In a 5-year evaluation of the $6.6 million Challenge 2000 Multimedia Project, technology-using students surpassed nonparticipating peers in developing critical 21st-century job skills. Multimedia Project students outperformed comparison students on content mastery, sensitivity to their audience, and coherent design capabilities. Standardized test…

Compared self-evaluation of quality of preschool teachers in Sweden to the evaluation by an external evaluator using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale. Found moderately high percent agreement between teachers and evaluator and among teachers at the same unit. Found highest agreement among teachers on socialization and communication.…

The Special Education Training Program at South Carolina State University offers training for school administrators on both theory and practice in designing, developing, implementing, and supervising programs for students with special needs in least restrictive environments. Each course requires a 10-hour field experience and students must also…

Describes a study that compared two formats, traditional and distance education, for a case analysis/case writing model in a graduate course in professional development. Discusses media theory; media attributes of realism, interactivity and feedback, and interface; knowledge acquisition; skill development; confidentiality; and networking.…

A study of 70 pairs of supervisory teachers and teacher interns at the University of Saskatchewan examined contextual supervision in the mentorship of student teachers' oral questioning skills. Findings indicate that supervisory skills improved, especially when supervisors adjusted their leadership styles to match protege development levels, and…

A School Advisor Association is proposed in Canada as a vehicle for recognizing and advancing the contribution that exemplary school advisors (cooperating teachers) make to the professional development of student teachers. Such an association could accredit school-based teacher educators and facilitate university-school cooperation in establishing…

Examines the professional development opportunities that accompanied the New York State social studies draft framework to explore: (1) the range of opportunities teachers had to learn about the framework; (2) the content and instruction of these opportunities; and (3) teachers' responses to the framework and professional development opportunities.…

Discusses opportunities for English-as-a-Second/Foreign-language professionals in corporate universities. Discusses how a corporate training program differs from other programs, the different teaching issues in this new environment, the focus on oral English, and the importance of achieving high linguistic levels in one or two class meetings a…

Uses technology to teach science courses to elementary teachers. Involves microcomputers and discusses the motivator role of technology. Introduces the course that is designed for prospective teachers and explains reasons for the development of the course. (YDS)

Three veteran principals completed interviews about their leadership style, role in professional development schools (PDSs), vision for innovation within PDSs, and views on the impact of successful PDSs. Results highlighted six common core characteristics of effective PDS principals, including: a philosophy that includes…

Describes a project in which a small group of teachers of gifted students in primary and secondary schools in England used action research as an holistic way of undertaking professional development, which encouraged them to question their values, beliefs, and assumptions about teaching and learning. (CR)

Discusses recent thinking about broad technological change and examines disturbing implications in the context of students at risk of school failure and school reform. Makes recommendations on teacher training and technology use. (Author)

Relates a personal history of events leading to the establishment of the College and University Faculty Assembly and its journal "Theory and Research in Social Education." Details the tensions and obstacles encountered in the creation of a college-level faculty group and a professional journal. (DSK)

Discusses 25 years of attempts to define social studies and to research social studies education. Argues that a definition that denies teachers' diverse experiences and instructional methods is dysfunctional and that research has advanced little. Calls for a reexamination of the research enterprise itself and of graduate training in education.…

Reports on the use of GLOBE, a teaching tool that enables students to use hands-on, inquiry-based methods to gather and interpret scientific data. Summarizes the results of teacher workshops. (DDR)