Analysis of 73 University of Florida faculty portfolios, prepared as part of an instructional improvement program, revealed great variability in quantity, quality, and coherence of evidence presented to support claims of excellence in teaching. Seven guidelines for portfolio preparation, appropriate for different colleges and teaching assignments,…

A Tel Aviv University (Israel) study applied qualitative methods to evaluate a model for improvement of university teaching. A departmental instruction specialist treats instructional quality issues comprehensively within a department. Two years of implementation in the physics department have resulted in increased instructional quality, faculty…

Middlebury College (Vermont) has initiated a program to develop computer and information networking competence among language faculty in many institutions so that they can better understand the relationship between technology and language pedagogy, become comfortable with multimedia materials in the language classroom, and collaborate on…

Provides an overview of projects developed for preservice teacher education in Iowa that used the Iowa Communications Network and a Star Schools grant to train preservice faculty in distance education techniques. Highlights include praxis, self-evaluation, interactive video, science experiences for students with disabilities, and national…

Faculty at the University of Nebraska's College of Education developed a model for technology integration after identifying educational technology as a major goal. The plan, which addressed equipment, training, and expectations to use technology, resulted in computer literate faculty members who are including educational technology in their…

Comparison of the experiences of three public universities in the northeast and midwest in changing from monocultural to multicultural campuses suggests intrinsic barriers to change and common elements in organizational and curricular development. Lessons were learned for organizational administration and governance, college environment, and…

A training program for faculty supervising pharmacy clinical experience courses included four workshops in setting expectations, motivating learners, providing practice, and evaluating performance and giving feedback. Ten of 35 teaching behaviors changed significantly as a result. Likelihood of change in specific teacher behaviors was assessed.…

This article describes the evolution of a project pairing graduate students (at Duke University) with faculty in a liberal arts college (Guilford College) to improve preparation of future college teachers. Implications for general reform of college faculty preparation are also outlined. (MSE)

A study investigated the response of faculty and administrators at four United Kingdom universities to implementation of faculty performance appraisal. Overall, staff felt the appraisal had little tangible benefit. Ambiguity over the objective of performance appraisal, as a management tool or for faculty development purposes, is seen as a concern.…

To address current deficiencies in the system for training optometry faculty, it is recommended that sabbatical leaves be increased, interinstitutional sharing of faculty be formalized, summer workshops in teaching methodology be modeled after successful programs, and longer-term strategies be developed by the profession. (MSE)

Describes Texas'"Enhancing the Quality and Retention of Minority Teachers and Teachers in Critical Shortage Areas Project" which uses peer coaching in teacher training, incorporating accountability, assistance, and professional development systems. Peer coaching helps support first year teachers by promoting their professional and…

An Association of American Medical Colleges working group on student professional ethics suggests improving (1) admission criteria; (2) the medical school learning climate, including consideration of cultural diversity; and (3) communication of expectations to students. An AAMC initiative for instruction, instructional material development, and…

Describes a federally funded peer mentoring project for faculty development at a rural two-year college. Presents three case studies of mentoring within a division, across divisions, and interdisciplinary mentoring. Includes mentor and mentoree narratives. Offers suggestions on initiating and structuring peer mentor projects, and describes…

Describes the evolution of Stetson University's More Effective Teaching Program (MET) from a writing-across-the-curriculum (WAC) faculty development program to a voluntary collaborative learning and teaching project. Focuses on the grassroots work of a faculty committee to design and maintain the research-based program. (DMM)

A series of three related studies provided evaluative information concerning the Madeline Hunter model of the Program for Effective Teaching implementation in South Carolina. Primary results showed that training was well received by the teachers, that follow-up coaching was limited in quantity and not always consistent with Hunters's…