In schools across the country, there is increased emphasis on coaching--a process whereby seasoned teachers provide instructional support, professional development opportunities, feedback, and materials to classroom teachers--as a central means to improve instruction and build the capacity of school staff members. Currently, a number of districts…

This article aims to describe informal learning as it might apply to the early professional development of inexperienced teachers in the first three years of their career, working in secondary schools in England and Wales. An attempt has been made to move the debate on from a narrowly conceived competencies agenda based on a formalised approach to…

Edmonton Public Schools district implemented a framework of support for teaching and learning, and a key element supporting the framework is instructional walk-throughs, which provide staff opportunities to learn from one another. Instructional walk-throughs help move the staff from a culture of isolation to a culture of collaboration and support.…

This study was designed to determine the degree of use, level of client satisfaction of professional development and educational services, and to identify suggestions for improving services. Results from a mixed methodology approach indicated moderate to high levels of satisfaction in two program areas and moderate to high levels of…

The first section of this monograph shows how, by analyzing the language of personality descriptors, researchers have identified five correlated groups of behaviors. It finds that the most popular formulation of the Five-Factor Model (FFM) is that of Costa and McCrae (1992) and that their nomenclature can be adapted to come up with a version for…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored ways in which educators used reflective practices for administrative problem solving. Specifically, the study explored the ways in which administrators used a cognitive-coaching framework to guide their thinking and contributed to their practical wisdom through structured reflection of their…

This paper presents an analysis of existing professional development activities for international teaching assistants (ITAs), graduate students from abroad, at Canadian universities. It is based on Sork's Basic Elements of Program Planning model which highlights active elements in program planning. The first chapter discusses factors external to…

In career guidance, advocacy and self-advocacy encompass a continuum from adviser action separately on behalf of a client, through shared activity, to action by the client alone. Wherever individual clients fall on the continuum, advocacy can be conducted in a manner that empowers them. Modeling is an important aspect of the process of empowerment…

The International Seminar on Functional Illiteracy and Professional Incompetence as Risk Factors of Modern Civilization and the Role of Adult Continuing Education in Overcoming Them examined the modern problem and definition of illiteracy, the causes of professional illiteracy, measures to eliminate the causes, and recommendations for further…

In this paper, a statement of concern about short-term thinking by child care professionals is followed by a discussion of long-term planning for the future of day care. It is argued that day care policy should be made by those who best understand the strengths and weaknesses of the profession: providers and parents. Providers and parents should…

This paper proposes a new way of thinking about teacher supervision that takes into account the everyday experience of the teacher in the classroom. The paper suggests eliminating old habits of thought by using new language with new connotations--instead of "supervision," the new approach is called "professional development." Professional…

Procedures and rationales for teacher appraisal are examined. The target-output model calls for agreed-upon objectives to be compared with professional work. The performance criteria model compares professional work to agreed criteria of competencies. A diagnostic model of appraisal of teacher needs and potentials is joined with the others in a…

This paper first reviews the field of educational technology and teaching from two perspectives, that of the technologist and that of the teacher. It is noted that the activities of educational technologists are now defined largely in terms of instructional design and development and are increasingly distanced from the work of ordinary teachers in…

Argues that environmental education in this information age requires a shift from a paradigm of "information technology" to a paradigm of "information critique." Provides a perspective on the form of this paradigm shift in the area of professional development. (TW)

Indicates a significant difference between trained and nontrained teachers for four instructional practices and for the amount of interaction with other professionals. Shows that the effects of training on students endured for three years for the treatment group at the junior high level. (JD)