In recent years, professional development for public school educators has come to be seen as a key component of school improvement plans, particularly large-scale systemic change programs. This Digest outlines what research and best practice suggest about effective professional development for elementary and secondary teachers working in…

Institutions of higher education spend considerable resources in the recruiting, screening, and hiring processes, yet often pay little attention to acclimating new professionals to their surroundings. This document presents a step-by-step outline of how to orient new employees. The success of the new professional/institution relationship depends…

The rapport among teachers can be a significant determinant of educational quality and workplace atmosphere. A practicum project sought to improve professional communication among staff at an urban, public elementary school where teachers did not have opportunities to meaningfully interact with one another. The staff in this school consisted of a…

This technical and vocational education (TVE) profile on Fiji is one in a series of profiles of UNESCO member countries. It is intended to be a handy reference on TVE systems, staff development, technical cooperation, and information networking. Part I, General Information, covers the following: location, area, and physical features; economic and…

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) formed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Assembly in 1992, and one of its first projects was to prepare this publication by collecting samples of library-produced ADA-related documents. Its aim is to help libraries increase levels of compliance and public awareness. The…

Since 1972, Park College, in Missouri, has successfully competed contractually with other colleges and universities for the opportunity to provide non-traditional college education on U.S. Armed Forces installations throughout the United States. The contract process begins with the military installation's Education Services Officer (ESO)…

Designed to help those who develop and implement formal mentoring programs find relevant information, this publication summarizes 80 books and articles selected from the practical and academic literature. Section 1 is an annotated bibliography of the 80 works representative of the available published literature on formal mentoring programs within…

In January of 1996, North Central College (Naperville, Illinois) turned on its campus-wide, PC-based network. A Technology Training Group (TTG) was created; this group focused on technology training for new staff hires, while also considering the ongoing needs of the current employees. Goals of the TTG included bringing new employees quickly up to…

This paper outlines efforts at Miami University (Middletown, Ohio) to bridge the "generation gap" between students who are comfortable using computer technologies and the faculty and staff who are reluctant to use them. Two Instructional Technology Fairs were held on campus (in Springs 1995 and 1996) to show faculty, staff, students, and…

This report describes a 2-year effort begun in fall, 1988, to improve the child care provided at the Child Health and Development Institute, located in an unidentified Middle Eastern country. The report begins by stating eight guidelines that governed the project. Discussion then turns to the three phases of the project: (1) identifying and…

Project STEPE (Strengthening Teacher Effectiveness Through a Partnership of Equals), designed to improve instruction, involves collaboration between Western Carolina University and seven rural North Carolina school systems. The consortium also includes several institutions associated with education and rural issues, two community colleges,…

This paper presents the results of a survey that examined elementary school teachers' attitudes about social studies (particularly geography) instruction. The responses of newly-hired elementary teachers were compared to those of experienced elementary teachers. The survey included questions such as: Have you ever taken a social studies methods…

A project implemented a new tutor training model that used integrative learning strategies to teach more effectively to different intelligences and learning styles of adult learners. A 15-hour tutor training curriculum focused on designing lessons that do the following: involve several learning styles and intelligences, encourage an equal…

This bibliography lists 40 reports and journal articles on personnel supply and demand issues, models, and data sources in the field of special education. The first section lists general materials on assessment of personnel needs, teacher supply and demand, teacher retention and attrition, and supply and demand of leadership personnel. Six…

The Director of Education at Polyclinic Hospital (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) conducted two assessments which addressed competencies needed by clinical instructors in health occupations. Several areas of need emerged which clustered around teaching strategies, questioning and problem solving, learning styles, evaluation, decision-making, and…