This article summarizes current research on effective professional development and offers a checklist for school leaders to use when designing learning opportunities for teachers. Effective professional development engages teachers in learning opportunities that are supportive, job-embedded, instructionally-focused, collaborative, and ongoing.…

These four monographs on the education of the gifted and the talented were prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Monograph #1 addresses the questions of who the gifted and talented are and why they need special programs. Monograph #2 concerns staff involvement, and covers such topics as staff development, the role of the…

This research synthesis provides insight into issues related to teacher diversity and faculty development. It begins with a review of the literature on models of professional development and the characteristics of effective professional development identified by research, with the knowledge that little, if any, research has addressed professional…

This paper explores what is known and what is needed in the areas of (1) experiential learning and experiential education and (2) extending experience-based career education (EBCE) to groups not currently served by such a program. Following the introduction, the paper contains eight sections. Section 2 provides a discussion of what the experts are…

Reviews recent trends in the development and implementation of performance-based incentive programs for teachers and administrators. Looks at program control, administrator and teacher involvement, time frames used, criteria for career advancement, evaluation methods employed, effects of funding on implementation, and program evaluation. Considers…

A review of the existing literature on preparation of rural teaching personnel focuses on the problems of education and specifically, special education, in rural areas and reports various solutions to those problems. Characteristics of many rural areas (such as high non-enrollment rates, rising service costs, resistance to outside interference,…

This document on inservice training and staff development is one in a series of four developed to provide a comprehensive overview of the scope of training practices relating to adult learning. Directed toward educators designing and conducting training programs and toward trainers of trainers, these contributions by adult educators and…