Examining and Facilitating Reflection to Improve Professional Practice is specifically designed and organized to be used throughout a teacher-education program from an introductory foundations course, continuing through content-specific methods classes to graduate-level theory seminars, and, ultimately onto professional development workshops. Harris and her co-authors provide a method for directly instructing students on the practice of reflection and the understanding and identification of the developmental phases of reflection, supported by theory drawn from research. By moving students beyond their commonly held belief that reflection is simply keeping a journal or summarizing the days' activities, Examining and Facilitating Reflection to Improve Professional Practice enables them to use increasingly sophisticated reflection practices that help them grow in their reflective process, ultimately improving their instructional practice. Closely aligned with the reflections standards set by INTASC, NCATE, and NBPST, this book is essential as universities and colleges seek to have reflection as a standard skill set for classroom teachers and educational administrators. Using this text as an easily accessible resource, a discussion and activities guide, and a support for professional development, Education Departments' reflection goals and objectives are met and students enter the classroom confidant in their ability to think in diverse ways, meet the challenges of the classroom, and respond to changing educational environments.

Technology has allowed the world to become a smaller place. Today's students will have actual and virtual access to more parts of the world than ever imagined by the previous generation, and teachers must be skilled in providing a global perspective to the curriculum that goes beyond the traditional focus on heroes and holidays. Instead, new approaches will extend the focus of the classroom to a more inclusive, global perspective. Such new approaches that include the creative use of technology will help students understand and appreciate those who live in different cultures. The purpose of Capturing Change is to provide these approaches. This book offers: 1. Three models for globalizing the classroom. The first model approach promotes a global curriculum, which focuses on understanding of individual differences and on reducing conflict between cultures. The second model is an integration approach, which advocates the inclusion of global issues into all curriculums. The third model reviews the traditional unit approach. 2. Activities that utilize technology. There are four strategies proven effective for using technology in the classroom as suggested by The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) in its National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). The strategies include Web-based lessons, multimedia presentations, telecomputing projects, and online discussions, all four of which can be used by classroom teachers to incorporate technology into the global curriculum. 3. Research on globalizing the curriculum. This research will particularly focus on the teaching of social studies, science, mathematics, literature, related arts and physical education. For inservice and preservice teachers at all levels.

Examining and Facilitating Reflection to Improve Professional Practice is specifically designed and organized to be used throughout a teacher-education program from an introductory foundations course, continuing through content-specific methods classes to graduate-level theory seminars, and, ultimately onto professional development workshops. Harris and her co-authors provide a method for directly instructing students on the practice of reflection and the understanding and identification of the developmental phases of reflection, supported by theory drawn from research. By moving students beyond their commonly held belief that reflection is simply keeping a journal or summarizing the days' activities, Examining and Facilitating Reflection to Improve Professional Practice enables them to use increasingly sophisticated reflection practices that help them grow in their reflective process, ultimately improving their instructional practice. Closely aligned with the reflections standards set by INTASC, NCATE, and NBPST, this book is essential as universities and colleges seek to have reflection as a standard skill set for classroom teachers and educational administrators. Using this text as an easily accessible resource, a discussion and activities guide, and a support for professional development, Education Departments' reflection goals and objectives are met and students enter the classroom confidant in their ability to think in diverse ways, meet the challenges of the classroom, and respond to changing educational environments.