This study on evaluation of university supervisors of student teachers is based on the work of Lee Goldsberry (1989). Goldsberry describes different roles that student teacher supervisors can take, focusing on the function of supervision itself. One of these roles has, as a primary purpose, maintaining a facade that supervision is being practiced.…

There is considerable interest in the conceptualization and design of the clincial components of teacher preparation programs generally, and a growing interest in inquiry-oriented programs. This study sought to determine perceptions of the degree of implementation of an inquiry-oriented student teaching curriculum at the University of Northern…

The Mathematics Department of the Stichting Opleiding Leraren (SOL) is responsible for the education of secondary school mathematics teachers in the Netherlands. This education takes four and a half years, and includes one year of professional preparation. The program trains teachers to reflect on their experiences by means of directing their own…

Action research is, quite often, the method of enquiry employed by undergraduate and postgraduate students in higher education who are studying for accredited courses. In recent years, students studying for taught doctorate (EdD) degrees with their focus on practical aspects of education are also adopting action research as a method of study. This…

In this book the author discusses the field of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) as one in which practitioners are highly committed, dedicated and willing to learn. Generally, they try to do their very best for the children with whom they work. However, the author also shows that the field has hitherto been neglected in the areas of…

If you are looking for a book that provides concrete advice for establishing group reflection, then "Talking Teaching" is the perfect choice. The work is the product of a 3-year grant-supported induction year program. College faculty from an associated group of colleges joined staff developers from a growing suburban district in creating an entire…

The third research study in a series of qualitative studies examines the functions and practices of local professional development committees in Ohio. This descriptive study interviewed key informants from five Local Professional Development Committees (LPDCs) regarding their processes and practices. Resultant data indicated that several districts…

This paper focuses on a cross-university computer-mediated communication class which was taught during the spring semester at the University of Kansas (the other campus was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York). The paper's first part briefly introduces the class design including set-up, assignments, and topics covered. The second part…

The yearning for spirituality and social responsibility in HRD illuminates the need for reflective practice in professional education to be transformed by multiple sources of information and praxis questions. Theological reflection, a form of reflective practice, is contextualized by praxis questions, spirituality, and social analysis. An…

This anthology of 32 autobiographical tales is based on both personal and professional experiences. The anthology's eclectic tales offer: recalled moments of childhood wonder; anecdotes about remarkable and not-so-remarkable students; lessons from the pulpit as well as the battlefield; and stories of painful loss, hilarious mishaps, and awesome…

Noting that teachers' research is found in personal journals, professional conversations, computer networking, formal research studies, and publications or presentations, this paper answers, in outline form, a series of questions on the expanding role for special needs educators. These questions are: what "teacher as researcher" means;…

This paper shares ideas from a research project involving more than 75 teachers in five states. The teachers participated in groups of 12-18. They received support as part of the research project. The groups met with a facilitator every 2-3 weeks to have conversations about teaching and learning. They learned from and with each other as they…

A female African American educator with dreadlocks in a class of predominantly white college students begins each semester by warning students that the terms "black" and "white" will be used regularly. She also points out factors that might inhibit speaking in class, such as white students' fears that awkward phrasing of their…

For those working in adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) settings, finding practical options for professional development is a concern. The field has a range of program types, a largely part-time workforce, limited financial resources for training, and varied policies and requirements for professional credentialing or certification.…

In response to state licensure standards, Ashland University, Ohio, revised its teacher education program. The faculty pondered how to build in ways that would ensure students were making connections between their courses and field experiences while simultaneously reflecting on their own growth. Portfolios appeared to be the solution. The…