A component of the "No Child Left Behind" Act (NCLB) (PL 107-110) is its emphasis on the importance of systematic and explicit instruction in early reading using practices that are grounded in scientific research. The Reading First legislation (Title I, Part B, Subpart 1) within NCLB is designed to support state and local education…

Background: A growing literature is questioning the appropriateness of a research dissertation for practitioners in education doctoral programs. Although this literature persuasively critiques the prevailing theory-research orientation of most programs and theses, it goes little beyond exhorting change and describing extant alternatives in a few…

General education classrooms provide a common milieu for understanding and appropriating results of classroom research projects, which are typically viewed as having little application outside their original contexts. Here, results of an investigation into the "sophomore slump," where grades and class attendance rates typically suffer, are…

This study examined critical thinking instruction in a required introductory communication course (N = 324). Experimental group participants received enhanced instruction using various active learning strategies, activities, and assignments. Results indicate significant improvement in their critical thinking skills. Implications for pedagogy and…

Describes, from a practitioner's point of view, the use of instructional technology in the design and implementation of teacher training courses. Specifically, the author discusses 10 research-based "principles" found effective in his teacher training experiences and illustrates them with examples from his course on instructional design and…

This short paper is designed to serve as a kind of primer for professors interested in thinking through ways to build a rural dimension into mathematics education courses in the interest of squarely addressing the vision and mission of ACCLAIM. Few words, therefore, will be deployed in the interest of establishing an intellectual warrant for the…

This paper discusses the conceptual reform of university-based graduate level administrator preparation programs. The functionalist, interpretative, and critical approaches to social science have important implications for the study of motivation, decision-making, communication and leadership. Interpretative and critical approaches must be woven…

This course syllabus describes a preservice teacher education class titled: "Strategies of Teaching Social Studies and Language Arts with Clinical Experiences." The syllabus identifies the three required textbooks and provides a bibliography. Following the course description, eight course objectives are stated; six assignments are outlined; and…

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…

This textbook is a guide for preparing teachers for social studies instruction in grades K-8. It promotes social studies as education for citizenship in a democracy. All chapters are structured to aid study and can be varied in order to suit the course requirements of instructors and the needs of students. Each chapter begins with an objective and…

A Head Start training program director designed a practicum to provide a short-term, cost-effective training program for community child care providers interested in earning the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. In addition, a training-of-trainers component was developed for program supervisors interested in serving as advisors to…

Considers the shortcomings of schools of education, cites recent moves in Texas and New Jersey to eliminate graduation from such schools as a teacher certification requirement, and discusses the implications for education if such requirements were eliminated. (PGD)

The need for college courses to train personnel to conduct employee health programs in private industry is discussed. A description of a sample graduate-level course is provided, as is a listing of pertinent organizations, programs, books, and articles. (PP)

A set of computer programs was developed to support instruction in an introduction to education course for prospective teachers. The programs provide teacher education students with examples of various uses of the microcomputer to support classroom instruction. The instructional programs represent three types: drill and practice, tutorial and…

Describes Fairfax County Public Schools' (Virginia) "pay for performance" program for teachers. With solid financial and community support, the district overcame merit pay resistance and obstacles to professionalism by lowering education course requirements, raising academic discipline requirements, creating master teachers, and…