This study compares the dispositions and perceived preparedness of three teacher preparation programs: traditional, masters, and alternative licensure. We specifically investigated whether teachers in alternative licensure programs have the dispositions and perceived preparation essential for teaching. Each program was examined to identify…

Although action research is a common feature of courses of initial teacher training, the evidence as to its efficacy, in encouraging reflection among trainees, is mixed. This article discusses cases of action research assignments carried out by three trainees into their own practice in relation to (a) behaviour management, (b) monitoring and…

A two-year project researching reaction to a new approach to postgraduate, on-campus teaching and learning, the Integrated Learning System (ILS) is described. ILS was intended to partly replace traditional lectures with study guides and to make seminars and tutorials more interactive in order to promote different ways of learning and teaching.…

This study reports on the results of a research on learning styles and critical thinking skills of sixty eight postgraduate students of Master's Level Business Education Programs. These students have participated in both phases of our research. In the first phase, carried out in spring 2005, Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI v.3) was the basis…

Clump, Bauer, and Bradley (2004) and Burchfield and Sappington (2000) previously found extremely low levels of reading in undergraduate psychology courses. The current study investigated whether these low levels of reading are also found with graduate students, or if this value is altered by only investigating individuals who show continued…

A trend in master of business administration (MBA) programs has been to offer more specializations beyond the traditional broad MBA. In this article, the authors explore the recruitment practices of business and the curricula of MBA programs comparing general MBA degrees with MBA degrees with specialization. The authors empirically examine whether…

Facing a growing population and the demands of No Child Left Behind, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is finding itself destitute in the recruitment and certification of highly-qualified educators. Because of extremely low average salaries and the existence of critical-need areas, the MDE has decided over the past decade to create an…

Reflective practice has been adopted by many teachers, including dissertation advisors who provide 1:1 teaching of research students. This paper discusses issues arising from our use of qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) for reflective practice and provides an analysis of the thematic coding and word/pattern searches of feedback given to…

The Public School Forum of North Carolina examined how to identify and prepare school leaders who can meet the challenges of the 21st century in the state's public schools, and it made recommendations for making the current system stronger and more productive. In searching for comprehensive approaches that could provide leadership preparation…

Purpose: There is little understanding of how physical therapy students are influenced by clinical instructors (CIs) particularly at the outset of their clinical learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physical therapy students' perceptions of their learning experiences during an introductory clinical placement. Methods: Subjects were…

A sample of nurses (N=183) enrolled in a School of Nursing's master degree program was randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes about a patient who differed only in terms of diagnosis and lifestyle. Possible diagnoses were Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS acquired by a hemophiliac through blood therapy, and leukemia; possible…

This paper describes a graduate curriculum in research and philosophy of science that was developed over a number of years at the California State University-Fullerton Counseling Program. The three objectives of the curriculum are presented, i.e., to provide a forum for discussion of issues generic to psychology; to provide a framework for…

The authors describe the process undertaken by the University of Michigan School of Nursing to identify an appropriate data collection instrument for the evaluation of their master's program. They concluded that the Graduate Program Self-Assessment instrument was appropriate for that project's needs. (CH)

The author presents results of a national survey of 157 National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration principal representatives. Four topics are analyzed: (1) selection procedures, (2) relative use of entrance criteria, (3) the decision-making process, and (4) key policy issues. A brief discussion of ways to enhance…

Findings from a nationwide survey identified masters of public administration (MPA) program directors' perceptions of their programs' effectiveness and capacity to achieve 17 specific goals. Characteristics of effective and ineffective programs were also explored. Program structure did not have a major impact on effectiveness, but accreditation…