An instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of constructivist teaching methods, the Constructivist Teaching Inventory (CTI), was developed and assessed, the assessment focusing on the validity and reliability of the instrument. A pool of items measuring the presence of identified elements of constructivist teaching was developed; items were…

The Austin Collaborative for Mathematics Education (ACME) is a systemwide initiative to improve mathematics education in all elementary and middle school classrooms in the Austin Independent School District (AISD), Texas. The initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides long-term, high quality professional development to build…

This paper reports on a leadership institute for library staff at Stanford University (California) and the California State Library that had the goal of elevating the quality of services libraries and related bodies provide to information users in the 21st century through development of library leaders and managers and by increasing the…

This document serves as a supportive tool for school counselors and their programs. It focuses on counseling issues and ideas, and has a particular emphasis on ideas for best practice. It also serves an important role in promoting the school counseling profession. This issue includes the following articles: (1) "Effective Counseling…

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of a mentoring program for first year media specialists by exploring existing examples. Qualitative methods were employed in conducting this research. A document review was undertaken to establish accepted mentoring program guidelines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with coordinators of…

In September 2001, 37 educational researchers, assessment specialists, and practitioners from around the world gathered in England for a 3-day conference on assessment focusing on assessments developed and used by teachers day-to-day in the classroom. The meeting was structured to permit the development of ideas and strategies for bringing…

This document provides feedback on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation (questionnaire responses about professional development in higher education) and invites higher education institutions to apply for special funding to support the development and implementation of human resource strategies. Responses to the…

This report discusses the effects of the "competing values" of community college administrators and faculty members on faculty evaluation programs. College administrators and faculty often have different perceptions about why an appraisal process is implemented. Community college administrators share a belief that their institutions should be…

This staff development guide with accompanying videotape is designed to assist early years staff using "A Curriculum Framework for Children 3 to 5" in Scotland to assess children's progress. The program is comprised of activities to stimulate discussion among colleagues, affirm existing good practice, give time for reflection, and…

This book targets students who are going to be K-12 teachers and points out the responsibilities that both science and education faculty members face. These responsibilities not only include providing fundamental information and skills related to teaching, but also mentoring teachers to reflect their understanding. The National Science Education…

Over the past decade the idea that schools should serve as professional learning communities for teachers has become fashionable. Discussions of "community" pervade the literature on professional development and teacher learning. The three case studies conducted as part of the first-year work on the High Performance Learning Communities…

This paper describes the Entry Year Assistance Program (EYAP), a mentoring program for novice teachers, offered by the School of Education at Chadron State College (Nebraska). The program supports beginning teachers who are geographically isolated in Nebraska's panhandle. A discussion of the theoretical basis for teacher mentoring includes…

Although mentoring is a popular practice in academia, mentor-protegee relationships are, for women faculty, problematic in several areas including power dynamics and cross-gender interactions. This paper discusses mentoring among academic faculty in the context of a feminist analysis of mentor-protegee relations, and suggests a feminist mentoring…

The Rhode Island Teacher Assistant Professional Development Plan emphasizes developing school district capacity to provide appropriate training to teacher assistants. The Department recognizes that the most effective professional development is linked to the needs of the individual in light of the needs of students they support. The plan's primary…

This paper addresses the question of whether there is a clear destination for the Professional Development School (PDS) movement, examining whether perceived destinations are appropriate. The paper begins by outlining the commonly accepted four-part mission and the characteristics of PDSs; then it summarizes some of what is known about PDS…