Math Teachers' Circles (MTCs) bring math teachers and university mathematicians together to engage in collaborative mathematical activity. Currently there are over 110 MTCs across 40 states. A key claim is that MTCs are "communities of practice." However, to date there has been no research to substantiate this claim. In this paper, we…

This study focuses on using wikis as a learning environment, as part of a professional development program for chemistry teacher leaders. The study was performed in Israel and involved 20 chemistry teachers. One goal was to investigate how using wiki may promote effective science teacher professional development. Various aspects of the teachers'…

This training packet is intended to aid educators in planning and effecting positive change within the learning environment through a group problem-solving intervention process. It primarily addresses the concept of "change agentry" and how it can be used to improve the climate for learning, focusing on the role of the change agent and the…

Describes a humanistic approach to in-service education called colearning, where participants are actively involved in the learning process. Colearning suggests that designers of adult learning experiences consider the relationship between adult development, life events, and resulting changes in learning patterns. Describes use of the concept in…

This paper describes the use of qualitative observation techniques for gathering and analyzing data related to group processes during an Accelerated Schools Model training session. The purposes for this research were to observe the training process in order better to facilitate present continuation and future training, to develop questions for…

Regardless of the complexity of issues or the instructor's fallibility, the instructure must make decisions around group problems of: (1) process v content; (2) purpose; and (3) format. These tensions mirror the tensions consultants face in work in schools. Coping with them may mean student consultants are better prepared. (JAC)

Offers guidelines for presenting inservice technology training sessions for teachers. Topics discussed include engaging group activity; proper approaches to the necessity for change; relating technology to activities outside the classroom; practical skills that can be easily learned; allowing adequate time; and offering options versus demanding…

This set of training materials was developed as part of the Preparing Educational Training Consultants (PETC) program, as an outgrowth of the Educational Intern program conducted by the National Training Laboratory (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavioral Science. The set includes the following packets: (1) Instructional Strategies for Senior…

Designed to be used primarily for research purposes, this Group Reading Interaction Pattern Observation Instrument (GRIP) training manual specifies process behaviors used by the teacher during classroom instruction regardless of the subject matter. The instrument is comprised of three sections: (1) the Identifying Information Sheet, to provide…

This trainer's packet, designed to be used in conjunction with the participant's manual, was prepared for a 2-day workshop to restructure schools to embrace all children, including those with disabilities. The trainer's materials include: program objectives; masters for overhead transparencies; and descriptions of learning activities, including…