moments" in…

When preservice teachers graduate and obtain their first teaching position, it is hoped that they have taken the first step on a creative path toward becoming professional educators. Naturally, it is expected that these novice educators will get support from both experienced colleagues and administrators, who often serve as their mentors. Such…