Re-thinking Professional Development: Positioning Educational Documentation as Everyday Professional Learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Harcourt ◽  
Lesley Jones
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Reggio Emilia ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Educational Project ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Individual

THE INTENT OF THIS PAPER is to explore the ways in which educational documentation—one of the many important key principles that challenge and sustain the educational theories and teaching practice of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project in Italy—supports the practice, principles and pedagogy of early years educators. In this particular context, documentation is positioned as both a strategy and a tool for examining the work of the individual and of the group, for both children and educators, with the aim of questioning the role documentation might play in supporting educators' professional learning. This commentary paper will examine the concept of documenting as a process that enables an educator's work to become visible and therefore support their evolving capacity as an educator, through ongoing reflective practice, as indicated in the Australian Early Years Learning Framework (DEEWR, 2009).

scholarly journals THE PECULIARITIES OF ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE LECTURERS IN THE USA

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Жанна Баб’як ◽  
Наталія Щур
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Smart Goals ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Individual

The article deals with studying the American experience of educator professional development. To carry out this research the following methods have been applied: content analysis, systematization and theoretical generalization of scientific literature, standards, technical assistance documents and samples of the individual professional development plan (IPDP) for educators. Having conducted the research, the following results and conclusions have been drawn. The primary goal for professional learning is to help educators develop and apply the knowledge and skills necessary to help students to learn foreign languages more effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the planning and designing of professional learning include defining the SMART goals of professional learning drawn from analysis of student and educator learning needs, which are determined by examining data on student learning outcomes. To achieve these goals those who are responsible for professional learning should select the appropriate job-embedded and external forms of professional learning, which allow the educators to satisfy student learning needs, bridge the knowing-doing gap and integrating new ideas and skills into practice. An IPDP is a tool serving as a guide for the professional learning. IPDP enables educators to chart their goals and to plan learning activities that improve their competencies in order to enhance their students’ performance. Completing the IPDP includes setting the goals based on student learning needs, deciding on the professional methods/strategies, tapping possible resources, setting the time-frame, identifying success indicators. After having been accomplished, the IPDP is evaluated by the person in charge. Evaluation of professional learning provides the opportunity to monitor the process of embedding the new learning into practices by observing and assessing changes in educator practice and increases in student learning.

scholarly journals Augmented reality as a form of digital technology in early childhood education

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parian Madanipour ◽  
Caroline Cohrssen
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
Technology In Schools ◽  
Child Learning

The incorporation of digital technologies is explicitly addressed in the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. The use of augmented reality (AR) technology, as one form of digital technology, is increasingly embedded in digital applications because it allows individuals to interact with real and virtual objects. A significant body of research has reported the benefits afforded by the use of AR technology in schools and higher education settings. However, little is known about the contribution of AR technology to teaching practice and child learning outcomes in the preschool years. Here, we present a summary of the limited research that has explored the use of AR in preschool curricula and argue for the need for further research to explore the contribution of AR to high-quality pedagogical practice.

Framework for Evaluating Math Educational Materials for Constructing Early Number Concept

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-60
Author(s):  
Chrysanthi Skoumpourdi ◽  
Antonia Matha
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Educational Material ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Number Concept ◽  
The Social ◽  
Early Number ◽  
The Individual

Teaching and learning of mathematics, due to their abstract nature, are enhanced, especially at an early age, using educational materials. The wide variety of the available math’s educational materials requires teachers to evaluate them in order to incorporate them to their teaching practice. Contributing to this field, the purpose of this paper is dual. Firstly, it intends on defining the factors that could be included in a framework for evaluation of math educational material. Secondly, it aims on using this framework to evaluate specific educational materials that are used for the construction of early number concept. The results showed that the factors that could compose a framework of evaluating math educational materials could be related with 1. Evaluation of the material itself, independently of its context of use, 2. Evaluation of the material in the social context of its use, as well as 3. Evaluation of materials’ acceptability to the general educational community. From the evaluation of specific educational materials that are used for the construction of early number concept it seemed that no material itself could be considered, as suitable for teaching all the individual constructs of the number concept in early years’ mathematics, according to the developed framework.

scholarly journals Exploring novice EAP teacher’s self-reflection as a platform for professional development

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sari Hidayati
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
English Education ◽  
Single Case ◽  
English For Academic Purposes ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Development Data

Novice English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers are inevitably confronted with complex issues in their first year of teaching. This is particularly relevant in Indonesia, where EAP teachers are graduates of English Education departments and have no initial preparation for their tasks of teaching EAP. Professional reflection has the potential to assist novice language teachers, particularly those who teach EAP, to negotiate complex aspects in their teaching practice. For this reason, this single case study explored one participant’s understandings of and experiences with self-reflection as a form of professional development. Data were garnered from a single semi-structured, open-ended interview. The findings of the study suggest that the participant made use of reflective practice to merge theory and practice and build a systematic inquiry to construct his professional identity, which led to evidence-based decision making processes. Further, professional reflection also assisted him in negotiating challenges and engage in problem solving processes. Finally, reflective practice enabled the participant to consider institutional provisions and expectations for teacher professional development, which showcased his needs for professional development as a novice teacher.

scholarly journals Engaging EFL Teachers in Reflective Practice as A Way to Pursue Sustained Professional Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Joko Nurkamto ◽  
Teguh Sarosa
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Reflective Teaching ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Field Notes

<p>Reflective practice has become a significant aspect in determining good teaching and learning practices and is an important part of professional practice and professional growth. However, English teachers in Indonesia has not been able to perform reflection on their teaching in order to improve their teaching practice. This study reports the results of an intensive training held by PKM UNS to help teachers develop a reflective teaching habit. The participants were 30 English teachers of Islamic Senior High School in Solo Raya. Observation field notes and teacher assignments were used as the main data collection method. From this program, it was found that the English teachers encountered plethora of challenges in developing reflective practice due to their lack of understanding of reflective teaching. However, the teachers show an improvement in implementing reflective teaching strategies after their participation in the training. Recommendations to include reflective practices in teacher professional development programs is drawn based on the findings.</p>

scholarly journals Reflective Practice: its Contributions for Initial Pre-service Teachers and Further Teachers’ Professional Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-116
Author(s):  
Muhamad Ahsanu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Research Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Teaching Quality ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

This article deals with the notion of reflective practice (RP) and how it may contribute to the professional development in teacher education programs especially for pre-service teachers and in-service teachers within the context of Indonesia. It aims to explore and explain the stance and features of RP and how it can serve to help both pre-service and in-service teachers improve their teaching quality and develop their teaching professionalism, especially those involved in English language teaching (ELT). This article examines the feasibility of this concept to be applied in Indonesian pedagogical contexts. Being widely accepted as an empowering teaching mode practice in most parts of the world, this RP plays a central role in triggering teachers' professional development, leading the teachers to be self-learning, autonomous learning, self-evaluating, and problem-solving-oriented practitioners. The research method used in this article is library research, through which the standpoint and characteristics of RP are explored and disclosed, and RP's potential can be maximized systematically. This library research method is realized based on the five research problems posed in this article. The same data on RP were extracted from research articles and textbooks on RP. The main findings suggest such aspects as the conceptualization of RP, defining features of RP practitioners, benefits teachers can gain from RP, and potential contributions of RP for both pre-service and in-service teachers' teaching competence and continual professional development. Hence, this RP article potentially provides a meaningful paradigm for language teachers and enriches their pedagogical repertoire.  Thus, this article brings about two important notes. First, it theoretically portrays how RP can meaningfully affect the efficacy of ELT practice in Indonesia. Secondly, it fundamentally sets out RP conceptualization as the basis for professional teaching practice through continuous learning and development. That is, learning to develop through a critical self-evaluation of teachers' teaching practice

scholarly journals Critical Reflection in the Professional Development of Teachers: Challenges and Possibilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-85
Author(s):  
Marjeta Šarić ◽  
Barbara Šteh
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Support Students

Critical reflection in teachers’ professional development has received much attention in the scholarly literature, and there is an overwhelming consensus about its great significance to the quality of teachers’ work. Nevertheless, despite the well-established role of reflection, a large gap between the professed goals and the actual reflective practice of teachers remains. The article starts with a short overview of the different definitions of critical reflection in the context of teachers’ professional development and then underlines some empirical research findings on the problems that teachers and teacher educators face when putting reflective practice into practice, especially at the deeper and more complex levels of reflection. It continues with a consideration of teachers’ qualifications for in-depth reflection as well as the obstacles and challenges facing teachers and teacher educators. The obstacles occur at the level of individual teachers’ personal traits and at the level of the context in which reflection is done. Employing an analysis of the obstacles, the authors develop some guidelines on how to support teachers in their attempts at making critical reflection part of their teaching practice. It is crucial for this encouragement not to overlook the principal purpose of teachers’ critical reflection; to contribute to new insights, knowledge reframing, and the introduction of such changes in teaching that will support students’ learning and the development of the community for the better learning, work, and life of all its individuals.

scholarly journals Increasing access to professional learning for academic staff through open educational resources and authentic design

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-66
Author(s):  
Gail Wilson ◽  
◽  
Paula Myatt ◽  
Jonathan Purdy ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
Personal Reflections

This research examines the design and delivery of a new Foundations of University Teaching Practice (FUTP) program delivered through asynchronous online modules. The freedom to choose defines the new momentum of openness in distance and open learning. University teaching staff expect quality resources to support their professional development within the reality of limited time for learning and a desire for increased accessibility. Openness and increased access bring both opportunities and challenges. This paper uses mixed methods to examine the FUTP from the perspectives of both the designers and the academic staff who participated in the program. Using personal reflections, focus groups, a survey, and interviews, we explore those opportunities and challenges within the context of the design and delivery of the program and report on the findings. Our research confirmed the value of openness and increased access to professional learning in higher education

scholarly journals Professional Learning Experience of Pre-service PE Teachers during Teaching Practice

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
Chung LI
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Interpretive Research ◽  
Research Paradigm ◽  
Reflective Journals ◽  
Pedagogical Changes

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese. This paper is concerned with a qualitative study of how 15 pre-service PE teachers, who are taking the two-year full-time teacher training course, develop professionally in their second field experience. With the interpretive research paradigm as conceptual framework, data were collected through interviewing and writing of reflective journals. Groups of pre-service PE teachers were found possessing different professional learning experiences concerning their conceptions and socializing strategies. Their professional conceptions included "educating pupils to learn", "seeing PE as catharsis, discipline and having fun". Their socializing strategies composed of finding means to improve teaching, and adopt social tactics for managing pupils and defensive attitude for handling crisis. The study provides an understanding of pre-service PE teachers in the Hong Kong Institute of Education and their learning-to-teach processes. The findings serve as the backdrop for recommending possible pedagogical changes for facilitating desirable professional development of pre-service PE teachers. 本研究目的是利用詮釋理念，透過會談及反思報吿所搜集的資料，探討十五位體育師訓學員於第二次學校實習的經歷。研究結果顯示學員基於不同的意向及經歷而對體育的敎學有著不同的理念，其中包括視之為促進學生學習、減輕壓力、訓練紀律和獲取歡樂等工具。他們的職化策略則包括改善敎學方法、運用社交手段以管理學生及採取防禦性的態度以應付危機。研究結果有助加深了解這些準體育敎師的專業發展，期望能對體育師資培訓課程帶來實際的啟示。

scholarly journals Investigating Teacher’s Perceptions of Reflective Peer Observation to Promote Professional Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Anjar Nur Cholifah ◽  
Abdul Asib ◽  
Suparno Suparno
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Peer Observation ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
Teacher's Perceptions

Peer observation as one of the reflection tools is viewed as an effective strategy to develop teacher’s professionalism. Furthermore, peer observation in reflective practice refers to the teacher’s act which collaborates with other teachers to identify the strength and the weakness of their teaching. By doing so, it is expected there will be innovation and improvement for better teaching activity after doing an evaluation together.  This study aimed at investigating the teacher’s perceptions of peer observation as one of the reflection tools to promote professional development. The participant of this study was an In-service teacher in one of Senior High Schools in Surakarta who teaches English with 10 years of teaching experience. The data were gained through an in-depth interview followed by interactive model data analysis for qualitative study in analyzing the data. The results indicated that the teacher has positive perceptions of peer observation as a professional development tool. It brought some advantages for the teacher. Peer observation also helped the teacher to solve the problems she encountered in her teaching and could be used as a learning opportunity by observing new teaching techniques/methods/strategies from other teachers. HIGHLIGHTS: Teacher has positive perceptions in implementing peer observation to promote professional development There are limited studies regarding the use of peer observation especially for in-service teacher Peer observation brings some benefits for the teacher to improve her teaching practice

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