This paper investigates the questions and considerations that should be discussed by administrators, faculty, and support staff when designing, developing and offering a hybrid (part online, part face-to-face) degree program. Using two Web questionnaires, data were gathered from nine instructors and approximately 450 students to evaluate student and instructor perceptions and opinions of hybrid instruction and activities. In comparison to prior research, the results of this study offer larger...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Distance Education, Program Development, Curriculum...
The purpose of this research study was to develop a theory-based methodology for exploring instructional computer use by faculty members in one College of Education (COE) and implementing this methodology at an Anatolian university in Turkey. Rogers' (2003) Diffusion of Innovations theory was used as the theoretical framework in the process of instrument development, data collection, and in the interpretation of the results. The faculty members in the study reported low levels of use and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Methods, Faculty Development, Educational Technology, Schools of...
Teachers can modify their instructional strategies with minimal training and effort, and this can result in increases in their students' self-efficacy. Self-efficacy judgments are based on four sources of information: an individual's own past performance, vicarious experiences of observing the performances of others, verbal persuasion that one possesses certain capabilities, and physiological states. Individuals use these four sources of information to judge their capability to complete future...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Strategies, Self Efficacy, Mathematics Skills, Teaching Methods, Prior...
This study investigated teachers' knowledge of, and capacity to identify resilience, in 92 primary school children in Far North Queensland. It was found that although teachers' knowledge of resilience was apparently strong, and they reported a significant level of confidence in their ability to assist children in building resilience, their capacity to identify levels of resilience in their students was lacking. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research. (Contains 3 tables.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Teachers, Knowledge Base for Teaching, Knowledge Level, Children,...
Meeting the requirement for highly qualified teachers as outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act has left school districts in a quandary, especially those that serve a population of students deemed "at-risk" and where attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers is difficult. One professional development program based on recognized strategies for exemplary teaching--the National Board for Professional Teaching Standard's five core propositions--is being tested in one school...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Federal Legislation, National Standards, Program Effectiveness, School Districts,...
Interest in improving the quality of professional development in this age of educational reform has intensified as a growing body of research suggests that teaching practices matter in terms of student achievement. Some have argued for embedding professional development in the context of teachers' work in order to transform both teaching practices and the structures and cultures of schools in which teachers practice. These changes are necessary so that teachers can develop innovative teaching...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teaching Methods, Educational Change, Faculty Development, Work Environment,...
Increasingly, educational reform is linked to the concept of professional learning communities (PLCs). Definitions of PLCs vary, but generally the concept refers to a group of educators who "continuously seek and share learning, and act on their learning" (Hord 1997, 6). Stoll and her colleagues, concluding their review of the current state of PLCs and research, observe that there is a "paucity of longitudinal research" and that "little is yet known about the potential...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Change, Educational Research, Educational Cooperation, Educational...
In the book, "1-to-1 Learning: Laptop Programs That Work," author Pamela Livingston begins with an important point for those who are considering a laptop program for the first time: Newcomers are fortunate to be able to learn from the educators who have started down the 1-to-1 road before them. This proved to be true for two neighboring school districts in Oregon (Eugene School District 4J and Springfield School District) that took the time to survey what other schools had been doing....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computer Uses in Education, Technology Integration, School Districts, Program...
Almost non-existent five years ago, the use of online courses has grown dramatically in Maryland, with more than 25 courses now available. Online course enrollments have also increased from 31 students in 2003 to more than 600 in 2006. A major reason for this remarkable growth has been the Maryland Students Online Consortium (MSOC), a state-local partnership involving two-thirds of Maryland's 24 school systems (23 counties, one city) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). MSOC...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Federal Legislation, Online Courses, Counties, Consortia, Cooperation, Enrollment,...
From the time that computer technology became part of the school environment, teachers have been encouraged to integrate technology into their instructional practices. Why not use such valuable tools to extend professional development practices as well? This is a question that the authors raised while working together on digital video staff development training for faculty at Georgia State University. The authors try out some of their ideas and processes by mentoring Jaime Weingart, a...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Mentors, Video Equipment, Computers, Educational Technology, Beginning Teachers,...
The authors relate how they had been searching for ways to help teachers in their schools to integrate technology into their classrooms in a sustainable fashion. The authors have found that after-school workshops and one-on-one assistance to teachers have not enabled teachers to become self-reliant in their regular use of technology. Instead, their teachers have become dependent on the technology coordinator to assist them in the instruction and implementation of new tools in their classrooms....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Technology Integration, Apprenticeships, Teacher Leadership, Coordinators, Teaching...
In this article, the author explores the promising practices of Audrey Union (all names in this article are pseudonyms), a white principal of Integration Middle School (IMS), which served nearly 400 students in sixth through ninth grades. Approximately 40% of the students were of color and a similar percentage qualified for free and reduced lunch. In particular, the author examines Audrey's influence in creating systemic, sustained, and differentiated professional development for social justice...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Change, Justice, Faculty Development, Principals, Social Integration,...
There is a high incidence of today's gifted students independently interacting with their global community through technology tools. Teachers of the gifted (GT teachers) must possess an understanding of technology processes and concepts in order to engage their students through instructionally meaningful and appropriate lessons. Although many educators would like to use technology tools as an instructional medium, two obstacles prevent GT teachers from integrating technology into the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academically Gifted, Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Computer...
It should surprise no one that there are faculties throughout North America that refer to themselves as professional learning communities (PLCs) yet do none of the things that PLCs do. Conversely, there are faculties that could serve as model PLCs that may never reference the term. A school does not become a PLC by enrolling in a program, renaming existing practices, taking the PLC pledge, or learning the secret PLC handshake. A school becomes a professional learning community only when the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Program Effectiveness, Educational Change, Faculty Development, Middle Schools,...
Developing the ability to make, recognize, and evaluate connections among disparate concepts, fields, or contexts is what integrative learning is all about. Breadth and depth of learning remain hallmarks of a quality liberal education. Yet, today, there's a growing consensus that breadth and depth are not enough. Strengthening integrative learning involves broad-based campus change. Although the integrative arts can (and should) be taught within particular courses, departments, and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Undergraduate Study, General Education, Integrated Activities,...
This study examined the effects of a professional development program for teachers of social sciences for English learners. Results from pre- and post-measures of social sciences content indicated greater improvement in student achievement in these areas when scores from students from teachers who had gone through the training were compared with those that did not. There was also a correlation found between the level of use among the teachers with training and the level of achievement of their...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Limited English Speaking, Social Sciences, Faculty Development, English (Second...
Teacher beliefs are mediated and lived in the dialectic of teacher education and teacher practice. We reframe this dialectic of "teacher" preparation as "faculty" preparation, as many faculty are not prepared for the rigors of teaching, and most are not trained in the ethics of their profession. We propose a critical model of faculty development that primes teacher educators to cultivate authentic teacher beliefs and professional integrity. The model embraces five components...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Diversity (Faculty), Faculty Development, Moral Development, Organizational...
Over the years, teachers and school leaders have engaged in some form of training beyond their formal preservice, university preparation programs. Whether referred to as in-service training, professional day, or staff or professional development, this activity normally had one purpose: to improve participant's knowledge or skills. With limited teacher time to attend in-service training and limited financial resources to pay for this training, districts are searching for training that provides...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Student Improvement, School Effectiveness, Outcomes of...
Teachers who conduct research in the context of their own teaching practices can contribute to knowledge about reform-based instruction. This article provides examples that illustrate research by elementary, middle school, high school, and college faculty as well as the use of data such as transcripts of discussion, reflective journals, and copies of student work. These examples include: (1) documenting inquiry-based science instruction; (2) developing documentary web sites to share findings...
Topics: ERIC Archive, High Risk Students, Teaching Methods, Science Instruction, College Faculty, Faculty...
This study explored how the Internet bridges theory and practice. Teacher educators, teachers, and prospective teachers used collaborative technologies to design networked communities embedded in three distinct perspectives: the networked learning community, the networked community of practice, and the knowledge building community. Networked communities prompted the development of solutions for integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the elementary, secondary, and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Educators, Computer Mediated Communication, Internet, Theory Practice...
This article reports the findings of a university's pilot project documenting the impact of an intervention entitled Course (Re)design for Internationalization Workshop (CRIW) on faculty perspectives and their subsequent willingness to engage in internationalization of the curriculum. Two main theories, transformative learning (Mezirow, 1991) and faculty development (Ramsden, 2003) in the approach adopted for the CRIW (Saroyan & Amundsen, 2004) informed this study and its procedures. This...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Workshops, Intervention, Faculty Development, Educational Change, Transformative...
Reflecting on one's teaching practice is often an implicit goal for faculty development programs. Yet very little has been documented on how programs for diverse groups of university teachers actually engage faculty in such reflection. This paper examines how theoretical constructs of reflective practice were applied in the context of an 8-month "UBC Faculty Certificate Program on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education" (FCP). The "Teaching Perspectives Inventory" (TPI)...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Inservice Teacher Education, Reflective Teaching, College...
This paper examines the conflict in interest between teaching experiments and professional learning when they are combined in a research project. The study reported in this paper is the fourth year of a five year longitudinal study on the introduction of early algebraic concepts. The ten teacher participants are from five state primary schools in middle class areas in Brisbane, Queensland. The findings from this investigation suggest that potentially many conflicts exist between the interest of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Algebra, Teaching Skills, Educational Research, Conflict of Interest, Longitudinal...
A national literacy professional development project reduced the achievement gap for students experiencing difficulties in reading or writing in 91 of New Zealand's schools. It was based on two premises: coherence within and between the multiple levels of the schooling and educational administration systems, and a focus on evidence-informed inquiry into effectiveness at each level of the system. Over the 2 years of the project's operation, these two premises interacted in ways that led to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academic Achievement, Educational Administration, Identification, Feedback...
How should district and school leaders improve education for students traditionally underserved by public education: by increasing control over teaching and curriculum, or by empowering groups of teachers to have more collective autonomy, responsibility, and opportunities for professional learning? The second approach--promoting multiple trajectories of learning among groups of teachers--has advantages, as well as some challenges, as a means of closing various achievement gaps. Sociocultural...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academic Achievement, Teacher Collaboration, Educational Change, English (Second...
In 1997, the Illinois legislature passed House Bill 542 (Public Act 90-548) which changed teacher tenure requirements to a four-year, multi-tiered system that called for the accumulation of professional development credit for all teachers. The primary purpose of this study was to examine district responses to the 1997 legislation. To what degree, if any, did legislative requirements regarding the professional development of teachers affect the manner and means through which districts provided...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Professional Development, Human Resources, State School District...
As part of a Canadian International Development Agency funded project working with rural teachers in central China, recent graduates Lebans and Radigan spent a month teaching in Chinese schools. The primary purpose of the project is to work with members of the Sichuan Provincial Teacher Training Centre and rural teachers from Wenchuan County develop a professional development plan in response to China's current focus on education reform. This article is a synthesis of Lebans' and Radigan's...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, Educational Change, Foreign Countries, Faculty Development, Teacher...
This article describes the approach of a five-year initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, to improve the teaching of mathematics and science in 10 rural school districts of Missouri. Traditional challenges of improving the professional practice of teachers are addressed through a regional partnership. External project evaluation results reveal specific teacher challenges, the change strategy of the Ozark Rural Systemic Initiative (ORSI), and what teachers value most. Continuous,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Change Strategies, Rural Schools, Teacher Effectiveness, Educational Change,...
One process for retaining experienced, qualified teachers is to provide them with opportunities to grow professionally (Blase & Blase, 2001). The intent of this paper is to provide information about meeting the needs of experienced, qualified rural teachers, especially in the area of professional development. A story line of one rural science teacher's journey with professional development opportunities and experiences is shared. Her principal's role is also described. Also included is a...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, Science Teachers, Teaching Experience, Educational Opportunities,...
This article focuses on the challenge of teacher retention in rural schools in relation to the No Child Left Behind mandate, that school districts must attract and retain highly qualified teachers. This case study examines the extent to which a rural school enhanced teacher retention by overcoming the barriers that might otherwise have presented a challenge to teacher retention. Findings from this study suggest that the nurturing the nurturers concept, inherent in teacher resiliency-building...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, Federal Legislation, Teacher Persistence, School Holding Power, Labor...
For many small rural school districts across America, the effort to attract and retain quality teachers continues to be a major concern. Schools located in what are considered to be "hard to staff" areas experience the most difficult. While not all communities face the problems of inadequate teacher supply, many small and rural school districts recognize this as a continuing critical issue. A variety of factors contribute to the problems of recruiting and retaining teachers in small...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, Teacher Supply and Demand, School Districts, Rural Education, Teacher...
Research suggests the need to provide leadership opportunities for teachers within school settings in order to increase professional collaboration and community. This research explored one rural district's professional development model, which was evaluated to determine its potential in developing teacher leaders. This district's professional development model utilized their exemplary teachers to develop other teachers through formal presentations that were traditionally taught by non-district...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Collaboration, Rural Schools, Collegiality, Program Effectiveness, Faculty...
The word "technology" has evolved through several different meanings during the recent history of education. In 1985, the American Industrial Arts Association changed its name to the International Technology Education Association. This change reflected dissatisfaction with traditional "shop" courses, designed to prepare students for skilled trades and technical vocations. Instead, it was felt, all students needed to gain some familiarity with technology, to prepare them for...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Curriculum Development, Educational History, Familiarity, Technology Education,...
In this article, two teacher educators examine two curriculum moments they have experienced, one with children and the other with pre-service teachers. They find possibilities for shifts in their understandings and insights into their own identity making and that of students. Drawing upon Connelly and Clandinin's (1992) notion of teachers as curriculum makers, they consider how students shape curriculum alongside teachers in classrooms. Students' and teachers' actions and words shape not only...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Teacher Educators, Transformative Learning, Teaching Experience,...
Historically, elementary science teacher inservice has not been an effective means of improving science teaching for most elementary teachers. "Guidelines for Effective Elementary Science Teacher Inservice Education" were developed by Klein (2001) to address this need. This paper illustrates, through a review of program evaluation documentation, how the guidelines were implemented in an elementary science teacher inservice education program. (Contains 4 tables.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Science, Inservice Teacher Education, Program Evaluation,...
Many classroom teachers across the United States feel unprepared to work with students and families who speak limited or no English. Knowing that schools are accountable for the achievement results of these students, teachers increasingly seek help. This article describes a professional development project designed to introduce K-12 teachers to effective strategies for enhancing the learning of English language learners and shares the results that occurred as the teachers placed greater...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary Secondary Education, Family Involvement, Academic Achievement, Second...
This article reports on the experiences and perceptions of K-12 teachers as they engaged in a participatory action research (PAR) project, "Science Across the Curriculum." Although the experiences and professional learning of two of the project participants are highlighted, the challenges that all participants experienced as they conceptualized and implemented action research are also reported. The author concludes that messiness and uncertainty are inherent and necessary elements of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary Secondary Education, Action Research, Teacher Attitudes, Teachers,...
This study examined the effects of peer coaching on mathematics teaching practices and teacher beliefs about their capacity to have an impact on student learning. Twelve teachers in grades 3 and 6 participated in a brief but intensive professional development program over six months. The program focused on effective mathematics teaching strategies and peer coaching opportunities. Data sources included classroom observations, teacher self-assessments, interviews, and field notes. Data were...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Effectiveness, Interaction, Educational Change, Grade 3, Peer Teaching,...
In September 1998, the California State Legislature passed SB 2042, legislation that authorized the reform of teacher recruitment, certification, and licensing in the state. Its provisions are unique in that they represent the first time in California's history that almost all of the standards dealing with teacher preparation and induction were revised at the same time; every currently approved program that prepares teachers was requested to rewrite and submit program documents in a short time...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Credentials, Performance Based Assessment, Program Effectiveness, Educational Change,...
Evidence suggests that student teaching is one of the most influential components of a teacher education program, and the cooperating teacher exerts the greatest influence on a student teacher. Therefore, it is vital to understand how the role of experienced teachers is affected by the implementation of a professional development school (PDS) as these individuals assume greater responsibility in the education of prospective teachers and in their own professional development. This paper...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Student Teaching, Student Teachers, Professional Development Schools, Teacher...
The U.S. educational system invests heavily, in both time and money, in continuing education for teachers. In this article Heather Hill examines the effectiveness of two forms of teacher learning--graduate coursework and professional development. She focuses first on graduate education. Almost half of all teachers have a master's degree. Many states allow graduate coursework to count toward recertification requirements. Some districts require teachers to complete a master's degree within...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Salaries, Graduate Study, Continuing Education, Program Effectiveness, Faculty...
One of the goals of Professional Development School (PDS) programs is to provide preservice teachers with opportunities for developing in-depth knowledge and experience as they learn to teach (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, 2001). A theme-based PDS adds value to the PDS program model because it allows faculty members to share their particular expertise and research interests with preservice teachers and with teachers at the PDS school site. Additionally, a theme-based...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Professional Development Schools, Faculty Development,...
This article offers a description of critical literacy practice and/as professional development as it evolved in a teacher inquiry group investigating critical literacy. The authors describe this professional development experience as an instance of critical literacy in practice. The entirety of this article is a collaborative product in which the authors begin their discussion of each dimension of critical literacy practice with a brief narrative written by an individual group member. Their...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Group Experience, Faculty Development, Professional Development, Teacher Educators,...
The Academy for Teacher Excellence (ATE) at the University of Texas at San Antonio and San Antonio College is proposed as a comprehensive model whose overarching goals include: (1) creating a learning ecology that values diversity and prepares teacher candidates for work in diverse communities; (2) increasing the number of Latino students pursuing teacher certification; and (3) preparing all teachers for linguistically and culturally diverse populations. ATE's ultimate outcome is to assure that...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Certification, Teacher Education, Teacher Competencies, Hispanic Americans,...
The Russian Federation has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world. Prevention efforts are still in the early stage, and to this date do not include a comprehensive, national HIV prevention education approach for direct application via the educational system. This study examined HIV/AIDS related knowledge of science teachers residing in an urban setting in Russia. Seventy-two teachers completed the HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Attitude Scale for Teachers as well as items related to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Prevention, Knowledge Level, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Foreign Countries,...
In an earlier edition of this journal, Paul Swan (1997) published an article called "Writing for journals: An avenue for professional development". His article encourages teachers to share their experiences and ideas by becoming writers of APMC journal articles, and in doing so, engage in professional development. The set of guidelines Swan provided for developing an article for submission has inspired this new article. In this article, the author also urges primary school teachers in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Teachers, Guidelines, Journal Articles, Foreign Countries,...
From summer programs in archaeology or Russian to teaching abroad for a year or more, there are many opportunities available for teachers. This article describes unique programs in archeology, geology, astronomy, botany, and oceanography that are available as summer programs; master's programs in languages, administration, writing, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; and overseas opportunities through the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, International Schools Service, and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Summer Programs, Faculty Development, Graduate Study, Educational Opportunities,...
A teacher has to keep going to school just to keep his or her job, so it pays to know the most interesting and convenient programs available. This article presents 11 professional development options that "work" for teachers' real-life schedules: (1) Best for Children's Literature: Penn State University; (2) Best for Science & Technology: PBS Teacher Line; (3) Best for Literacy Instruction: Scholastic Red; (4) Best for Personal Enrichment: Walden University; (5) Best for...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Childrens Literature, Educational Technology, Literacy Education, Teacher...
Math can sometimes seem like a strange language from foreign land--one communicated in symbols, numbers, and geometric figures. When teachers talk about mathematical concepts, even familiar, garden variety words such as "parallel," "power," "even," "odd," "multiply," "difference," "product," "positive," and "negative" take on brand-new meanings. What's the best way for teachers to help students master this...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Geometric Concepts, Vocabulary Development, Teaching Methods, Mathematics...
This paper examines the progress of one state in implementing the middle school concept. Results of a survey distributed in 1990 were compared to results of a similar survey distributed in the spring of 2004. Progress or the lack thereof has been noted. Implications from this survey can serve to heighten awareness and continue to improve the quality of middle level education. (Contains 1 figure and 10 tables.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Middle Schools, Comparative Analysis, Educational Quality, Educational Improvement,...