Preparing educators to teach in inclusive classrooms is a critical first step in ensuring that all students in P-12 programs receive exemplary educational services. The need to restructure personnel preparation in response to the increasing diversity and inclusiveness of public school classrooms has evolved from discussion and debate more than a…

Based on a review of the literature and the authors' experience, this article addresses issues in three aspects of the planning and delivery of online content: (1) online support services; (2) technology assistance; and (3) course content. Recommendations are given for administrators and instructors involved in the delivery of online coursework in…

Discussion of e-learning in special education personnel preparation focuses on student assessment in e-learning environments. It includes a review of the literature, lessons learned by the authors from assessing student performance in e-learning environments, a literature perspective on electronic portfolios in monitoring student progress, and the…

Discussion of the need for diversity in the teaching force, especially in special education, focuses on Congress's efforts to address this issue. It describes the Alliance 2000 Project, a federal program created to provide technical assistance to the nation's minority colleges and universities to increase their access to personnel preparation…

Identifies and discusses issues associated with the employment of paraprofessionals in special education programs likely to be of the greatest importance and interest to teacher educators. These include teacher preparation to supervise, training of paraprofessionals, role overlap, paraprofessionals as community links, and paraprofessionals as…

The need for personnel preparation planning in special education is emphasized, and guidelines for meeting and going beyond the personnel preparation requirements in P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, are suggested. (CL)

The steps in successful practicum site selection and assignment for prospective special education teachers are discussed. (CL)

A curriculum planning model is presented to develop a comprehensive special education teacher preparation program. (CL)

Special education faculty members can help develop programs to facilitate the adjustment of learning disabled (LD) students by promoting positive campus attitudes, advisory LD students, facilitating career planning, modifying instructional programs, and helping in learning centers. (CL)

The development of mastery learning theory is traced as a teaching-learning strategy and its application in five steps is discussed. Practical classroom concerns are considered and the implications for the teacher's changing roles are examined. (CL)

Critical issues in tort liability that confront special educators and teacher trainers include malpractice (failure to learn), misdiagnosis, immunity, impact of a handicap on standard of care, confidentiality, access to emergency medical services, the use of aversive consequences, child abuse and corporal punishment, and school violence.…

Aspects of curriculum affecting the success of mainstreaming handicapped students are considered. The concepts of explicity, hidden, and absent curricula are discussed relative to curricular adaptations. A "Curriculum Adaptation Guide" is presented to assist in the selection and adaptation of curricular elements. (Author/DB)

This study investigated the perceptions of 79 senior special education practicum students regarding the appropriate role of their university supervisor during a field-based experience. Content analysis showed that students perceived two distinct roles for supervisors: provider of evaluative feedback and support person. (Author/JDD)

A review of existing special education training models is presented along with a rationale for preservice training in the transdisciplinary team process. The transdisciplinary process is described, and recommendations for implementation of a transdisciplinary training program in special education teacher preparation are given. (Author/JDD)

Presented are guidelines for designing and incorporating cooperative group learning strategies into teacher preparation courses. Guidelines include determining appropriate content, selecting a cooperative format, forming cooperative groups, teaching cooperative skills, providing feedback, and evaluating learning. The student satisfaction results…