Describes New College of California's implementation of the year-long Elementary Teacher Credential program, a broad multicultural vision with extensive pedagogical goals. The article focuses primarily on innovative aspects of the program designed to provide teachers with the skills and understanding needed for the culturally diverse twenty-first…

With dwindling budgets and multiple demands on their time, teachers find fewer opportunities to stay current in their field. This article describes some principles for self-directed professional development and ways to read journals efficiently. Suggestions are offered for establishing a community of self-directed learner-teachers. (12 references)…

Provides details of a science teacher inservice model centered around the methodology of problem solving and ownership of outcomes associated with an issue or problem. Describes perceptions of the program by staff and participants. (Author/MKR)

Conducted a study to show in an audiovisual form how technological activities can be planned and implemented successfully at the primary school level. Demonstrates how science and technology can be linked in the curriculum. Reports that designing a unit that takes advantage of the symbiotic relationship between science and technology can lead to…

Supports a broad definition of scholarship and suggests ways leaders can promote a sense of professionalism built around scholarly work. Considers the culture of the community college, the task of changing attitudes and campus climates, reward systems, examples of scholarly activities, and the role of the academic dean. (DMM)

A case study of library science students enrolled in fieldwork programs through South African universities analyzed the positive and negative effects of the socialization that such programs provide. Recommendations are made to counter the negative effects experienced by some students, such as dissonance of values. (25 references) (LAE)

Efforts to professionalize teaching may increase teachers' commitment, but reforms may not be entirely successful without attention paid to their pedagogical content knowledge. One hypothetical district adopted a career enhancement plan offering curriculum-specialist and teacher-leader opportunities and encouraged teacher collaboration. The…

In the American Federation of Teachers' Thinking Mathematics collaboration, teachers have become equal partners with researchers to create staff development aimed at mathematics instruction. Researchers and 5 visiting practitioners have cooperated to create mathematics foundations materials conceptualized in 10 guiding principles for mathematics…

Summarizes the themes and discussions of the first conference of the American Library Association's Black Caucus. Issues addressed include responsibility to the African-American cultural heritage, education, financial aspects of librarianship, children's and young adult librarianship, and participation in the political process. (EA)

Analyzes school board members' on-the-job training and development from board members' and superintendents' perspectives. Most board members viewed their own learning development within a broader framework than did most superintendents; the latter mistakenly saw themselves as central to board learning. Implications for three policy areas (training…

Achieving educational effectiveness is an incremental, sequential, improvement process. Outlines an approach, based on "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, that emphasizes individual responsibility for change and promoting effectiveness. (MLF)

A review of studies of mentoring for new college faculty suggests practical guidelines for maximizing the mentoring experience. Recommendations include "cataloging" (of past, current, and planned activities); group mentoring; and application of a theory stressing involvement, regimen, solving the right problem, and social networking. (DB)

Three major professional associations for research administrators (National Conference on the Administration of Research, National Council of University Research Administrators, and Society of Research Administrators) are described and compared in terms of their objectives, group membership, and activities. The three are seen to serve different…

The two major reports of the Holmes Group--"Tomorrow's Teachers" and "Tomorrow's Schools"--contain sharply contrasting rhetorics: the rhetoric of democratic values and scientistic rhetoric. Critical analysis of the reports suggests that the contrast highlights the contradictory tendencies embedded in the reform movement. (IAH)

Review of literature on four induction models (mentoring, fifth-year programs, alternative certification, and professional development) and case studies of beginning vocational teachers suggest that mentoring requires substantial commitment in time and resources; induction experiences are unique, so induction assistance programs need to be general…