Presents an interview with Winston Weathers, a composition theorist, whose ideas, according to the interviewer, have not been as influential in the field as they should have been. Examines how Weathers' ideas developed and evolved and how they have been received. (TB)

Evaluates materials for classroom instruction or professional development in the language arts. Addresses the effort to create better teaching through thematic inquiry units by reviewing three professional development texts, three instructional kits or multimedia packages, and three magazines for children. Concludes by sharing some general…

Investigated reasons for tensions among stakeholders, such as Ontario's ministries of education, teacher associations, local school districts, and university teacher education programs regarding the meaning and implications of professional development. Interview data clarified stakeholders' perspectives and priorities and noted that effective…

Discusses the national crises of community college leadership in America. Describes the role of faculty members in community college leadership. Describes motivational factors involved in college leadership, some leadership challenges, leadership development initiatives, and some opportunities for faculty leadership development. Also describes two…

Describes how the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Parkland College, Illinois, has become a catalyst for major institutional change through the use of faculty-owned and -driven professional development programs, faculty leadership teams, and a supportive administration. Emphasizes the role of faculty as agents of change. Contains…

Explored the range of professional development opportunities available to teachers in four secondary schools affiliated with one school-university partnership. Data from observations, structured tasks, surveys, and interviews with participating teachers provided information on the types of opportunities teachers found most valuable and conditions…

Describes the Ferris State University (Michigan) New Faculty Transition Program, in which incoming faculty members meet every two weeks during the fall and winter semesters and attend an academic retreat. Reports that the program is in its fourth year and has been recognized as an important part of first-year faculty members' transition into the…

Discusses the triangular relationship between the teacher (I), student (Thou), and subject matter (It), highlighting David Hawkins' essay, "I, Thou, and It" (1974). Notes that while each element of the triangle is essential, subject matter is the central concern of Hawkins' latest essays. Discusses implications for teaching, learning,…

Informal interviews with 12 British university department heads investigated attitudes about: the relative importance of research and teaching, both within the department and for individual faculty members; prestige associated with each; the utility of the categories "teaching" and "research" within the discipline; links…

Describes how an ethnic studies course on French Louisiana was conceptualized outside of the discipline, how an interdisciplinary teaching workshop was crucial to its development, and how the professor's connecting of self to professional development was the most important step. (EV)

Examined the role that support from the school and colleagues played as one teacher developed during his first year as a secondary English as a Second Language teacher in Singapore. Data from observations and interviews indicated that the teacher considered collegial support the most important school-based support during that first year. The paper…

An interview with authors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey points the way to change by encouraging educators to challenge hidden assumptions and learn to recognize the immune system they develop that impedes their own progress. They suggest that leaders consider how organizational level barriers are effective expressions of commitment. An exercise to…

Presents the results of a study of a one-year campus-wide writing program designed to raise the confidence and productivity of campus faculty and professional staff members. Stresses the importance of senior faculty acting as mentors. Discusses benefits of a program that seeks to involve participants from all parts of campus. (Contains 24…

Examined school district change agents' theories about teacher learning and change. Although respondents discussed similar professional development forms and structures, their theories of teacher learning and change differed. Respondents identified three perspectives (behaviorist, situated, and cognitive). The behaviorist perspective on teacher…

Describes one approach to including education for sustainability in teacher professional development. Data from participatory appraisal, participatory action research, and cooperative inquiry involving secondary school teachers were used to construct a model of the main factors affecting sustainability and devise a teaching approach tested in…