In this webinar, Dr. Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director of Learning Forward, presented the research on effective PLCs and shared her experiences in creating, assessing, and leading PLCs. This Q&A addressed questions participants had for Dr. Hirsh following the webinar. The webinar recording and PowerPoint presentation are also available.

Attitudes of teachers regarding inservice and staff development focused on gifted/talented students range from negative to hostile. Research and programs which encourage the development of effective inservice and staff development and which motivate teachers to be receptive and positive about developing skills to identify and teach gifted students…

It is important to develop total "ownership" in gifted programs so that regular teachers, administrators, and community members realize the benefits of serving the above average student. (CL)

Followup and tie in between regular classrooms and gifted programs are essential for quality programing. "Ownership" of the program by the entire school community, including counselors, librarians, and administrators, is also important. (CL)

Identifies four areas concerning writing across the curriculum programs in which consensus across the campus should be sought: dealing with errors, common terminology, a process or routine for response, and enthusiasm for the effort. Includes response checklists. (HTH)

Contains a handicapped teacher's personal reflections on the Equal Educational Assessibility laws and presents her solutions to some problems created by the laws. (FL)

The thesis of this paper is that the humanistic mode of inquiry is underemployed in evaluation studies and the future evaluation of Follow Through could profitably use humanistic approaches. The original Follow Through evaluation was based on the assumption that the world consists of a single system explainable by appropriate methods; the…

Suggests ways to stimulate content area teachers' interest in content area reading programs. Advocates a philosophy of "content communication," which can be developed by guiding subject matter teachers through five developmental stages (awareness, knowledge, simulation, practice, and incorporation). (JT)

Explores and puts to rest the misconceptions that faculty members from English as well as other disciplines hold about teaching writing. Makes suggestions that may help English teachers who want to establish an institution-wide program of writing gain the cooperation of other departments. (HTH)

Argues that faculty writing groups are the single most effective way to change faculty attitudes about writing and to build support for writing across the curriculum. Discusses challenges facing colleges or universities that decide to develop a writing program across the disciplines. (RS)

An approach to continuing professional education, which was used by the Continuing Professional Education Development Project at Pennsylvania State University, is discussed in two papers. The project established alternative approaches to program development and delivery, based in part on a practice orientation to program development. In…

Notes that educators of business communication have felt isolated and powerless fighting administration. Presents four challenges for business communication educators to: (1) support plain language across the continents; (2) strengthen relationships with practitioners; (3) remove the basic skills yoke that has burdened educators for so long; and…

The profession of adult education provides many excellent opportunities to enhance global understanding. One way for adult educators to become involved in international activities is through the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE). As a federation of adult education organizations that are organized in seven regions throughout the…

Three premises are basic to Writing Across the Curriculum: (1) when learning involves writing, more learning is achieved; (2) learning to write involves learning to manage and coordinate the component skills of writing within real writing tasks; and (3) through writing, students can learn how to actively touch the content of a class. The role of…

Traces the development of the performance appraisal program of the Hicksville, New York, public school system, which was designed to improve instructional programs. Describes the strong opposition the program received from teachers. (FL)