We posit that professional development (PD) models fall on a continuum from highly adaptive to highly specified, and that these constructs provide a productive way to characterize and distinguish among models. The study reported here examines the impact of an adaptive mathematics PD model on teachers' knowledge and instructional practices as well…

Elementary teachers in one school system have expressed low self-efficacy teaching science and desire more support teaching science. However, little research has been conducted on how best to meet these teachers' needs. The theories of perceived self-efficacy, social cognition, and behaviorism make up the conceptual framework of this study. The…

The 2010 Professional Development Schools National Conference recognized the professional development school relationship between Towson University with its dual certification major and the Howard County Public School System for its outstanding collaborative accomplishments, naming the Towson-Waterloo-Ilchester-Bellows Spring PDS as a recipient of…

A plan is presented for introducing instructional innovations in school districts through inservice education. (GW)

Inservice education is primarily planned and justified on the basis of its contribution to and impact upon the classroom. Although the student must remain central, staff development programs can and must concurrently address and relate to other institutional and/or organizational goals and objectives. Inservice or staff development should not be…

This study focused on the development of an organizational model for an inservice training program for teachers of disadvantaged adults in a central Georgia school system, with emphasis on the importance of understanding the motives or causal factors that lead to participation. Information was obtained from teachers and students about factors that…

School districts have an obligation to provide an inservice education program. Effective individualized inservice programs can be developed by following specific guidelines, including concerned people, and utilizing technological resources. (Author/MLF)

An already existing professional development structure composed of a steering committee on policy, curriculum coordinators, and building-level staff development associates enabled the Greenwich (Connecticut) Public Schools to plan and carry out staff development in computer literacy. Responsiveness and flexibility are key elements of the program.…

The Idaho State Department of Education has mandated a professional growth requirement for all certified educators and requires school districts to develop and implement a professional development plan. This handbook is designed to assist in the implementation of these requirements. The following topics are addressed: (1) professional development,…

The article discusses the benefits of teacher leader programs and outlines a schemata for a program of professional development for teacher leaders. The knowledge domain of a teacher leader program, such as local district needs and interpersonal development, is described. (JL)

Locally-based gifted education facilitators often find training their peers a formidable task. Guidelines for developing a successful inservice presentation include: establishing a positive attitude toward inservice and respect for presentors' credentials; matching content and activities to audience needs; rehearsing; providing time for guided…

A unique feature of the Vallejo/Dominican College Teacher Corps Project (California) is that the first year is set aside for planning. This allows better needs assessment, more teacher involvement, and a broader definition of staff development. (Author/JM)

Speeches on six major topics at a conference designed to assist school districts in the development of comprehensive inservice teacher education programs are presented: (1) planning (Sam Yarger); (2) collaboration (Jerry Ciccheli); (3) conducting needs assessments (Patricia M. Kay); (4) effective delivery systems (LaMar P. Miller); (5) creative…

The League of Schools is a staff development consortium currently consisting of 11 Southeastern Idaho School districts and the College of Education at Idaho State University (ISU). The primary purposes of the League are to provide a structure and process for systematically identifying with specificity school district personnel training needs and…

The Program Development Center was formed to establish collaborative relationship between Teachers' College Physical Education Program (Columbia University, New York) and physical education staff of several school districts. To improve school physical education programs, several projects were undertaken, including: (1) a high school elective…