Mentor systems benefit beginning teachers, the school district, the students, and experienced teachers. Research and the Utah Teacher Evaluation Project suggest a number of essential characteristics of a mentoring system, which are discussed. (MT)

This document presents a detailed outline of the elements that need to be considered in creating a staff development program. It deals with such topics as, Who needs it? What is it? and, the possible pitfalls of a staff development program. Also included are a diagram of a model of staff development and a brief outline of a program planning…

This article describes the role of the advisor in a staff development project and how advisors facilitate projects by providing support, clarification, materials, creative ideas, and structure. Recommendations regarding the use of advisors are made. (MT)

Describes a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) workshop held as a staff development activity for managers. The process is designed to help practitioners articulate their skills and job functions. (SK)

This article was written to raise some questions and issues which should be considered prior to initiating a program for staff development. (Author/RK)

The impact of cooperative learning on students has been documented, but the outcome of increased collegiality among teachers has been overlooked. This article describes cooperative learning training and follow-up programs in two school districts set up to ensure that consistent and deliberate interaction occurs among teachers. (MT)

Fewer employees, shorter hours, diminished collection budgets, reduced programs and services--all at a time of record library usage. In this book, library expert Carol Smallwood demonstrates that despite the obvious downsides, the necessity of doing business differently can be positive, leading to partnering, sharing, and innovating. This…

Studies on continuous education and alteration are highly significant in order to improve the technical and social abilities of the industry employees. Generally, these kinds of educational facilities are carried on in the range of in-house training. Besides in-house training, it is also possible to improve the abilities of the employees with the…

As a significant step in the consolidation of the importance of technology in education, the Flemish Government recently (September 2007) introduced a formal technology curriculum for schools. This compulsory curriculum replaces already existing but non-binding technology guidelines and is an important action in the Flemish policy of educational…

Changes in the postindustrial era are forcing people to rethink goals, strategies for working, and how they organize to accomplish these aims. Innovations can reshape staff development programs, For some organizations, these times offer opportunities for "training not as usual." (JOW)

This article reviews recent research on successful evaluation, highlights differences between supervision and evaluation, and discusses alternative philosophies regarding supervision, teaching, and change. Suggestions are presented for staff developers to use in helping a school district to clarify what it believes and to select programs congruent…

Authors describe the development of the Oakland County (Michigan) Curriculum Council. (CB)

Staff developers can plan better programs if they have some knowledge of adult learning theory and if they use principles and practices of exemplary adult education. Participants should be helped to examine their cultural and organizational assumptions. (JD)

This report describes the Teacher Resource and Computer Training Center Program that was enacted in 1984 by the New York State Education Department to provide systematic, ongoing professional development services for the state's teachers. It is a collaborative program involving teachers, school administrators, higher education representatives,…

The expectations of the Kentucky State Board of Education regarding a systematic plan for improving the professional performance of Kentucky public school system educational staff--nonacademic as well as academic--are set forth. A description of the plan is given. Methods for implementation of the Kentucky Plan into local school systems are…