Several well-established efforts to form closer links between teacher education programs and community understanding are described. Such efforts are usually based on one of two approaches: building awareness of communities and their cultures into conventional college courses; or placing students in nonschool community settings. (PP)

There must be more emphasis on computers in education so that students can function in a sophisticated society and not fall prey to technophobia or technomania. The weaknesses of both extremes and the importance of teachers as role models in teaching students about computers are discussed. (IS)

Examined relationships between teacher characteristics (N=30 inservice teachers) and verbal interactions in the classroom. Characteristics examined included teacher lecture, training, intelligence, attitude, extraversion, and neuroticism. Other factors examined included teacher accepting behavior, teacher rejection of responses, teacher-student…

Examined effects of a graduate inservice course in classroom management and school discipline on teacher attitudes toward behavioral problems. Results indicate that experienced K-12 teachers (N=85) can develop new and more positive attitudes about this crucial aspect of teaching. (Author/JN)

Colleague consultation is a form of peer-delivered clinical supervision incorporating the principles of team building with direct observation and conferral among teachers. Through cooperative efforts, teachers can draw on each other's experiences to develop new skills. Participation also helps build commitment to the overall goals of the school.…

Discusses developments which should occur in the Wales region by the end of the Microelectronics Education Programme (1984). Indicates that a major curriculum project has been started to enable developments in information technology to be reflected in classrooms, focusing on the production of software and resource materials. (Author/JN)

Three kinds of educational research--scientific, analytic, and interpretive--are examined, and the type of inservice activity most closely related to each is discussed. Effective teaching is defined in terms of a direct instructional model for delivering skills to students. Inservice can improve teacher effectiveness by modifying teacher behavior.…

Theories concerning the reasons teachers do or do not adopt recommended teaching practices are discussed. Recent classroom-based experiments are examined, and suggestions are made for additional research into the process of teacher behavior change in the classroom and for the promotion of teacher adoption of change proposals. (JN)

Thought papers, research findings, and program descriptions pertaining to science education are presented. Topics include inservice education for primary science, curriculum development, factors affecting science provision for 10- to 14-year-olds, science programs for the gifted, thinking in science lessons, and the nature of scientific knowledge.…

Conducted a survey of 500 public school teachers to determine the extent aging content is incorporated into curricula. Results indicated very few teachers make specific provision for teaching about aging. Almost half of the teachers indicated they would include this area in their curricula if instructional materials were available. (Author)

Reported is a needs assessment conducted in 40 Massachusetts school systems to determine what elementary school science teachers perceive should comprise their inservice training. Findings suggest that programs focus on the metric system, environmental science, more science knowledge, and better science methods. (Author/SA)

Readers' contributions include ways to make inservice meetings interesting, a checklist for designing and evaluating learning centers, ways to help low ability readers use public libraries by taping materials, how to encourage college students to attend state council conferences, and comments on misleading findings from the Nelson-Denny Reading…

Determines if elementary teachers' (N=138) understanding of SCIS concepts and teaching strategies change as a result of a televised inservice program using confidence levels as a criterion for understanding. Findings indicate that an inservice program consisting of televised sessions significantly improves teachers' understanding of SCIS concepts…

"Shadowing," an inservice teacher education technique, requires a teacher-participant to follow a worker on the job in order to learn about current roles, tasks, and job conditions. This experiential method helps vocational teachers upgrade their knowledge of business and industry in order to train students for current employment…

Presents resolution adopted by the Conference on Society and the Study of Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMT) which was held in Strasburg in November 1978. A list of measures recommended to the European Ministers of Education and some explanatory notes are also presented. (HM)