This study used a quasi-experimental research design to examine the impact of a professional learning program designed to enhance the competency of children with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities and to develop knowledge, understanding and skills of teachers and parents in helping them. Data were collected…

Background: The literature contains very few studies that focused on evaluating the impact of professional development activities on student learning. And, many of these studies failed to determine whether the professional development activities met their primary goal--to improve the learning process. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use…

Instructional technology has often been hailed as the answer to the problem of education the disadvantaged child. But examination of studies of these children has proved that some of the assumptions about them have been false and that instructional technology may, in fact, be a hindrance. There is no proof that slum children are good at motor…

In 2004, the Research, Program Evaluation and Information Department of "All Kinds of Minds" guided a research initiative designed to advance evidence-based scholarship about the impact of the Schools Attuned[R] Program to demonstrate the impact of Schools Attuned[R] on student outcomes; on special education; and on teacher knowledge and…

The concept of innovation, with particular reference to education, is examined from many different angles. (CK)

The effectiveness of modules, design-based instruction, and other approaches to technology education can be assessed by determining whether they communicate clear goals; present a clear definition and historical view of technology; present technology processes, actions, and authentic contexts; foster cooperation and teamwork; include open-ended…

Discusses teaching and training about evaluation with metaphors. Helping those who study evaluation perceive analogies and metaphors related to evaluation helps them understand truths about the rich diversity of evaluation. (SLD)

Every teacher can recall a range of experiences in professional development workshops. Some of these may have provided opportunities in which teachers felt engaged, empowered, and supported as learners, while others felt disconnected from practice. Although these authors recognize that workshops, particularly those with no follow-up support, are…

As with many districtwide reform efforts, the San Diego reform sought to improve classroom instruction by focusing on building the capacity of teachers. This article examines practices of teacher professional development in the district and their impact on literacy instruction. Through examination of the literature on effective professional…

The Council of Chief State School Officers' "Accommodations Manual: How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate the Use of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment of Students with Disabilities" was first developed to establish guidelines for states to use for the selection, administration, and evaluation of accommodations for…

The present review examines research on the effects of technology use on reading achievement in K-12 classrooms. Unlike previous reviews, this review applies consistent inclusion standards to focus on studies that met high methodological standards. In addition, methodological and substantive features of the studies are investigated to examine the…

Educational inequalities are evident even before children start school. Some educational achievement gaps widen out as individuals progress further through the education sequence and into the labour market, especially those connected to disadvantaged students. Thus, there is a significant need for careful evaluation of educational policies that…

Assessing the success of a residency with an at-risk population requires an expanded set of standards. While ultimate goals may be the same, one needs a longer time to achieve them. In this article, the author, a teaching artist with long experience working in at-risk settings, argues for a deeper and broader understanding of assessment and…