This study examines a training module designed to increase teachers' technology proficiencies. In the process, the study also explores a self-assessment type measure and its value in relationship to teachers' use of technology in their classrooms. It examines pre- and posttest scores of K-12 teachers' perceptions of their level of technology…

This document contains the following papers on electronic portfolios from the SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) 2002 conference: (1) "What Is the Perceived Value of Creating Electronic Portfolios to Teacher Credential Candidates?" (Valerie Amber and Brenda Czech); (2) "Development and Use of…

Focusing on personal knowledge and how it influences teacher development, this book follows one teacher, Kay, from her years of teacher preparation through her time as a seasoned veteran. Nine chapters focus on: (1) "Promise and Possibility" (e.g., teacher development as socialization and reflective teacher preparation); (2) "The…

In 2000, the Finance Project received a planning grant to launch a new initiative on financing professional development in education. This report examines key factors and conditions that contribute to or hinder the success of professional development initiatives, especially as those factors and conditions relate to the financing of these…

A current problem at many American universities is that tenure and promotion procedures continue to privilege print-based evidence of teaching and research productivity, or do not acknowledge the impact of technology on teaching, scholarship, and service. Despite these problems, this paper makes the case for electronic teaching portfolios as…

This report provides baseline data on professional development and training needs for teachers of less commonly taught languages (LCTLs). Surveys administered to LCTL teachers working in higher education addressed a range of issues relating to the following: the teaching context; the teacher's professional background and qualifications; the…

This publication presents a case-based approach to improving teaching practice, offering informal conversations between isolated educators who were brought together to share their problems and air concerns via the use of cases. An introduction offers an overview of professional development cases, explaining what cases are and how to get started.…

This digest suggests post-tenure faculty development programs as a way to address pressures on the tenure system and calls for the elimination of tenure in higher education. The paper notes that tenure policies are being impacted by internal factors such as the uncapping of the mandatory retirement age and the aging of faculty, as well as by…

Staff development in cooperative learning must focus on three stages of staff development (pre-training, training, and post-training) to achieve at least five purposes. The five purposes are: creating conditions for successful staff development prior to training; conducting high-quality training sessions that result in mastery of the conceptual…

This guide describes what states can do to support and encourage the fundamental restructuring of the education of young adolescents in the middle grades. Its framework is based on the eight principles for restructuring middle grade education developed in "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century," prepared by the…

The evaluation of a Goals 2000 initiative in New York state is explored through these four dimensions: focus, innovation, involvement of teachers in program evaluation, and the relevance of program evaluation to educational practice. In central southern New York state, seven public and six nonpublic schools are collaborators in the Goals 2000…

Increasingly, teachers are connecting with people in the community as part of their professional development. Community organizations provide opportunities for teachers to gain a new perspective on what students need to know to be prepared for a global economy. In addition, experiences in the community can help teachers develop integrated…

This book joins instructional design as the axis of school reform with collaborative observation as the proven method to sustain teacher growth and renewal. The acronym COMPASS (Collaborative Observation for Monitoring Practices to Achieve Sustained School reform) is used. The book details a four-part observation process, each component of which…

This paper examines the various uses of video, microcomputer and related media technologies as effective instructional design tools. Highlights include descriptions of: the Telecommunications Department at Indiana University; an evaluation of telecourses through student questionnaires and identification of those students who might have problems…

This is the second seminar report in the sixth cycle of the UNESCO-APEID (Asia-Pacific Program of Educational Innovation for Development) Program on Innovation and Reform in Teacher Education for the 21st Century in the Asia-Pacific Region. The seminar focused on ensuring opportunities for the professional development of teachers. Experts from 10…