The "What Works Clearinghouse" guidelines for high-quality professional development were used to develop a Tell, Show, Try, and Apply (TSTA) method of training. This method was used to train teachers to align instruction to grade-level content for students with severe developmental disabilities. A total of 193 teachers of students who participate…

Researchers have conducted two prior longitudinal retrospective syntheses of the journal "Teacher Education and Special Education." The present authors' approach is different; they analyze only the content published during their tenure as editors. They define big ideas that they believe are representative of what they published. They found that…

This manuscript seeks to share the continuous improvement endeavors by the College of Education faculty and administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from initial preparation and planning through their successful national and state accreditation achieved in November 2005. Beginning with the unit's revision of their conceptual…

Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) create concerns in public education and in teacher education programs. Because of continuous advances in technology, distance learning is a viable option for delivering coursework to preservice and inservice teacher education students challenged by geography, time…

This introduction to an article for special education teacher faculty on understanding copyright and intellectual property notes the increasing relevance of the issue as faculty move into forms of distance and distributed education, technology-mediated instruction, or distance and blended education. (Contains 2 references.) (DB)

This study compared student ratings of graduate teacher education courses given either on campus or off campus through distance learning technology. Overall, course, instructor, and general ratings were similar for the course given regardless of setting or delivery format. Discussion focuses on appropriate applications of distance learning…

An introduction to a section on e-learning and effective pedagogy notes the explosive growth of instructional technology and the need for guiding principles in its application. It focuses on two areas: the instructional needs and anticipated outcomes for personnel preparation programs in special education and electronic student assessment.…

This article introduces the following two articles and discusses the challenges of integrating educational technology in teacher education programs, the stress and frustration of using educational technology, and the need to remember the value added in teaching, research, and providing services using technology enhancements in teacher education…

This introductory article discusses technology-mediated education and instruction by exploring professional issues and distance education courses. It also summarizes the articles that follow on multimedia and distance learning technologies, a successful faculty technology training effort, and a technology effort to deliver courses off-campus. (CR)

Addresses the promises, practices, and pitfalls of distance education for training additional special-education teachers. A table summarizes current distance-learning practices broken down into use of either asynchronous technology or synchronous technology. Advantages (such as fewer teachers reaching more students and low cost instruction) and…

This introductory article to the issue, which focuses on the preparation of special education teachers, discusses the different perspectives of winners of the Teacher Education Division Publication Award. Evaluates whether special education departments should work with general education in teacher preparation. Provides list of winners and their…

Discusses the difficulties in attracting and preparing special educators in the area of severe disabilities. A University of North Carolina at Charlotte program that uses distance learning to prepare special educators to work with students with severe disabilities is described, along with the benefits of distance learning. (CR)

Reflects on the differing viewpoints in previous articles addressing the preparation of special education teachers. Discusses the need for the special education field to continue to use effective instructional strategies and share them with general education change agents to better the lives of all children. (CR)