A research project attempted to confront issues involved in facilitating and measuring the psychological development of teachers participating in an inservice education program. Results of the study suggest that it is difficult to create effective developmental experiences for adults, since they tend to stabilize at a particular developmental…

Definitions are provided which permit an analysis of stress, career burnout, and mid-life professional crises among teachers. Burnout is defined as the mid-career deterioration of job performance. Observation of teacher burnout symptoms shows that many teachers lose commitment to the profession as their careers develop. (JN)

Describes the Mexican American Culture Simulator, a self-instructional module containing 40 incidents based on client-worker misunderstandings resulting from sociocultural differences. The aim of the module is to improve caseworkers' empathic understanding of Mexican American children and families in a manner that supports ethnic identity,…

A study was done to identify changes that have occurred since 1970 in the characteristics and needs of physical education teachers in Wisconsin elementary and secondary schools. Results of the study were taken from questions concerning: (1) personal educational history; (2) teaching responsibilities; (3) self-evaluations of teaching-coaching…

The reform of the nature and content of secondary school teacher preparation programs is advocated in an examination of four key assumptions: (1) Secondary school teachers must be content specialists; (2) Secondary school teachers must teach by lecturing; (3) All students are the same; and (4) Secondary school teachers are best socialized to…

Describes the Teacher Leader program, a field-based masters program for elementary and secondary teachers. The program stresses commitment, a positive relationship, continuous dialog and feedback between teachers and faculty. Program framework and field visits to the teacher's classroom encourage learner-guided growth and aid in translating theory…

Studied gratifications reported by instructors (N=60) of courses in psychology or family life. Gratifications included: significant participation and learning by students; professional and personal growth of the teachers themselves; and recognition, acceptance and praise from students. (Author)

Policies and professionalism are discussed with reference to experiences in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Great Britain. A professional development policy is considered to be a prerequisite for inservice programs for academic staff, evaluation of academic performance, and career-related decisions. (Author/MLW)

A definition of staff development/inservice education is given. Problem areas concerning the inservice education activities of professional organizations include: (1) the balance of political influences on inservice education; (2) a desire for control of inservice education on the part of teachers instead of collaboration; and (3) an increasing…

This article focuses on one element of staff development, and applies to classroom observation an interactive process between staff developer and teacher that leads to a better understanding and acceptance of individual teaching styles. The emphasis is on professional growth rather than on institutional regulation. (Author/KC)

Three developmental approaches in teacher education are described. The first approach entails matching curriculum content with teacher concerns, enabling teachers to be motivated to learn. The second approach considers teacher development as a form of cognitive development. The third approach is a style of inservice work emphasizing self-directed…

Faculty development represents one of several responses to changes in the academic environment. In an industry characterized by steady state and no growth, career mobility has declined dramatically. Faculty development is seen as a way to assist faculty to remain or once again become vibrant, vital, productive, and pertinent. (MLW)

Faced with the possibility of mandatory continuing education laws, educators can learn from the mistakes and successes of other professions. Teachers and administrators must take a leadership role in planning and participating in continuing education programs throughout their professional careers. (Author/MLF)

The effects of societal and professional forces on the future of graduate dental education are examined. Some factors analyzed include: professional developments, paraprofessional changes, public initiatives, and government policy and legislation. The creation of a balanced and flexible dental care delivery system is proposed. (Author/MLW)

The role of regional associations in providing professional development for institutional researchers is examined. On-campus and exchange internships for students, workshops for newly appointed researchers, visitation programs, reports, topical research sessions, and grant proposals are suggested as possible regional activities. (Author/SF)