Reviews seven books published in 1991 and 1992. Books cover such topics as the process of affirming culture in early childhood settings; adaptive education strategies that build on diversity; stories of first-year teachers; and fairy tales and the culture of childhood. (MDM)

Provides background on the library movement in Jordan since the 1950s and describes the main categories of library education in Jordan: (1) short-training courses; (2) subprofessional education offered by two-year colleges; and (3) professional postgraduate education. The roles of the Jordan Library Association and other institutions are…

Describes an online independent study course, "Telecommunications and Information Access," offered by the University of Oregon and the International Society for Technology in Education for educators who want to learn about computer-mediated communication. Course evaluation results are discussed, and recommendations for educators are…

Highly prescriptive curriculum, testing, and teacher evaluation policies, such as those in New York State, actually impede teachers from teaching responsibly and effectively. These policies insist that teachers demonstrate a set of uniform behaviors unrelated to effective teaching for particular students. To work toward a new reform paradigm,…

Argues that Australian inservice education policies have unintentionally controlled and deskilled teachers. Focuses on Queensland, Australia, from 1973 to 1986. Claims teacher managerial skills are emphasized over curricular and instructional skills. Contends that teachers' professional development consequently suffers. Premises arguments on…

Identifies six principles to inform professional development of mathematics teachers in the United Kingdom for the 1990s: (1) Localization; (2) Personalization; (3) Collaborative Practice; (4) Training the Trainers; (5) Whole School Policies; and (6) National Planning. (MDH)

Six groups surveyed in Idaho (13 state department staff, 18 vocational teacher educators, 132 secondary principals, 42 deans, and 532 secondary and 204 postsecondary vocational teachers) perceived vocational teacher education (VTE) as having more responsibility for coordination and delivery than funding. Postsecondary respondents were the most…

An educational diagnostician who served as mentor to a first-year special education teacher describes her experiences, focusing on her overwhelming sense of responsibility, mentorship training, and critical incidents. The mentor's role in providing guidance without being evaluative is stressed, and development of the mentor/protege relationship…

D. M. Kagan's (1992) developmental learning-to-teach model reflects her emphasis on mastery of procedural routines and highlights only one sector of the teacher education community. Kagan's claim that research supports a developmental model misrepresents the full body of research on professional growth among preservice teachers. (RLC)

Explores mentoring and other career support given and received by Asian college faculty through a mail questionnaire answered by 307 white faculty members selected at random and 71 Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander faculty members. Asian minority faculty had not had as much mentoring as had white counterparts. (SLD)

Presents a study of ways in which teachers believe that their research promotes professional development and educational change. Identifies factors that promote and constrain change. Suggests that, for teacher research to effect change throughout a school, the school must value critical reflection on practice and the sharing of ideas. (SG)

Discusses the increasing need for professional development and retraining in Australia, especially for inservice teacher education, and describes new methods that may be more effective than traditional methods. Highlights include open learning; the modularization of courses and programs; the adaptation of instructional materials; and distance…

Explains why portfolios are as important for teachers as they are for students, describing the anatomy of a thorough teacher portfolio. Four teachers share the contents of their portfolios and reasons portfolios are important to them. A reproducible sheet for students, "My Thoughts about This Year," is included. (SM)

Fifty-eight U.S. and 10 Canadian dental schools responded to a questionnaire concerning whether they had operational Faculty Practice Plans (FPPs) and to describe their plan's characteristics. Results revealed FPPs had little impact on the school's teaching and research functions and a less than harmonious relationship with the practicing dental…

A survey of Kansas jail administrators investigated the kinds of training available to them (seminars, correspondence courses, on-the-job training courses), how they felt it met their needs, incarceration trends, jail facilities, and the perceived need for a standardized jail training course and/or jail officer academy. (MSE)