Uses focus-group interviews of social work supervisors and caseworkers to explore impact of masters of social work degree obtained in a university/agency partnership on personal behavior, structure, and technological organization. Notes findings including increased worker confidence, changed communication patterns between workers and organization,…

Provides results from a survey sent to all North American institutions offering Italian language courses to investigate the internal organization and training procedures for teaching assistants of Italian. (Author/VWL)

Discusses Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), a method through which technology administrators may understand and manage all costs of technology-related purchases. Describes six categories of costs to consider during the planning process: professional development; support; software; replacement costs; retrofitting; and connectivity. (AEF)

Describes a program developed by the Association of California Community Colleges to provide one-year mentoring experiences between veteran administrators and administrative staff who aspire to leadership positions. Sample program forms illustrate the program's administration. Discusses the results of an assessment survey completed by 391 of the…

Discusses the analytical problems that research on the academic profession must address and summarizes recent trends and debates. Suggests possible future developments in the context of four scenarios: "key profession,""academic work,""mediator," and "antiquity." Findings of the International Study on the Academic Profession are discussed in the…

The traditional concept of community is considered and redefined in relation to the new phenomenon of virtual community, which offers an expansion, and significant changes, in professional relationships and activities. Perspectives are offered on community within organizations and professional groups, the role of professional community in higher…

Examines the development of information and communication technology (ICT) capability by associate-trainees on a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) course involving the promotion of ICT use during three classroom placements by in-school teacher-mentors. Considers the perceived effects on the trainees' development of ICT capability by the…

Explores how teacher education might be improved, through considering the student teachers' unfolding experiences, highlighting the Post Graduate Certificate of Education in the United Kingdom. Focuses on: (1) the emphasis toward skills and performance in teacher education; (2) concepts of reflection applied within teacher education; and (3) the…

This article describes the Effective Academic and Behavioral Intervention and Supports (EABIS) program, a comprehensive inservice professional development program that provides direct support to schools as they engage in a team-based problem solving process of self-evaluation, implementation of systems change, and selection of prevention-based…

This article discusses the significant personnel shortages in education and rehabilitation in the field of blindness and visual impairment and provides a brief overview of one approach to addressing this shortage, distance education. Distance learning environments and strategies are described, along with evidence of the effectiveness of distance…

Proposes a variety of ways to help novice English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language teachers be better prepared to teach pronunciation and develop as professionals, including education; self-studying; membership in professional organizations; attending and presenting at conferences; reflecting on classroom pedagogical and theoretical issues; and…

Traces growth of the Teaching Community model at Australia's Monash and Swinburne universities; the model uses group meetings to encourage professional development of teaching staff. Elaborates on the model's successes and why it has been powerful in bringing about change in an area known for resistance, and proposes conditions required for this…

Maintains that the United States tolerates an ineffective system of early education and professional preparation. Notes challenges to the field, including insufficient teacher preparation, outdated teacher professional development approaches, ineffective use of research findings to improve early childhood programs, and failure to understand,…

Presents descriptions of using the Internet for music instruction by Laura Ferguson, James F. Daugherty, and Sandi MacLeod. Covers topics such as steps for creating and publishing movies on a Web site, a template for electronic learning called ChoirONLINE based on the creative use of interactive Web forms, and the Vermont MIDI Project. (CMK)

Examined how aspiring Scottish principals conceptualized school leadership and management, discussing the impact of continuing professional development (CPD) on practice in the context of the Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH). Changes in SQH candidates' cognitive frameworks were traced over time. Results suggest that social processes have…