Problem-based learning (PBL) as a professional development model is an authentic means of stimulating reflective, insightful, professional growth. This paper describes a conference session that modeled the PBL professional development model as participants engaged in an actual PBL and created their own PBL professional development model. The…

This book provides instructional leaders with guidance and insight to help them work successfully with teachers to improve classroom teaching and learning. It goes beyond the basics of supervision to place the work of instructional leadership within the context of whole-school improvement. The book offers scenarios describing interactions with…

Ongoing professional development is at the core of Project Reading Excellence at "Boggsville" Elementary School (a pseudonym) and is intricately woven throughout all related activities. This professional development program is built on the pillars of sound scientific-based reading research, best teaching practices, and appropriate…

This paper examines the conceptual process of creating an electronic professional portfolio for faculty development. The characteristics of electronic professional portfolios and the benefits of electronic portfolio development are discussed. Additional topics covered include: collection and selection of portfolio contents; reflection on portfolio…

This study examined faculty views in regard to support for teaching at Emory University. Data were obtained from 24 small focus groups of faculty who discussed their reactions to a report on teaching at the university. The data were analyzed using HyperRESEARCH software to generate detailed reports on frequencies of categories, subcategories, and…

This book targets teachers in higher education as well as in adult education, illustrating how to work toward becoming more authentic in teaching using case studies, examples, stories, and exercises. Chapter 1 explores current understanding of the basic self and psychological preferences. Chapter 2 discusses the powerful influence of past…

The literature on professional development covers five major trends: (1) faculty development; (2) professional development for change in a profession or field; (3) mentoring; (4) professional standards for administrators; and (5) staff development, with almost all of the literature focusing on best practices rather than research. Much of the…

The professional development of teachers, conceived of as the qualitative changes in teachers' professional behavior throughout their career, was studied through a procedure called "stimulated autobiographical self-thematization." Ten primary school teachers from Flemish Belgian schools were asked to reflect on their careers so as to…

The Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS) is an appraisal system for Texas teachers that was implemented in 1995. The Continuous Improvement Instructional Planning Process is a systematic approach that teachers and administrators may use to align student performance with objectives related to the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills,…

Containing four sections of materials for workshop presenters to teach phonics and word recognition, this guide assists early reading program educators (grades K-3) in enhancing the Reading and Language Arts knowledge and skills of Texas students. Section 1, an introduction, defines the purpose of the guide and outlines six goals. Section 2,…

Two bodies of literature define the process for developing electronic teaching portfolios to support long-term professional growth: the multimedia development process (decide/assess, design/plan, develop, implement, evaluate) and the portfolio development process (collection, selection, reflection, projection/direction, presentation). As further…

This paper questions the claim that the site-based approach can produce more effective beginning teachers, the ones capable of identifying and solving problems through multiple effective and appropriate approaches, and discusses the reasons that support this claim. The study uses the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) to measure…

This paper describes research lessons, which form the core of a larger process called lesson study within Japanese elementary science faculty development. Research lessons are actual classroom lessons with students which are: observed by others; planned for a long time, usually collaboratively; designed to bring to life particular goals of…

When Delaware's grant proposal was originally written, statewide reading achievement data showed a wide achievement gap between students with and without disabilities. Four-year test results showed no improvement. The state was substantially below the national average on the percent of students with disabilities spending 80% or more of their day…

Organizational theory suggests great pessimism about the potential of school districts for supporting educational improvement. The traditional view is that educational organizations--and school districts, in particular--are loosely coupled organizations where the main resources for central leadership are insufficient to penetrate the isolation of…