A study of the learning activities of 43 beginning secondary school teachers in Oregon provides information about how and to what extent these teachers supplemented academic training with practical knowledge. Types of learning experiences, time spent on them, and teachers' opinions about their worth are discussed. (PP)

Teacher self-improvement is a concept that can be used as part of a school's program for professional development and teacher evaluation. Methods for helping teachers evaluate their own performances, for obtaining feedback from students and colleagues, for designing self-improvement programs, and for monitoring progress are described. (PP)

Identifies some of the problems and issues endemic to research studying career patterns in student affairs. Suggests more promising avenues of research. Discusses the conditioning effects of the higher education environment, recent developments in conceptualizing career research, experimental design issues and opportunities for studying work…

The issue of salary benefits for advanced degrees has long needed reexamining, but to make cost effectiveness the dominant criteria in evaluating university-based inservice teacher education is limiting. The benefits of lifelong professional development, which responds to educators as developing adults as well as improves classroom skills, are…

Presents a model for upgrading school psychology practice in a state by raising the level of entry for school psychology certification. Discusses the plan to permit those who do not meet the revised standards to participate in a field-based program. Presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program. (Author)

The fifth year of a successful five-year teacher preparation program is the first contractual teaching year, or the supported induction year. This formative teaching year results in fewer excellent teachers dropping out due to pressures or frustrations in first-year teaching. (JN)

The standards to which secondary vocational education is held accountable are not compatible with the broad program goals undertaken by vocational education. Vocational education should be assessed in light of its contributions to human development and its economic benefits. (CJ)

The challenges to education for librarianship and information science are numerous and great: technology, research, expanding curricula to address problems of special constituencies, and recruiting committed individuals. Changes are occurring rapidly, and practitioners and educators must work together to ensure the challenges are met. Thirteen…

Three summaries of research projects concerning teacher professional development are described. The first summary describes an inservice education survey to determine important topics for professional development. The second study examines teachers' particular needs with respect to professional development. The third study discusses sexism in…

Citing information gained in his study of professional development programs in industry, retailing, and banking, the author proposes a new model for staff development in England's secondary schools, one based on self-assessment of individual needs and diversified training strategies. (SJL)

Institutional research is defined and general and specific objectives to be met in a graduate training program for institutional researchers are examined. Also discussed are institutional research courses, internships, and dissertations. (Author/SF)

Analysis of participant perception suggests that interprofessional shared learning will be meaningful if professional representation and status are balanced, groups are not too large, knowledge and experience are similar, all relevant agencies are present, all participants are active, learning outcomes are specific, pre-course information is…

Driven by Goals 2000 legislation, partnerships involving schools, businesses, and universities are preparing students for technically sophisticated workplaces. The Kids at Work project initiated by Project SMART (Science/Mathematics Applied Resources for Teaching) is a New York State validated approach to improving elementary math and science…

Describes the design and impact of an inquiry-oriented professional development course on South Carolina teachers' perspectives of homeless children and families. Notes that multiple perspectives, participant involvement in goal setting, and opportunities to apply knowledge in community and school settings led to changed attitudes toward the…

Suggests that a holistic approach to teaching prospective teachers should encompass a knowledge base drawn from three paradigms: (1) instrument/technical; (2) interpretive/constructivist; and (3) emancipative/social reconstruction. Argues that use of such an approach will result in professional maturation and an expansion in influence in the…