Changes in education have direct implications for the role and responsibility of professional development. This eighth guidebook in a series of nine video conferences examines the meaning of professional development in light of recent educational innovations. Included are an outline of new priorities and expanded functions of professional development and a discussion of new delivery systems for professional development. Also provided are pre- and post-activities, a program evaluation, essays and school-based activities highlighting conference topics, information about other video conferences in the series and computer forums, course credit information and a list of supplementary materials, 36 references and a video source, and a listing of 9 regional resources. Biographical information is given on the conference presenters. (LMI)