This case study has two storylines. We describe the implementation of the Bachelor-Master's (BaMa) structure at the K.U.Leuven with an emphasis on opportunities for faculty development. We also focus on the meaning of this operation for the Educational Support Office. While the introduction of the BaMa structure at the K.U.Leuven resulted in an…

This article describes how an inquiry stance can be embedded into a distance education program for inservice and preservice teachers through its delivery system and curriculum content. Confronted with the dilemma of limited faculty resources and a need to educate both preservice and inservice teachers in practices that would better meet the needs…

From a case study looking at continuing professional development (CPD) within a rural primary school cluster, teachers' views of the way their needs were met, what controlled their CPD, and the impact of school and system needs on their CPD experiences were analysed. This confirmed the existence of tensions between these levels of need in relation…

The Ponca City (Okla.) Public Schools set a higher literacy level as a goal, then developed a comprehensive plan to achieve that goal. A district focus, commitment, professional development for administrators and teachers, assessments to drive instruction, on-site coaching, monitoring, and careful record keeping all contributed to systemic reform.

Interactive Technology Literacy Curriculum Online (ITLC Online) was a Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Students with Disabilities Phase 1 (Development) project awarded to the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood (the Center) at Western Illinois University (WIU). ITLC Online's goal was to improve services for young children with…

Despite the benefits of literacy for individuals, communities, and nations, a vast number of people remain illiterate. This publication will enable readers to understand the current literacy challenge and the United Nations Literacy Decade Plan of Action, to learn about the potential of using ICT as an effective literacy tools, and to appreciate…

A new national curriculum in all subject areas is about to be introduced in elementary schools in Turkey. The new curriculum is based on a "Constructivist" approach. This discussion paper focuses on the new curriculum for English as a foreign language, noting that teachers need information about the philosophy of the new curriculum and…

Since 2002, North Carolina, under the leadership of Governor Mike Easley and the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission, has worked to improve understanding of a critical factor in student learning and teacher retention: the conditions under which teachers work. In 2006, 66 percent (more than 75,000) school-based licensed…

This title gives concrete practical examples of how to align school library programs and instructional practice with the six key concepts of brain-compatible learning: increasing input to the brain; increasing experiential data; multiple source feedback; reducing threat; involving students in learning decision making; and interdisciplinary unit…

Professional development sessions are parts of a coherent, focused program designed to elicit a specific outcome. A systematic professional development plan for reading: (1) prepares teachers in all of the essential components of reading instruction; (2) provides information on instructional materials, programs, and strategies based on scientific…

Consider Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) a misnomer, or least an understatement; satisfying its mandates demands a far greater than adequate effort. Established in the No Child Left Behind Act, AYP requires that districts and schools show a minimum, prescribed level of growth in student achievement, until the year 2013-2014, when every eligible…

Recognizing typical problems with staff development, the administration and teachers of a local school district and a team of reading and special education faculty united in a collaborative staff development model designed for the purpose of improving literacy. The purpose of the partnership was to implement a model staff development program that…

The Jenks School District applies a continuous improvement approach that focuses on academics, arts, activities, athletics and attitude, weaving in leadership, professional development, technology and data-based decision making to prepare all learners to be productive, responsible citizens. Since 1998, the Jenks School District has embraced a…

Drawing on previous chapters in the volume, this chapter identifies crosscutting themes and lessons for those engaged in the development and study of academic pathways. Particular attention is paid to the ways that pathways can increase opportunities for traditionally underserved students.

As a high school principal, the author came to realize that the traditional teacher observation and evaluation model did not help teachers become reflective and improve their practice. Because his own use of brief, frequent principal walk-throughs had given him valuable insights into the need for instructional improvements, he decided to offer…