Bridging STEAM and Cultural Heritage Through Inclusive Inquiry: The SciArt Professional Development Program

Professional development (PD) programmes take a wide variety of forms. Lloyd and Davis (2018) present a model to map the diversity of PD programmes based on the extent to which intrinsic control of learning was afforded to the teachers by the PD. In this study, Lloyd and Davis’s model was applied to map two different PD programmes. Both programmes aimed to achieve similar outcomes, they ran over a similar timeframe of 2 years, and both were targeted at early career teachers (ECTs). Yet, despite these similarities, the ECTs mapped the programmes differently onto the model, and the extent to which the programme outcomes were achieved also varied. The degree to which ECTs considered that the PD afforded them a sense of control and an influence over the direction of their learning was found to be associated with the extent to which the intended programme outcomes were met. Building in an optimal balance of autonomy supportive opportunities into PD programmes is likely to be an important feature of their success.

In this study, researchers designed and implemented a 1-year professional development (PD) program that focused on supporting teachers in evaluating and selecting digital learning contents. Participants in this investigation included 109 teachers who consented to the study amongst a total of 171 teachers from five school districts across central Ohio. In addition to their participation in the PD program, they completed surveys, interviews, and self-reflections in this mixed-method study. The results revealed that teachers’ perceived TPACK increased over time throughout the PD program, suggesting that training teachers to evaluate digital contents can be an effective PD model to improve teachers’ capacity in learning technology integration. The PD program was especially effective for teachers with less prior experience in technology integration or related training. Mathematics teachers, in comparison to teachers from other disciplines, began with low TPACK; however, these initial differences gradually diminished over the course of the PD program. In terms of their motivation in digital content evaluation, teachers’ expectancy for success increased significantly while their task values remained medium high. The qualitative analyses provided additional insights and revealed design suggestions for success in future PDs.

This past five years has seen a drastic reform takes over in English Language Education. The reform prompts a significant change in the field of teaching, learning and the assessment system. To note, the recent implementation of CEFR-aligned Classroom-Based Assessment (CEFR CBA) demands teachers to be a comprehensive implementer in assessing students within their teaching and learning practices. As this enactment is concerned, teachers’ professional development (TPD) program plays the crucial roles to ensure teachers are well equipped with the content and pedagogical knowledge in the new policy. TPD has become an important professional learning medium for teachers in the aim of increasing their professionalism to enact educational change. Hence, this study was conducted to explore the enactment of teachers’ professional development program within two main contexts which are at the meso (school) and macro (education department) level. This study revealed that the enactment of TPD program for CEFR CBA was largely transmissive but lacking the sense of practicality to ensure the dispersion of knowledge can happened throughout the entire cascade system. Several challenges like the uncertainty to conduct in-house training, non-option teachers, participants engagement and limited time was discovered to become the factors which impede the effectiveness of TPD to serve its purpose in coaching and mentoring teachers to implement CEFR CBA. The findings of this study have the implication on the program designers and providers to better equip TPD which can address the needs of teachers at the micro level.

This study explored a professional development (PD) program preparing mathematics coordinators to lead effective PD in their schools. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic emerging in the midst of this study, the PD program and school team PD were performed online instead of face-to-face. We explored the PD program and school team PD design before and during COVID-19 period, and the coordinators' expertise-based PD leadership professional identity (LPI). Findings revealed structural stability of the PD program design, and support of coordinators’ LPI. Coordinators enacted a structural transition of effective PD design into the school team PD, demonstrating their LPI in practice.

This paper explores the research mentoring practices of experienced mentors within the Goethe-Institut’s continuing professional development (CPD) programme for teaching German as a foreign language “Deutsch Lehren Lernen”. The CPD includes a research-based learning project in each module called a “Praxiserkundungsprojekt” (PEP). Within each PEP, teachers engage in research into their own practice, with experienced teacher-mentors supporting them. Based on the qualitative analysis of 17 in-depth interviews with expert teacher-mentors from all over the world, the paper offers 11 salient practices for mentoring in-service research-based learning as a form of teacher education and training. We propose that this approach is potentially transferable to adult education contexts in general, and other practice based training contexts in which novice practitioners are actively engaged in research. A new mentor-specific practice from the narrative accounts in this context contributes to our understanding of the mutual benefits from working in a mentor-mentee relationship during research-based learning. It acknowledges the benefit of self-reflection for the mentor – contributing further to the continuing professional development of all involved. This is described as a form of professionalisation in mentoring within teacher training contexts: a form of reflection in action that mentors can model in their mentoring practice (by explicitly reflecting on their own teaching practice as a form of role modelling for the benefit of the teacher-researchers). The demonstration of commitment to reflective practice was unanimously demonstrated by the interviewees, who used this value position to underpin their mentoring.

The paper examined professional development of senior secondary school biology teachers on inquiry-based teaching. To become and remain a competent biology teacher requires a continuous process that starts from pre-service experiences in undergraduate years to the end of a professional career. Science knowledge is constantly changing and expanding its relevance to societal issues therefore, these teachers needs constant opportunities to build their understanding and abilities in the same direction. Consequently, the National Science Education Standards (NSES) presented a vision of learning and teaching science in which students will have the opportunity to become scientifically literate. (NSES)(NRC,1996: 56). In the vision, science teachers are professionally responsible for their own professional development and for the maintenance of their teaching profession, hence this paper. Professional development is a specialized training, formal education or advanced professional learning to offer help to administrators, teachers and other educators improve their professional knowledge, skill and effectiveness in the teaching of biology in the classroom (hidden curriculum, 2014). The paper considered some majors issues that leads to teacher professional development which includes: professional development for biology teachers on inquiry-based teaching,  teachers current teaching of biology, concept of inquiry-based teaching, student learning of biology, consensus  or standards for professional development programme, impact of professional development programme, researches on professional development programme, challenges of professional development programme,  the paper was concluded by stating that  coaching and support for teachers at points of implementation should be encouraged,  professional development programs should be for a longer period of time more than what is obtainable presently, proper monitoring and evaluation of training received and its implementation among others.

Purpose: Teacher content knowledge (CK) and its contribution to student achievement (SA) are understudied in physical education, especially concerning the examination of the effectiveness of professional development (PD) programs using direct measures of teachers’ CK and SA. To make progress in this research area, this study investigated the contribution of a content-focused PD program to teachers’ CK and SA in basketball, using direct measures thereof. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to examine the contribution of a PD program. The authors measured the CK of 52 elementary classroom teachers and their fifth or sixth grade students’ (n = 913) achievement in basketball before and after the PD program. The data were analyzed using unilevel and multilevel regression analyses. Results: Teachers who participated in the PD program exhibited higher learning gains in their CK; their students also exhibited higher learning gains. Discussion and Conclusion: The study findings suggest that PD programs focused on enhancing teachers’ CK might also support SA.

Journal article reviewing is often considered an unexplored or unknown practice. There is limited discussion about it, and what there is often rests on assumptions that reviewers are experienced and have knowledge about the topic of the article review, and that the model of practice involves double-blind reviewing. This curriculum review investigates a professional development program for article reviewers which was introduced by an educational journal in response to its reviewers’ request for professional development. The curriculum was based on a community of practice model and was reviewed by inviting stories of experience from the program participants. The review highlights that professional development initiatives can be evaluated based on participants’ perception of improvement in practice, and that hidden practice elements exist in any professional practice development program, and these can also be enhanced by professional development. The implications of this realisation for academic development practice emphasise not only the viability of a community of practice model for professional development but the value of participant stories in evaluating the impact of such initiatives.

PurposeThe South African vocational education and training (VET) sector is required by legislation to redefine postsecondary education, advance industrialisation and expand the job market to address unemployment in the country. Yet, VET leaders' heterogenous educational and occupational backgrounds do not enable them to address the needs of the VET sector. Continuous professional development of leaders in the education sector needs to include support structures such as mentoring.Design/methodology/approachThe present study sought to investigate how VET managers in South Africa perceive three different types of mentoring – individual, peer group and expert-based key performance area (KPA) mentoring – during a part-time professional leadership development programme. Using interactive qualitative analysis (IQA), the authors collected and analysed data from focus group discussions (n = 24) and individual interviews (n = 21) from two cohorts of the programme.FindingsThe results revealed that individual mentoring represented the most important driving mechanism, followed by peer group mentoring and expert-based KPA mentoring. Participants identified leadership as a prerequisite for their development. Emotions formed the final outcome of the mentoring framework.Research limitations/implicationsBased on the findings, the authors suggest investigating the role played by leaders' interpersonal competences such as emotional competence in the workplace. Additionally, research needs to clarify if and how mentoring can support leaders to develop interpersonal competences in formal and informal settings.Originality/valueThe study offers empirical evidence on a three-pillar mentoring framework adopted in a professional development programme for leaders in VET in South Africa. It highlights the importance of individual, social and emotional factors.

This research aimed to assess three case studies of in-service science teachers regarding their practices of socio-scientific issue (SSI)-based teaching as they participated in a specially developed professional development (PD) program. Data were collected throughout the PD program from group discussions, observations, interviews, and the review of documents, and they were analyzed using within-case and cross-case analysis methods. The findings showed that the PD program had positive impacts on the teachers’ practices of SSI-based teaching. There were some modifications that combined their old teaching styles and SSI-based teaching; however, they attempted to link the science content within a social context in a way that motivated student ownership of learning. They modified their roles as information providers to be learning facilitators. Their students were also encouraged to employ scientific evidence-based reasoning to address the issues under discussion. The three science teachers also added questions to enhance student thinking about the application of scientific knowledge in society. At the individual level, teaching confidence and teaching enthusiasm had powerful influences on their practices of SSI-based teaching. At the school level, the amount of teaching time and the lack of experts on SSI-based teaching in the school were found to be barriers to SSI-based teaching. The results of this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge about preparing science teachers to link their science lessons to the real world, and they also provide a framework for future studies.

The COVID-19 epidemic has not only triggered a worldwide health catastrophe, it has also affected learning processes all over the world. While COVID-19 was in its initial wave of transmission, educational systems around the world witnessed bitter experiences in the form of the closure of institutes or a shift to distance (or online) learning techniques. The delivery of quality education was affected the most where the educational system was already weak due to the unavailability of effective teachers’ professional development programs and the lack of the integration of technology. This study extends the conventional continuous professional development (CPD) model of in-service teachers adopted in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. The extensions are based on the integration of mobile technology and support for collaborative learning and ongoing assistance, which are missed in the current traditional model. To assess the acceptance and use of the app, an Mobile collaborative learning (MCL) based CPD acceptance framework is designed by combining chosen components from a generally recognized Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) and other well-recognized acceptance models for the acceptance and use of the technology. In the context of CPD, a total of 14 constructs have been selected which include performance expectancy; effort expectancy; facilitating conditions; hedonic motivation; mobility; knowledge acquisition; content and information quality; on-the-job support; reward; behavioral intention; engagement; interactivity with peer & experts; self-management and collaborative learning. Based on these constructs; a total of 13 hypotheses were developed with 55 measurement items. A total of 494 teachers participated in a two-week training session using the designed app. Based on the activity, a questionnaire was designed and distributed among the participants using WhatsApp groups during the academic year of 2021–2022. Out of 494 participants; 472 participants correctly filled in the questionnaires, which were selected for analysis. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21; and, for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis, IBM AMOS version 21 was used. According to the results, all thirteen hypotheses were found statistically significant showing the positive impact on the acceptance and use of the CPD app. The results of this study promote teachers’ and experts’ engagement and participation in CPD activities which not only improve the knowledge and skills of the learners but also impact their long-term professional development and success. This research may help the teachers’ training and related institutions to make better choices and develop a mobile collaborative learning system for school-based teacher support and training programs. As a basis, this study may also be used in other provinces of Pakistan and beyond to make it a CPD standard.

The study in this paper was carried out in the framework of an evidence‐based continuous professional development (CPD) programme in which teachers documented evidence about their practice in a portfolio. The context of the CPD was related to the ‘Learning Skills for Science’ (LSS) programme, which advocates the incorporation of high‐order learning skills and capabilities into science school curricula, in addition to content knowledge. The LSS comprises high‐order scientific communication skills such as information retrieval, scientific reading, scientific writing, listening and observing, information representation, and knowledge presentation. The main goal was to study what can be learned from evidence‐based portfolios about teachers’ LSS practice. More specifically we studied the dimensions and levels of teachers’ practice, the profiles of teachers’ accomplishment, and their ability to present evidence about their practice. We analysed 12 teachers’ portfolios (34 pieces of evidence) using a diagnostic tool that reflected the various dimensions of teachers’ accomplishment in LSS practice: P: Perceptions of LSS instruction; M: Model of instruction; T: Using learning materials; A: Assessment; I: Influence in the school system; E: Evidence preparation. For each of these dimensions we identified a hierarchy of levels on a scale of 1–5. The diagnostic tool revealed diverse LSS multidimensional professional profiles which demonstrated strong and weak aspects in teachers’ performance. We concluded that evidence‐based portfolios about teachers’ practice can serve as tools for assessment of teachers’ accomplishment (for example, for accreditation purposes) and as an authentic resource for customising professional development programmes to the needs of individual teachers.

Purpose While it is particularly important that professional programs help teachers become members of a community of practice, especially in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lack of research about strategies to effectively encourage the development of a community of practice and to support teachers’ transformation of their way of teaching. Thus, this paper aims to report on lessons learned from a blended professional development (PD) program for elementary and middle school teachers in Japan focused on computer programming education. In particular, the authors explored how application of the creative learning principles in the blended teacher PD may have helped to nurture a community of practice among teachers in Japan, and how the creative learning principles may be a valuable framework for designing online or blended teacher PD to support teachers’ transition into emergency remote education. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports on the lessons learned from two iterations of blended teacher PD situated within a larger design-based research project on applying creative learning pedagogy in teacher PD. Creative learning is a learning approach focused on engagement in personally meaningful projects by tinkering with materials and learning from peers. A total of 26 teachers and coaches participated, all of whom work in elementary or middle schools across Nagano prefecture in Japan. Participant experiences were evaluated based on a pre-survey and a post-survey conducted before and after the in-person kick-off camp; observation notes taken; a final report submitted by each teacher; a debrief meeting at the end of the program; and semi-structured interviews with three selected participants after the program concluded. For this paper, the authors focus on two participants who fully and actively engaged in the program, and they introduce their stories to highlight the outcomes from the PD. Findings The results highlight how a blended PD designed to support creative learning of teachers provided teachers with opportunities to gain help from other teachers and cultivate their expertise. The results also illustrated that how a community of practice emerged from the PD program, providing teachers with moral support when they tried new lesson designs. This paper offers several recommendations for designing professional learning experiences for instructional designers and professional developers that incorporate remote learning technologies. Originality/value While an increased number of studies have shown the values of online and blended communities of practice for teacher PD, there are still limited insights on different strategies to support teachers in transforming their teaching practices. They generally do not provide teachers with opportunities to continue learning with and from one another beyond the program itself. This study examined the teachers’ experiences in a unique PD that implemented a creative learning approach into a blended learning environment for teachers.

STEM professional development program for gifted education teachers: STEM lesson plan design competence, self-efficacy, computational thinking and entrepreneurial skills

The rapid shift from traditional classroom teaching to online and hybrid learning environments has highlighted the need for effective professional development (PD) programs to support educators. This study aims to identify the key PD needs of educators adapting to various modes of teaching delivery, evaluate the effectiveness of current PD programs, and offer recommendations for improvement. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 56 educators at S College in China. The findings reveal that educators prioritize customized PD programs, collaborative learning opportunities, and ongoing support to address challenges such as technology integration, online course design, and student engagement. While current PD programs are generally effective, there is a need for greater alignment with educators' specific needs and more sustained support. The study concludes with actionable recommendations, including the development of learner-centered PD initiatives, the promotion of collaborative learning, and the provision of continuous professional support. These recommendations are grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Andragogy, Social Learning Theory, and Experiential Learning Theory, offering valuable insights for institutions aiming to enhance teaching quality in digital learning environments. This study contributes to the broader discourse on online education by addressing critical gaps in PD and providing practical strategies to support educators in the evolving landscape of higher education.