In the University of California (Davis) Program in College Teaching, graduate teaching assistants develop and fulfill contractual agreements for faculty-guided investigations into their disciplines, with supporting individualized activities about practices and issues of college teaching. Aspects of the program's development and effectiveness are…

Discusses research on teachers' perceptions about the use of student assessment in instruction and the extent to which teachers have received any preservice or inservice training in assessment. The article presents teachers' responses to a questionnaire requesting information on test use and assessment background. (SM)

A survey of 40 dental schools investigated policies and practices concerning full-time faculty becoming students in their school's degree or certificate program as a means of professional development. Widely varying policies and practices were found. Use of sabbatical leave or leaves of absence during the study period was common. (MSE)

Systems thinking involves seeing relationships between the parts to the whole within the school improvement effort. After providing the key principles and examples of systems thinking, the article emphasizes the importance of staff development, highlighting experiences at a Wellesley (Massachusetts) middle school and an Alaskan high school. (SM)

The experience of the Harvard University School of Public Health with use of cases for promoting faculty discussion of teaching is described. It is concluded that the technique provides a forum for faculty to examine their own perspectives and gain insight from other teachers in the same institutional setting. (MSE)

Reports on a study of 454 college-level faculty on the tension between setting up a family and a professional career. Finds data that support the thesis that, in the course of an academic career, a process of selection takes place that has a negative professional impact on women who choose to have a family. (CFR)

Evaluates the effects of a combined health-related curriculum and inservice program on quality and quantity of elementary school physical education lessons. Findings from observations of 28 fourth-grade classes showed positive results in student activity engagement, lesson context, and active instructional behavior. (GLR)

Presents a typology of course-delivery techniques (technology as a supplement, conferencing technology as a supplement, and technology as the primary instructional mode) used by the Center for Distance Learning at the State University of New York Empire State College. Describes instructional considerations for each type and approaches used for…

Presents specific ways teachers can create a safe, just, inclusive, communicative, inviting, and caring elementary classroom community that promotes academic achievement. Focuses on teachers becoming more caring and competent by being honest, cultivating communication skills, being flexible, being empathetic, promoting humor, being kind,…

Explains the CEO Forum on Education and Technology and describes their efforts to examine the progress public schools are making in using technology to improve education so that students graduate with the skills they need in the business world. Discusses hardware, network and Internet connectivity, digital content, and teachers' professional…

Presents information from the first year of the California Formative Assessment and Support System for Teachers (CFASST), suggesting that it offers a way to diagnose teaching systematically and facilitate improved student academic achievement. Open-ended feedback from support providers all over California on the first CFASST events indicates that…

Discusses the need for formal training in Internet use for K-12 educators and presents rubrics to help staff-development designers measure the following competencies: Internet basics; e-mail/electronic mailing lists; World Wide Web; search tools; newsgroups, gophers, telnet; obtaining, decompressing, using files; real-time/push technologies;…

Analyzes key factors in achieving the involvement and active participation of engineering faculty in the conception and implementation of new and effective teaching strategies. Contains 19 references. (WRM)

Used case studies to examine teachers' motivation and instructional style in relationship to their progress in Professional Development School staff development. Field observations of teachers examined the effectiveness of the Teacher Instructional Orientation and Motivation model in predicting teachers' responses to staff development. Data…

Reluctance of college faculty to teach critical thinking may be due to many factors. Proactive strategies for reducing resistance include creating a positive context for change, communicating expertness and credibility, creating a sense of safety and trust, countering sources of student resistance, and creating high hopes and expectations for…