Considers what educators can do to promote quality instruction that prevents, or at least lessens, the incidence of school failure in minority children. Discusses a brief perspective of "The School Development Program," and presents a description of three workshops. (SC)

Presents the stories of three novice teachers with disabilities, describing their journeys to knowing themselves as young adults and teachers. The impact of their experiences is discussed in light of their developing pedagogical knowledge, concluding that for them, teaching is an encounter with the self, and their encounters are an untapped…

Analyzes the tensions underlying the debate regarding inclusive schools, focusing on (1) a social relationship and civil rights orientation versus an academic skills and individual development orientation; and (2) the dilemma in which advocacy emphasizes the difference between students with and without disabilities. Maintains that tensions around…

Describes a science teacher's views of Science-Technology-Society (STS) instruction after implementing a two-semester STS-oriented science course in a Taiwanese high school. Concludes that the heavy content load of Taiwan's national curriculum, regular cross-class standard tests, lack of peer or administrative support, resource limitations in the…

Examines prospective teachers' mental strategies to guide reflections on course content and teaching experiences. Finds that at three university sites, prospective teachers directed their attention to personal experiences and values to guide their reflective work. Draws implications for instruction from an analysis of the power of personal…

Argues that it is educators' unwillingness to critically examine their practice, not the inability to use classroom-based assessments, that deters them from gathering information on students and teaching practices. Concludes that as the ability to reflect develops, so must the knowledge base expand to support thinking. (SG)

Surveys the role of video feedback in light of a new, integrated concept in teacher education called education research. Shows how shared reflection was stimulated during language teacher education to link theory with practice. Situations were created that allowed for reflective practice on the semiosis of action. (Author/VWL)

Describes how a teacher and a teacher educator collaborated to extend their thinking regarding effective learning environments and to challenge their own uncertainties through dialog. Discusses four aspects of effective learning environments: creating authentic, meaningful, and personalized curriculum; making visible differences in language and…

As teachers progress through their careers, they must grow and transform to remain effective. The Life Cycle of the Career Teacher model, which is an application of Mezirow's transformation theory, provides the framework to ensure that all students have competent, caring, and qualified teachers, addressing six stages and transitions teachers face…

Reflective teachers look at classroom problems from many perspectives and consider others' viewpoints when they choose instructional strategies. Reflection is beginning to be treated as an essential part of a teacher's repertoire. Sidebars recount an exercise in reflection. (MLF)

Teaching nursing students to reflect on their practice is now officially considered an essential component of nursing education in a number of countries. The aim of this study was to explore nurse teachers' perceptions and experiences of using reflection with diploma nursing students in an Irish context. One of the central themes to emerge, upon…

In this article, the author poses the following questions: When was the last time you sat back and contemplated how effective your teaching is? What methods have you used to determine how students learn and apply their knowledge? and Have you investigated the effectiveness of your newly implemented curriculum based on Standards for Technological…

This paper describes and discusses the effect of service-learning on students' reflective thinking about their own knowledge in multicultural teacher education at a state university in Southern California (USA). Two versions of students' multicultural autobiographies, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the course, were examined to…

This article focuses on the use of portfolios for learning and professional development in Higher Education (HE). Recent research findings related to learning and assessment help to contextualize the study. The use of portfolios for summative assessment and development of teaching and reflective practice dominates the literature. What is lacking…

This chapter considers whether there are grounds for believing that an inquiry-based approach to teaching and educational development will enhance practice. (Contains 1 table.)