As the complex responsibilities of principals and teachers expand, the need for effective professional development (PD) is greater than ever. This quantitative study examines the PD needs of schools and the relationship between PK-12 and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), as perceived by principals, identifying areas for collaboration. Thirty-nine variables were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. Findings reveal that principals report the potential of partnership benefits, between PK-12 and IHE's for PD needs, as a predictor of all need variables ranging from improved communication with teachers to increased teacher proficiency in curriculum and instruction, disciplinary expertise in mathematics, whole child development, diversity, and technology. Furthermore, results provide evidence that schools have PD needs beyond academics and there is a potentially powerful role for IHEs to collaborate with PK-12 schools.

Schools are in the process of incorporating professional development activities to prepare technology-proficient educators to utilize information and communication tools to meet the pedagogical needs of 21st-century students and learners. This research addresses the challenges of and preservation possibilities for the digital work of learning communities across instructional domains and levels. The digital curation efforts that support a school district’s literacy and curriculum initiatives are examined. We conclude with suggestions for future research, professional development, and practice.

The online environment is an expansive educational context distinct from the traditional one. We problematize the current online teacher education landscape and make recommendations for practices that prepare and support teachers as online teachers, rather than teachers who periodically use Internet resources and digital devices for instruction. Recommendations focus on personalization, collaboration, administrative support, program (re)designs, new models of technological integration, attention to standards for teaching and learning, and ongoing professional learning opportunities.

The Interdisciplinary Network for Understanding Student Engagement (INFUSE) began as a request to put together a team of faculty from each department within the College to focus on teaching and learning. Faculty members initially met and brainstormed ideas to pursue. A report of the United States National Survey of Student Engagement data spurred the team in a direction to explore student engagement and create a model for recognition of effective practices that are already occurring within the college and examine ways to increase student engagement throughout the college. A highlight of efforts to highlight effective strategies that can be utilized by faculty across the lifespan of a student were generated, with follow-up activities to engage faculty in prolonged study of student engagement techniques were implemented.

This chapter explores the impact of PA 198 on programs for students with significant disabilities in light of other initiatives that have occurred since the legislation's implementation. Many different initiatives have occurred in the state since 1971. The chapter discusses some of the more significant policies for students with significant disabilities in Michigan, a community of learners often overlooked when issues related to educational policy and school improvement are promulgated—policies that have often backfired and hurt the most marginalized students. Separate segregated center-based school facilities were constructed in intermediate school districts across Michigan to meet the intense instructional needs of students with significant disabilities. Michigan continues to support segregated schools for students with significant disabilities, and these often foster hyper-segregation in the minds of some. PA 198 was, and continues to be, unique in its scope since Michigan's law provides that school systems implement appropriate educational supports and services for all students with disabilities from birth to age 25.

Purpose - With increase requirements and a more clinical approach for administrator internships in principal preparation programs, universities are taking a look at their internships and how they are implemented. The purpose of this paper is to propose a structure and framework incorporating promising practices from recent literature and explores how to successfully implement new standards and state requirements. Additionally, a framework for practice is included as a foundation for a clinical internship program that applies theory and promising practices.Design/methodology/approach - Internships are a critical aspect of the principal preparation program and are crucial to preparing students to fulfill their future leadership roles. This brief reviewed the related literature, which revealed the lack of quality in various educational leadership programs and posited that the internship is an essential element to principal preparation. Key considerations to successful internships, and why they are necessary to overall candidate preparation were also presented. Additionally, a sample program was described that included aspects of both performance and accountability and served as a framework for new and revised internships.Findings - Although the internship experience is but one part of a larger curricular sequence, it has a central role in the preparation of future school administrators. School administrator preparation programs have an obligation to allow participants to fully experience the breadth and depth of issues and environments that they will encounter. A structure and framework is needed that incorporates promising practices from recent literature, and explores how to successfully implement new standards and state requirements for a clinical internship program applying current theory and promising practices.Originality/value - Creating and maintaining effective internship experiences is an ever-evolving process that requires dedicated faculty and resources. Learning through internships is a central element of future principal candidates' overall success. Authentic practice and experience in real school settings ensures that future educational leaders receive the best preparation that universities and faculty can provide.

Utilization of online instruction continues to increase at universities, placing more emphasis on the exploration of issues related to adult graduate student engagement. This reflective case study reviews nontraditional student engagement in online courses. The goals of the study are to enhance student focus, attention, and interaction. Findings suggest that interactivity seems to be a key in keeping students involved and achieving, with specific activities routinely favored by students. It is recommended that time spent engaging students is worthwhile and results in greater course satisfaction and academic effort.

Purpose– Collegiate internships play an important role in the development of professionals. They provide students the opportunity to experience real world expectations embedded within actual vocational environments under the support of their collegiate faculty. Although there are a number of common reasons why internships are utilized in each academic area, the requirements for the experiences are substantially different across disciplines and level of coursework. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the commonalities and differences that exist for internships across collegiate academic disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and identify their salience for programs from an interdisciplinary perspective.Design/methodology/approach– For this conceptual piece, the authors took an introspective qualitative look at both programs and compared and contrasted them based on internally available documentation and information. Although this was theoretical in nature, the authors utilized materials available for certification and accreditation purposes for each of their programs. Multiple data sources were stakeholder interviews and conversations, site visits/observations, and site artifacts/documents.Findings– The authors found a great deal of both similarity and dissimilarity across programs, and these findings were utilized as grounds for programmatic introspection, evaluation, accreditation, and certification to better understand how stakeholder voice is involved in the processes. Table I provides an overview of items identified, and will serve as a guide for the remainder of this paper.Originality/value– An inclusive awareness will consider the voices of the student, university, employer, and other stakeholders, including co-workers and employers that currently do not offer internships. Given the rising cost of tuition and the wealth of competition in the market, the pressure is on for institutions of higher education to up the ante when it comes to providing quality experiential learning opportunities. The next step should focus on defining expectations and tailoring each internship program, and for that to be accomplished, all stakeholders must be “all in.”

Digital curation provides a way to transcend traditional academic fields of study and create instructional materials available to support adolescent and adult literacy initiatives. The instructional capabilities that Web 2.0 tools offer provide curators with the ability to reach audiences in a way that has not been possible in the past. The authors propose a digital curation framework for teachers to use as they collect, categorize, critique, conceptualize, and circulate resources. Based on this framework, the authors identify 10 valuable Web 2.0 tools that are available for effective content literacy digital curation.