A Qualitative Study of Iranian EFL University Teachers’ Attitude towards Professional Development

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Saberi ◽  
Farzaneh Amiri
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Current Status ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Present Context ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Within the past few years, teachers have no longer been conceived as mere transmitters of knowledge. The image of the teacher as the exclusive holder of all the information related to teaching and learning has changed dramatically. It the new context, teachers are supposed to act as transformative agents who pay attention to new aspects of their profession in the process of developing professionally as individuals. In other words, the concept of teachers’ professional development (PD) has been recently viewed as a continuous process focusing on planned and systematic activities designed to trigger and enhance their growth. The current status of professional development in Iran, however, is not satisfactory. Summarizing the findings of the interview with the small group of English university teachers, this study attempted to find out the attitudes of participants to PD and discuss the constraints they faced on their way towards PD. Results indicated that a number of impeding factors have influenced the effective implementation of PD policies which need a reoriented and revitalized perspective to make them more compatible with new requirements of the present context.

scholarly journals WASHBACK TO LANGUAGE TEACHERS: A REVIEW OF MODELS AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN AND BEYOND VIETNAM

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Minh Thu
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Key Innovation ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Washback, i.e., test effects on teaching and learning, has been emerging as an attractive research topic in language training and assessment for over the past 20 years for its significant implications of test validation and fairness for both policy-makers and practitioners. Presently, it deserves more Vietnamese researchers' interest in the context of the enactment of the National Foreign Language Project 2020 (extended to 2025), which puts language assessment as a key innovation requirement. Washback operates either positively or negatively; i.e. promoting or inhibiting learning. Teachers are considered the precursor in the washback mechanism. There is only one washback model on the washback effects on teachers, which is proposed by Shih (2009). This paper aims to critically browse other washback models besides Shin’s (2009) to generate a washback framework on teachers' perceptions and practices. Previous empirical washback research on teachers in and beyond Vietnam is, then, investigated in alignment with the aspects illustrated in the framework to point out achievements and gaps in the field. A qualitative approach of document analysis of over forty studies of differing types, i.e. books, dissertations and articles, has been adopted to reach the research aim. The discussion is divided into two major parts, including the washback models pertaining to teachers to scaffold a model for teachers' perceptions and practices, and the results in empirical research in terms of the aspects mentioned in the model. Findings show that washback on teachers' perceptions ranges from perceptions of the test itself, students' language ability, teaching contents and methodology to teachers' professional development. Plus, washback on teachers' practices concerns their selections of teaching contents and methodology in class as well as their involvement in professional development. The element of professional development can be considered a new light in the reviewed washback model. This has a significant meaning by raising teachers' awareness of developing themselves professionally. The current paper expects to contribute to elaborating the scenario of washback research for interested researchers, practitioners and policymakers not only in but beyond the context of Vietnam.

scholarly journals EFL University Teachers’ Professional Development in the Thai Context

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Sureepong Phothongsunan
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Internal Politics ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Career Development

This study aims to explore the perceptions of 30 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers serving in public universities in Thailand regarding needs, challenges and quality of teacher career development in their universities. A questionnaire and an interview are employed to gather data. According to the teacher development programs offered, all universities served by the participants provide prospects for teachers to have further in-service education. In relation to professional development, nearly all participants point out a strong need for obtaining a higher degree as career advancement in their field and interestingly as a tool for salary increment. Teacher collaboration and student learning also emerge as possible factors motivating teachers to strive for self-improvement. Although undertaking research is referred to as an important and for some a required element for English teaching jobs, time-consuming nature and a sophisticated process discourage its instigation. Regarding views about quality of university teacher development, most report being satisfied with the overall universities’ emphasis on improving English teaching and learning by accentuating teachers as a key. However, teachers’ lacking motivation to progress professionally due to excessive teaching workload and internal politics embedded in some universities can be reasons preventing teachers from securing educational growth. Implications from the study shed light on the significance to support the quality of university teachers through furnishing sufficient opportunities of professional development and what Thai EFL university teachers aspire to accomplish most to develop themselves efficiently.

scholarly journals Secondary School Teachers’ Professional Development in Australia and Shanghai: Needs, Support, and Barriers

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110269
Author(s):  
Guangbao Fang ◽  
Philip Wing Keung Chan ◽  
Penelope Kalogeropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Secondary School Teachers ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Scheduled Time

Using data from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS; 2013), this article explores teachers’ needs, support, and barriers in their professional development. The research finds that Australian teachers expressed greater needs in information and communication technology (ICT) use and new technology training for teaching, while Shanghai teachers required more assistance to satisfy students’ individual learning and pedagogical competencies. More than 80% of Australian and Shanghai teachers received scheduled time to support their participation in professional development, whereas less than 20% of Australian and Shanghai teachers received monetary or nonmonetary support. In terms of barriers, Australian and Shanghai teachers reported two significant barriers that conflicted with their participation in professional development: “working schedule” and “a lack of incentives to take part.” This article reveals implications of the study in the design of an effective professional development program for Australian and Shanghai teachers and ends with discussing the limitations of the research and future research directions.

The Exploration and Analysis of Distance Education Teachers’ Professional Development - Based on the Field of Vision of Philosophy of Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 411-414 ◽  
pp. 2795-2804
Author(s):  
Jun Feng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Philosophy Of Technology ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Open University ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Good Plan

Abstract. The key of Open University construction is the teachers’ team building, and the teachers’ professional development is the most important part. Open University teachers’ professional development has not fit for our teaching requirements any more. The rapid development of information society put forward some severe challenges to Open University teachers’ professional development. Under the view of philosophy of technology, fit for the request of the new situation, It must have some progress on Open University teachers’ professional development: first, to improve the professional academic level; second, to improve the teaching skills; third, to improve the information technology. Those three parts constitute connotation of professional distance education teachers. In the deep analysis the difference between Open University teachers’ professional development and the reality, base on this reason, they offered a good plan, which we hopefully can enhance, the Open University teachers’ professional level, and also can improve the distance education quality.

scholarly journals Benchmarking of University teachers’ professional development: successful European, Chinese, and Russian practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 01004
Author(s):  
Tatiana Tregubova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Effective Practices ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Higher Education Organizations ◽  
The University

In the context of socio-pedagogical transformations of higher education organizations, the modernization of the system of teachers’ professional development becomes an integral component of the reforms. Today university teachers have to be ready for continuous development and advanced training throughout their lives. Thus, the study of the problem of university teachers’ professional development in Russia and abroad is very relevant and timely as a response to the modern requirements of civil society for the personality of the teacher. The need for professional development among university teachers is closely related to his (her) desire for more successful indicators in teaching activities. To do this, it is necessary to fulfill several pedagogical conditions, including the teacher's own awareness of the need for professional development; the interest of the university administration and the availability of resources to organize an effective professional development system, etc. The purpose of the article is to show some successful practices of the teachers’ professional development in Russian, Chinese and European universities which the author observed while visiting those universities within the realization the project “Enhancing teaching practice in the universities of Russia and China”. The article presents the possibilities of benchmarking in higher education, in particular, the use of the benchmarking technology as a method of studying the effective practices of organizing the teachers’ professional development in a modern university.

scholarly journals The communication networks used by special librarians in solo and small libraries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nathan Burgess
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Communication Networks ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Specific Population ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Common ◽  
Communication Habits ◽  
Depth Interviews

<p>This study is an exploration of how isolated special librarians communicate with other professionals in the library field. It examines the means in which they connect with librarians for professional development and social reasons; the value they place on this interaction; and the barriers that hinder this communication. The qualitative study used semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a representative sample of seven special librarians in New Zealand. The specific population was professionals at special libraries with either a solo staff member or a very small staff. There were several common themes among the interviews. Most interviewees were members of at least one professional library association such as LIANZA, but were more likely to be active in groups that were targeted at their field or at special librarians. When faced with a need for information, advice, or collaboration, the librarians interviewed were most likely to call upon colleagues they had met or worked with in the past, rather than an organised network or purpose-created group. There were several barriers identified that kept librarians from communicating with others, being active in the library field, and engaging in professional development activities. These included lack of support from their managers, lack of support from professional associations, feelings of isolation, and personal responsibilities such as raising a family. The common concerns raised by the special librarians could be taken into consideration by professional associations, organisers of communication networks, and the librarians’ managers. For a clearer picture of special librarians’ communication habits, a quantitative survey could be conducted, with survey questions informed by the results of this study.</p>

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