Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Teacher professional learning'
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Feffer, James F. "Teacher Learning Within Professional Learning Communities." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/166.
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Professional Learning Community (PLC) structures require focused sessions of teacher collaboration as part of developing effective instructional practices leading to improved student performance outcomes. The PLC structured collaboration model has been implemented in schools across the country, however the current body of research regarding PLC structures has been focused on student performance and rather than the teacher learning processes that occur within the model. Teachers must learn throughout the PLC model, as they collaborate, plan instruction, create assessments, analyze data, and adjust implementation to improve results.
A mixed-methods approach was used to explore correlations between PLC structure ratings and teacher self-identified learning preferences, with Kolb’s (1984) Experiential Learning Theory as the basis for determining learning preferences. The study included 115 elementary teacher participants from a school district that has prioritized PLC structures for nearly 10 years. Significant correlations were identified between PLC structural elements and teacher learning preferences, with qualitative results providing additional descriptive analysis regarding teacher perceptions of their learning within PLCs. The findings within this study indicate that teacher learning preferences may be a key consideration for school site administrators as part of PLC team construction and development.
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Bush, Nicole Lea. "The evolution of a professional learning community in a professional development school." Ashland University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1458523042.
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Brodie, Karin. "Professional Learning Communities And Teacher Change." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-82361.
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Sheffield, Rachel. "Facilitating teacher professional learning : analysing the impact of an Australian professional learning model in secondary science." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/811.
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In education, innovations are frequently introduced to promote changes to the curriculum, teachers' practice, and the classroom environment, however, these initiatives are often implemented without sufficient evaluation to monitor their impact and effectiveness in bringing about the desired changes. This thesis analyses the impact of a teacher professional learning program on lower secondary science teachers' practice. It examines the relationship between teachers' concerns about the strategies incorporated in the Collaborative Australian Secondary Science Program (CASSP) and teachers' ability to understand the strategies, on their ability to utilise those strategies in the classroom. It also seeks to determine teachers' beliefs about their current science teaching practice and how this is different from their beliefs about ideal science teaching, and also, how these beliefs direct teachers’ classroom practice. Finally this study describes a number of primary and secondary factors found to impact on teachers' professional learning. 11tc CASSP model encapsulates the primary factors of curriculum exemplars (curriculum resources), explanation und modelling (professional development), and reflection (participative inquiry). The secondary factors include ensuring adequate time for change to occur, student support and participation, peer teacher support, support from lenders including-heads of department, support from the school administration and support from state education officers. This study has demonstrated that teachers’ professional learning is a complex process that is strongly influenced by teachers' beliefs, concerns and understandings, and is impacted by the primary and secondary factors identified by the research. Teachers must be able to envision the advantages of incorporating new strategies into their existing practice, and consequently seek to make these changes to their teaching. This study has shown that students are also an important influence the implementation of an innovation, without their support, teachers are unlikely to make successful changes to their teaching practice. lmplications of the research include the need to elaborate the CASSP professional learning model to include the secondary factors identified in the study, and the need to inform students about innovations so that they can see the benefits for them in terms of improved learning outcomes.
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Calcasola, Kimberly Straite. "The relationship between collective teacher efficacy and professional learning communities /." Abstract Full Text (HTML) Full Text (PDF), 2009. http://eprints.ccsu.edu/archive/00000580/02/Diss43FT.htm.
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Thesis (Ed.D.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2009.Dissertation advisor: Anthony Rigazio-Digilio. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate in Educational Leadership." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-122). Also available via the World Wide Web.
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Pangallo, Roxanne Garris. "The relationship between collective teacher efficacy and professional learning community /." Abstract Full Text (HTML) Full Text (PDF), 2008. http://eprints.ccsu.edu/archive/00000581/02/Diss44FT.htm.
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Thesis (Ed.D.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2009.Dissertation advisor: Penelope Lisi. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate in Educational Leadership." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-141). Also available via the World Wide Web.
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Brennan, Amy R. "Reconceptualizing Teacher Professional Development as Professional Learning: A Qualitative Case Study of a School-Supported Self-Directed Professional Learning Model." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1623956218485476.
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Ripley, Jerry W. "Teacher Perceptions of Individual Professional Learning Plans." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2949.
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The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine PK-12 teacher perceptions of an individual professional learning plan (PLP). Specifically, the researcher examined the perceived benefits of the PLP as well as the whether the PLP helped focus teacher learning. Additionally, the researcher examined teacher perceptions of learning activities within the context of the PLP, teacher intent to implement new learning, and perceived impact on teaching practice. Participants in this study were teachers from 16 schools in a single eastern Tennessee school district. All data were collected using an online survey distributed to 525 teachers resulting in a 44% return rate with 238 respondents. Data collected from 24 survey questions measured on a 4-point Likert-type scale were analyzed using single sample t tests.
Findings indicate that regardless of level of experience or grade level taught teachers have significantly positive perceptions of PLPs as well as the associated PD activities. Findings also indicate teachers have significant perceptions of the application of their learning and significant perceived impact from PD within PLPs.
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Attard, Tonna Michelle. "Teacher professional learning in Malta : an understanding of how teachers learn." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2012. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=186914.
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This thesis aims to examine teacher professional learning as situated within the Maltese context. The focus is on understanding the way particular teachers learn, the way they conceptualise learning, and the professional learning experiences, and contexts, which they define as meaningful. Theoretical perspectives of learning are explored in order to provide a framework to interpret the complex nature of teacher professional learning. The sociocultural and situative notions of learning have significantly contributed to an understanding of the way individuals learn, and are the main components of the theoretical framework of this thesis. Data are collected and analysed through qualitative means. A purposive sample of a small community of teachers from three different schools is interviewed, during the course of one year, and these data are supplemented with written anecdotes from an online forum of this teacher community. Within the semi-structured interviews and the online community discussions, teachers are given the opportunity to explore their insights on teacher professional learning, discuss their professional learning experiences and define the ways these experiences relate to their classroom practices. Grounded theory is used to partly analyse these data and generate concepts which reflect the multi-dimensional ways teachers learn and conceptualise their learning. The data suggest that teachers learn in unique and different ways and that learning contexts and influences impact significantly on teachers’ conceptualisations of teacher professional learning, their identity formation and their dispositions to learn. A number of proposals aimed at policymakers and key stakeholders are put forward regarding the way teacher professional learning in Malta can be organised. The thesis also includes suggestions for teachers who would like to enhance their professional learning experiences.
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Jones, Gail, Grant E. Gardner, Laura Robertson, and Sarah Robert. "Science Professional Learning Communities: Beyond a Singular View of Teacher Professional Development." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/764.
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Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are frequently being used as a vehicle to transform science education. This study explored elementary teachers' perceptions about the impact of participating in a science PLC on their own professional development. With the use of The Science Professional Learning Communities Survey and a semi-structured interview protocol, elementary teachers' perceptions of the goals of science PLCs, the constraints and benefits of participation in PLCs, and reported differences in the impact of PLC participation on novice and experienced teachers were examined. Sixty-five elementary teachers who participated in a science PLC were surveyed about their experiences, and a subsample of 16 teachers was interviewed. Results showed that most of the teachers reported their science PLC emphasized sharing ideas with other teachers as well as working to improve students' science standardized test scores. Teachers noted that the PLCs had impacted their science assessment practices as well as their lesson planning. However, a majority of the participants reported a differential impact of PLCs depending on a teacher's level of experience. PLCs were reported as being more beneficial to new teachers than experienced teachers. The interview results demonstrated that there were often competing goals and in some cases a loss of autonomy in planning science lessons. A significant concern was the impact of problematic interpersonal relationships and communication styles on the group functioning. The role of the PLC in addressing issues related to obtaining science resources and enhancing science content knowledge for elementary science teachers is discussed.
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Kolosey, Connie. "Assist Principals' Perspectives on Professional Learning Conversations for Teacher Professional Growth." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3188.
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The purpose of this study was to discover, document, and describe the salient actions, events, beliefs, attitudes, social structures and processes related to professional learning conversations from the perspective of nine assistant principals (APs). The participants were elementary, middle and high school APs, three at each level. Using a modified critical incident technique through participant written response and two in depth interviews with each respondent, this study investigated the lived experiences of these APs related to the practice of professional learning conversations in their schools. The research questions focused on: (1) the participants' beliefs and attitudes about professional learning conversations, (2) their roles in facilitating these conversations, (3) their ability to identify elements of trust within the groups of teachers with whom they work and (4) their roles in building trust.
The research literature is clear that teacher collaboration is a key factor in professional growth and self-efficacy, yet often the structure of the school day, a negative emotional environment, and a culture of teacher isolation prohibit meaningful teacher collaboration. Although faced with many obligations and directives, school administrators have considerable influence over the organizational structure within their individual schools. Furthermore, assistant principals often become the face of administration within their schools as they directly supervise teachers and APs are less studied than students, teacher or principals. How these individuals perceive and value professional learning conversations will likely impact the level of collaboration at their individual schools.
The findings of this study indicate that professional learning conversations for teacher growth were more prevalent at the elementary school level, that trust may be more difficult to cultivate at the middle and high schools, and that protocols as structures for facilitating conversations and building trust were not widely in use. A better understanding of the opportunities and barriers schools face related to professional learning conversations as well as a better understanding of the dynamics of trust will assist district and school administrators to engage in a problem solving process for better collaboration. Ultimately, administrators have an opportunity and a responsibility to touch the hearts and minds of the individuals on the front line of the work - the teachers in the classrooms working with students. Without teacher confidence, hope, optimism, resilience and self-efficacy, no amount of financial incentive, cajoling, or sanction will improve student learning.
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Abdullah, Umar. "Learning through Teacher Professional Training: English Teacher Certification Program in Indonesia." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1427720572.
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Beard, Gaysha V. "The adult learner, professional development, and the literacy coach an effective professional development model proposal /." Access to citation, abstract and download form provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company; downloadable PDF file, 96 p, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1472129381&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=8331&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Wines, Debra Rae. "Professional Learning Communities: The Impact on Teacher Practice." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/88810.
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The purpose of this research was to explore professional learning communities (PLCs) and their impact on teacher practice. The focus of this single case study was on reviewing the process of the implementation of a PLC (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, and Many, 2010) within MidAtlantic Elementary School, a Title I school. This school implemented the PLC (DuFour et al., 2010) process following the guiding principles set forth by Richard and Rebecca DuFour and the MidAtlantic School District. The guiding principles include a shared vision and mission, collective inquiry, collaborative teams, action research and experimentation, continuous improvement, and being results oriented. By following these guiding principles, the goal was to show how this process improved teacher practice enough to help students be successful in the first year of opening the school and each consecutive year since the school opened. Results of this research showed the PLC (DuFour et al., 2010) process leads to improvements in teacher practice that positively affect student learning.Doctor of Education
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Moodley, Kimera. "Mobile learning : a professional teacher technical identity development framework." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/67413.
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This study explored Professional Teacher Technical Identity Development through the use of Mobile Technology. A sample of fifteen teachers was conveniently selected from one school in an urban setting. An action research was designed consisting of three phases. Each phase formed the basis of the next phase to identify the development of professional teacher technical identity. Data was collected using a written questionnaire, two reflective journals, an online questionnaire, focus group discussions, lesson reflections, and interviews. Each instrument was designed using the literature to identify factors that impact on the implementation of mobile technology in classrooms and teachers’ acceptance towards mobile technology. The results were interpreted using three existing models to create a framework: The Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge model, Technology Acceptance Model and Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition Model.
It was found that there are six factors that affect the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of technology. These are attitude, anxiety, ability, subjective norm, facilitating conditions and voluntariness. The perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness determine the level at which technology is implemented in classrooms. The level of integration determines whether or not successful teaching in terms of the three elements of TPCK is being used. During the process whereby teachers attempt to implement technology in their classrooms, it is possible to identify changes in their professional teacher technical identity development. These changes are interpreted and a new framework for Professional Teacher Technical Identity Development is created. It is proposed that this framework can be used to explain the implementation process and behaviour of teachers during the process as their teacher identity is altered.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
PhD
Unrestricted
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Prince, Coryn Elizabeth. "The Effect of Professional Learning Communities on Perceived Teacher Self-Efficacy." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2018. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1157537/.
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This qualitative case study examined the effect of PLCs on teacher self-efficacy, and whether the type of PLC structure on each campus affected efficacy. The overarching research question that guided the study was, to what extent does perceived teacher self-efficacy change as a result of the practice of PLCs? Participants were selected using purposive and convenience sampling. Ten teachers and two principals on two different campuses participated in teacher focus groups and one-on-one principal interviews, respectively. The available literature on the topics of professional development, professional learning, teacher collaboration, and teacher self-efficacy yielded the discovery that collaborative practices can be used to improve a school and/or district or used to enhance positive practices that already occur. This study adds to the body of research as it develops the area of teacher efficacy and influence of PLCs. Using the coding software, NVivo, focus group data were coded into themes and further comparisons were made with categories derived and saturated until conclusions were drawn. The data show teacher self-efficacy increases as a result of PLCs when teachers are able to experience positive feedback from teammates, shared leadership, trust and honesty, and a freedom to fail. For those teachers who are not on a campus where PLCs are present, the data suggest they created their own PLCs as the need arose. These teachers experienced all of the same benefits of those teachers on a campus where a formal PLC structure exited; however, their stress level was higher.
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Yates, Sigrid S. "The SMART Goal Framework| Teacher Perceptions of Professional Learning and Teacher Practice." Thesis, Northcentral University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3617582.
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Most states require that schools engage in school improvement programs to meet accountability mandates which necessitates that teachers develop the skills necessary to accomplish school improvement efforts. The problem is that classroom practitioners lack the skills necessary to achieve effective school improvement. Limited research exists with respect to professional development activities and teacher perceptions toward professional learning experiences. Teacher perceptions of their professional development experiences affect classroom instruction and student learning. The SMART Goal Framework (SGF) has been developed as a school improvement model designed to provide teachers with the skills necessary to build leadership capacity through focus, reflection, and collaboration. This qualitative, single site case study examined teacher perceptions with the SGF to understand how the skills learned affected teacher behavior and student learning, built collegiality with peers and school leaders, and built leadership capacity within the school. Individual interviews, written responses, and a focus group interview were conducted with 10 teachers who were trained and implemented the SGF over a 5-year period in a rural East Texas school district. Using case study analysis, data were triangulated and three themes emerged relative to the skills learned from the SGF training: intentional instruction, collegiality and collaboration, and leadership and leadership capacity. Results of the study indicated that: 1) teachers were empowered to make instructional decisions which increased teacher efficacy and student learning; 2) collegial relationships allowed teachers and administrators to work collaboratively to solve instructional problems; and 3) teachers could articulate the traits of leadership capacity, but they were unable to articulate a conceptual understanding of leadership capacity. Teachers identified campus leadership as the key to successful SGF implementation. Teachers perceived three barriers that hindered campus implementation: failure to train non-core content teachers, new employee training, and campus leadership. Recommendations included: 1) developing an induction program for new employees; 2) developing a training plan for non-core content teachers; and 3) discussing the findings with district administration regarding leadership capacity. Recommendations for future research included: 1) conducting a study on the effect of the resistance of school leaders to engage in professional development activities to further school improvement efforts; 2) conducting additional studies on practitioners' perceptions and attitudes of professional learning experiences to add to the existing limited research in this area; and 3) conducting additional studies on practitioners' perceptions of professional learning experiences with other initiatives in the current district.
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Langdon, Frances June. "Beginning Teacher Learning and Professional Development: An Analysis of Induction Programmes." The University of Waikato, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10289/2624.
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The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the first two years of beginning teachers' professional development and learning. The study sought to document and understand the conditions and discursive practices of seven purposely selected schools that were implementing robust beginning teacher induction programmes. The focus was on induction, located in a comprehensive national system, to reveal the practices and tensions experienced by beginning teachers as they advanced their learning and development. It is anticipated that the seven case studies, along with the working theory of sound induction will add to the body of knowledge in the field of teacher learning and professional development and contribute to the debate about teachers' work and quality teaching. Few studies have investigated beginning teacher (BT) induction in comprehensively resourced systems. Much of the research investigates fragmented parts of BT experiences. The literature shows that when a holistic examination of induction is carried out it tends to be predominantly in the secondary school context. In-depth research into year one and year two teacher learning and professional development in sound primary school induction programmes was not found. The study provides a working theory of beginning teacher learning and, as Renwick (2001, p. 33) suggested, exemplars to maximise the effectiveness of schools to employ and support beginning teachers . Sound induction has the potential to positively influence teacher practice as research evidence indicates early career experiences affect future practice. The research is a multi-site collective case study that takes an interpretative, qualitative stance drawing on constructionism to inform the interplay between sociological and psychological theoretical disciplines, which make the information visible in different ways. The case studies scrutinise in depth, individual school contexts and are instrumental in providing better understanding and theorising about the collective case of beginning teacher induction. The primary sources of data were individual and focus group interview transcriptions. In addition, there were the accompanying notes and related school documentation. i Data analysis was an iterative process of inductive and deductive reasoning to make meaning that moved beyond description to identify categories and themes that emerged both within schools and across schools. Evidence of sound BT induction was found although variation in induction practices between schools was noted. Beginning teacher induction went beyond advice and guidance to incorporate educative mentoring in collaborative, collegial schools where high expectations prevailed. The findings suggest that teacher learning should be informed but not constrained by lock-step models of learning and development. Aspects of development as a professional were advanced and, in other respects, marginalised by the education policy focus on children's achievement. Feedback and children's learning and achievement underpin beginning teachers' judgements about their development as teachers. The socio-economic school contexts were less important than the quality of leadership, school cultures, expectations and the confidence of individual novice teachers. The study raises questions about the nature of teachers' work and teacher, government and societal expectations. It is anticipated that these findings will increase understanding of, and provoke debate about beginning teacher learning and their development as professionals.
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Weadon, Helen Ann, and res cand@acu edu au. "Teacher Learning Matters: The interrelationship between the personal and professional lives of rural teachers." Australian Catholic University. School of Education (Victoria), 2007. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp171.29082008.
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The aim of this thesis is to highlight the growing understanding that schools and all its members are continually learning. This has provided a new lens for educationists to view the professional and personal needs of teachers. Goodson (1996) refers to the fact that researchers have often omitted the ‘lived voice’ of the teacher in educational research. By this he means that the life stories and experiences of teachers, told by themselves, are ruled out as irrelevant data by many researchers. The early work of Hall and Morgan (as cited in Queensland Consortium for Professional Development in Education (1996)., and later Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1996) who based their work on the stages of nurse development, but adapted to assist with understanding the professional and personal lives of teachers, formed the initial interest in exploring the under researched area of teachers’ lives. This qualitative research study explores the interrelationship between the personal and professional lives of teachers especially those in mid to late careers in rural areas. Participants in this study completed a written survey and then oral contributions through focus groups or interviews. A model which illustrated the critical influences on teachers’ professional learning in their school was developed as a result of the analyses of the teacher data. This model highlighted the need for the provision of professional learning opportunities that incorporate the four major themes which emerged from this study. It also showed the need to maintain a learning culture in a school that is inclusive of all teachers regardless of their life or career stage. Reactions to this model were then obtained from the school principals, and from professionals working in the education system office. These reactions showed distinct variations to those of teachers. The teachers clearly had the view that teacher learning does matter to the life of a learning community. The challenge for rural schools is to provide teachers with professional learning opportunities that incorporate adult learning principles and empower teachers to take control of their own professional and personal learning.
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au, J. Pearce@murdoch edu, and Jane Pearce. "Teacher identity in uinversity classrooms: Reflexivity and professional learning." Murdoch University, 2005. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20060111.123544.
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Many academics become teachers without the help of formal professional learning. This study explores how a small group of academics have done this. The research aims to uncover the informal, experiential means whereby participants have constructed the knowledge about teaching and learning that underpins their pedagogies. The research begins with the assumption that three key elements play a major role in supporting academics informal learning about teaching. These are a persons previous experiences of learning, their experience of being part of a particular academic environment and their personal or private theories about teaching and learning, which are experientially based.
Life narratives were collected from a small group of university teachers who participated in qualitative interviews and provided written evidence of their experiences, practices and philosophies of teaching. The research uses an ethnographic, interpretive approach to collect and analyse data in which participants voices are foregrounded. The researchers life narratives also form part of the final thesis, demonstrating an engaged approach to research and providing explicit evidence of the researchers positioning in relation to the subject matter of the thesis.
The research reveals the importance for participants of a teaching self or consistent identity that develops in early life and continues through to the adult professional context. This identity forms a basis for participants teaching practices. The challenges experienced by participants when institutional practices do not support or help maintain this identity are discussed, as are the processes whereby participants seek out like-minded colleagues with whom to engage in professional conversations about teaching. The research reveals strong connections between participants sense of self and the principles underpinning their pedagogies, and the thesis concludes with some suggestions about how the concept of the teaching self might be used to support all teachers engaged in professional learning. Finally, the research advocates reflexivity on the part of teachers, whereby a critical awareness of biography helps locate practice in the cultural and social environment in which it develops.
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Pearce, Jane. "Teacher identity in university classrooms: reflexivity and professional learning." Thesis, Pearce, Jane (2005) Teacher identity in university classrooms: reflexivity and professional learning. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2005. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/251/.
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Many academics become teachers without the help of formal professional learning. This study explores how a small group of academics have done this. The research aims to uncover the informal, experiential means whereby participants have constructed the knowledge about teaching and learning that underpins their pedagogies. The research begins with the assumption that three key elements play a major role in supporting academics' informal learning about teaching. These are a person's previous experiences of learning, their experience of being part of a particular academic environment and their personal or 'private' theories about teaching and learning, which are experientially based.
Life narratives were collected from a small group of university teachers who participated in qualitative interviews and provided written evidence of their experiences, practices and philosophies of teaching. The research uses an ethnographic, interpretive approach to collect and analyse data in which participants' voices are foregrounded. The researcher's life narratives also form part of the final thesis, demonstrating an 'engaged' approach to research and providing explicit evidence of the researcher's positioning in relation to the subject matter of the thesis.
The research reveals the importance for participants of a 'teaching self' or consistent identity that develops in early life and continues through to the adult professional context. This identity forms a basis for participants' teaching practices. The challenges experienced by participants when institutional practices do not support or help maintain this identity are discussed, as are the processes whereby participants seek out like-minded colleagues with whom to engage in 'professional conversations' about teaching. The research reveals strong connections between participants' sense of 'self' and the principles underpinning their pedagogies, and the thesis concludes with some suggestions about how the concept of the 'teaching self' might be used to support all teachers engaged in professional learning. Finally, the research advocates 'reflexivity' on the part of teachers, whereby a critical awareness of biography helps locate practice in the cultural and social environment in which it develops.
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Pearce, Jane. "Teacher identity in university classrooms : reflexivity and professional learning /." Pearce, Jane (2005) Teacher identity in university classrooms: reflexivity and professional learning. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2005. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/251/.
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Many academics become teachers without the help of formal professional learning. This study explores how a small group of academics have done this. The research aims to uncover the informal, experiential means whereby participants have constructed the knowledge about teaching and learning that underpins their pedagogies. The research begins with the assumption that three key elements play a major role in supporting academics' informal learning about teaching. These are a person's previous experiences of learning, their experience of being part of a particular academic environment and their personal or 'private' theories about teaching and learning, which are experientially based.
Life narratives were collected from a small group of university teachers who participated in qualitative interviews and provided written evidence of their experiences, practices and philosophies of teaching. The research uses an ethnographic, interpretive approach to collect and analyse data in which participants' voices are foregrounded. The researcher's life narratives also form part of the final thesis, demonstrating an 'engaged' approach to research and providing explicit evidence of the researcher's positioning in relation to the subject matter of the thesis.
The research reveals the importance for participants of a 'teaching self' or consistent identity that develops in early life and continues through to the adult professional context. This identity forms a basis for participants' teaching practices. The challenges experienced by participants when institutional practices do not support or help maintain this identity are discussed, as are the processes whereby participants seek out like-minded colleagues with whom to engage in 'professional conversations' about teaching. The research reveals strong connections between participants' sense of 'self' and the principles underpinning their pedagogies, and the thesis concludes with some suggestions about how the concept of the 'teaching self' might be used to support all teachers engaged in professional learning. Finally, the research advocates 'reflexivity' on the part of teachers, whereby a critical awareness of biography helps locate practice in the cultural and social environment in which it develops.
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Quantz, Mary Ann. "Effective Professional Development: A Study of a Teacher-Initiated, Interdisciplinary Professional Learning Community." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2012. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3650.
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This is a narrative inquiry study that describes the experiences of five junior high school teachers who participated in an interdisciplinary, voluntary professional learning community (PLC). Using identity as an analytic lens for the participants' experiences, and content-area literacy as the context for the PLC, the study describes how teachers involved in a PLC focused on inquiry and teacher learning storied their own experiences in the PLC. The participants' experiences highlighted three main themes which were (1) experiences with past ineffective professional development, (2) inadequacy, and (3) changes in thinking. The study highlights how these themes demonstrate the development of the participants' professional and group identities in their school setting. This study also includes a literature review and expanded methods section in the appendices.Keywords:
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Zhen, Shuyi. "Learning in a pre-service teacher residency program." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1749.
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Teacher educators worldwide are seeking ways to develop stronger links with schools, to improve the quality of initial teacher preparation. In this study the researcher investigated a residency approach to initial teacher education (ITE) in a one-year Graduate Diploma of Education course designed to prepare primary school teachers at a university in Western Australia. A mixed methods inquiry approach was employed to examine the nature and quality of the professional learning experiences of the pre-service teacher participants.
The Teacher Residency Program (TRP) was based on a medical residency model, with residents given a semester-length placement in two schools. Each placement provided a continuous two-day per week placement and concluded with a five-week fulltime block teaching experience. University course work complemented the in-school practical experience during each of the placement periods. The researcher used concurrent nested research design with quantitative data embedded in the qualitative data to explore the professional learning of the residents; Specifically, the researcher sought evidence of perspective transformation in the residents’ learning process, and a determination of how particular elements of the TRP supported or hindered residents’ professional development.
The findings indicate that the residents perceived their professional learning as one of continuous growth. The data confirm that the TRP provided a professionally oriented study of teaching that provided time and opportunity for cumulative learning from both course work and practical teaching. Through the lens of a transformative learning paradigm, the study found that individual development in the TRP varies considerably. Further the residents experienced perspective transformation relating to a range of aspects about learning to teach. The process of transforming perspectives about teaching and learning was multidimensional, individualistic and contextually dependent. Elements of the TRP that assisted residents’ professional development were the concurrent university course work integrated with extended clinical school placement; the opportunities for continuous two-day per week school placement; the block practicum and the two different school placement learning experiences. Aspects that appeared to hinder residents’ professional development were related to the quantity and quality of the university course work offered; the discrepancies that the residents experienced between what they studied about teaching and what they experienced in schools; differences between mentor teachers, and the length of the course. The findings of this study have implications relevant to other ITE programs for improving the learning outcomes of pre-service teachers.
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Rose, Jeff W. "Professional learning communities, teacher collaboration and the impact on teaching and learning /." Connect to dissertation online, 2008.
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Merritt, Llian. "Embedding research as core practice for teachers: a model for whole school teacher learning." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/659.
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This is a study of teacher professional development at the school level using teacher research as a strategy for both teacher professional learning and school change. A qualitative study was conducted to determine the conditions that would develop and sustain teachers researching their own practice in a culture of inquiry. Participant observation in one school over a two year period was used to investigate the issue of how to embed teacher research as a central feature of teachers' work. As a result of working with teachers as they researched their practice I have developed a model to explain and understand the complexities of schools and their cultures. Teachers researching their practice provided the driving force in the interplay of the elements of the model and had the potential to change school culture. Relationships, structures and processes are central to this model. Social and professional relationships between the teachers and the university partner developed and were supported by structures and processes. As the research continued these relationships changed and evolved. These relationships help develop a culture of inquiry in schools. The school/university partnership in this study evolved from an initial symbiotic-cooperative partnership (in which I shared my expertise and supported the work of teachers) into a later organic-collaborative partnership (one based on mutual and shared goals and benefits). The existing team of four teachers and the allocation of time for them to meet provided the essential structures for the teachers to research their practice. The collective leadership style instigated by the school Principal provided important human and financial support for the development of inquiry cultures. Collaboration and collegiality as forms of association enabled teachers to conduct research which challenged their individual and collective beliefs and assumptions about students' learning and their classroom practice. The content and form of teacher culture mediated the effects of teachers researching their practice. There are critical and transformational effects when teachers research their practice as part of their core work. Introducing these teachers to research was not without its difficulties. There were events and factors in the school relating to relationships, structures and processes which hindered the development of teacher research in a culture of inquiry. Because of the time frame of this study there is no evidence that school culture change is permanent. This could be the subject of future research.
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Merritt, Llian. "Embedding research as core practice for teachers a model for whole school teacher learning /." University of Sydney. Policy and Practice, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/659.
Full textAbstract:
This is a study of teacher professional development at the school level using teacher research as a strategy for both teacher professional learning and school change. A qualitative study was conducted to determine the conditions that would develop and sustain teachers researching their own practice in a culture of inquiry. Participant observation in one school over a two year period was used to investigate the issue of how to embed teacher research as a central feature of teachers� work. As a result of working with teachers as they researched their practice I have developed a model to explain and understand the complexities of schools and their cultures. Teachers researching their practice provided the driving force in the interplay of the elements of the model and had the potential to change school culture. Relationships, structures and processes are central to this model. Social and professional relationships between the teachers and the university partner developed and were supported by structures and processes. As the research continued these relationships changed and evolved. These relationships help develop a culture of inquiry in schools. The school/university partnership in this study evolved from an initial symbiotic�cooperative partnership (in which I shared my expertise and supported the work of teachers) into a later organic�collaborative partnership (one based on mutual and shared goals and benefits). The existing team of four teachers and the allocation of time for them to meet provided the essential structures for the teachers to research their practice. The collective leadership style instigated by the school Principal provided important human and financial support for the development of inquiry cultures. Collaboration and collegiality as forms of association enabled teachers to conduct research which challenged their individual and collective beliefs and assumptions about students� learning and their classroom practice. The content and form of teacher culture mediated the effects of teachers researching their practice. There are critical and transformational effects when teachers research their practice as part of their core work. Introducing these teachers to research was not without its difficulties. There were events and factors in the school relating to relationships, structures and processes which hindered the development of teacher research in a culture of inquiry. Because of the time frame of this study there is no evidence that school culture change is permanent. This could be the subject of future research.
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Deignan, Ryan P. "K-12 music teacher-to-teacher collaboration in Iowa : an exploratory pilot study." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2017. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/5928.
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The purpose of this study was to measure the quantity, quality, and types of collaboration amongst K-12 music teachers in the state of Iowa. Survey responses (N = 97) were analyzed and grouped according to teacher characteristics. This sample of music educators reported the least collaboration on post-instruction, evaluative activity, such as reviewing assessments, data collection and analysis, and peer-observation. Respondents rated other parts of the collaborative process, such as group dialogue, decision-making, and action-taking, more highly. Teachers with a higher level of education reported more collaboration than less educated counterparts, while band teachers reported lower levels of collaboration quality compared to their choral and general music peers. Respondents also indicated that collaboration tends to increase with job continuity, but declines somewhat after teachers reach 25 years in the same school. Middle school teachers indicated the highest levels of collaboration, while K-12 teachers reported the lowest. Further, those teaching in larger schools recorded higher levels of collaboration than their smaller school colleagues. These results suggest that this group of K-12 music teachers in Iowa engage in moderate levels of collaborative activity overall and moderate to low levels of evaluative activity. Demographic results also reveal strengths and weaknesses of various subgroups’ collaborative habits. Researchers have found that high quality teacher collaboration improves teaching and learning outcomes. These results have implications for administrators providing professional development, preservice teacher educators, professional organizations, and current practitioners in the field who desire to implement more and higher quality collaboration for the purpose of instructional improvement.
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Duncombe, Rebecca. "Effective teacher learning in primary school physical education : an analysis of school-based collaborative professional learning as a strategy for teacher professional development." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2005. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7723.
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This thesis analyses the use of Collaborative Professional Learning (CPL) as a learning strategy for teachers' Continuing Professional Development (CPD) within primary Physical Education (PE) in England. Underpinning this research are the researcher's own experiences of teaching PE in a primary school and the problems faced as a result of inadequate initial teacher training and professional development in PE. The review of literature provides an overview of CPD and PE-CPD, examines both historical and current models of provision, and considers national and international criteria for effective and ineffective CPD. CPL has been identified as a key feature of effective CPD provision, thus the fieldwork phase of this research aimed to establish whether and how CPL could be used to enhance teachers' professional learning in primary PE. The fieldwork was divided into two phases. In the first phase, observations, interviews and questionnaires were employed to identify how primary teachers in two case study schools teach and learn within PE. In the second phase, knowledge gained from the earlier fieldwork and also the literature review was used to design two `models' of PE-CPD, based around athletics, to be delivered in the two schools over the course of a school term (3 months). Both models included the provision of resources, an athletics scheme of work with accompanying lesson plans and weekly sessions where the teachers were shown the skills necessary to teach athletics (throwing, jumping, running). Sessions within each model of provision were designed to reflect the principles of constructivist learning theory and employed school-based CPL as a tool for learning. The impact of each model upon the teachers' learning was evaluated through interviews, questionnaires and, in one school, observation of subsequent athletics lessons. The data from both phases of the research were analysed using a constructivist version of grounded theory (Charmaz, 2000). Whilst the two models of CPD were rated as effective and changed the ways in which PE was taught in the two schools, the teachers struggled to learn collaboratively. Three potential reasons for this are identified: teachers did not have the necessary PE subject knowledge about athletics to share with their colleagues; Communities of Practice (Wenger, 1998) within which the teachers could collaborate did not exist for primary PE in these two schools; the researcher didn't actively attempt to cultivate a Community of Practice and for CPD providers, this may be an essential step in maximising collaborative learning in PE-CPD. In addition, Wenger's (1998) social theory of learning is used as an analytical tool to further illustrate the personal, structural and practical barriers to CPL that existed in the two case study schools. Three tentative recommendations are made that would act as useful starting points for future research: in order to embed teachers' learning within the school context, teachers' `free' time should be restructured to facilitate CPL within Communities of Practice; timetables could be restructured to encourage team teaching; and lesson planning or planning schemes of work needs to be recognised as an opportunity for collaboration. Finally, in considering these findings in the context of the aims and structure of the new National PE-CPD Programme for England, it is-suggested that if the programme is to deliver its ambitious aims, it may need to be more radical than is currently the case.
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Neufeld, Janet K. "The superintendent’s role in teacher professional development." Diss., Kansas State University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/34494.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of EducationDepartment of Educational Leadership
Donna Augustine-Shaw
Jessica Holloway
School superintendents have traditionally been removed from the systemic process of learning in a school district and instead of been considered more indirect supporters of student achievement. Now, in the face of changing leadership standards, they are being required to provide leadership that more directly enhances student learning by way of teacher professional development. This case study takes a deeper look into the process of the superintendent’s role in district professional development. This will include a purposeful examination to clearly understand the superintendent’s role in designing, implementing, and monitoring professional development in the school district. The study includes (a) the meaning of professional development; (b) examination of school leadership theories and roles; and (c) analysis of how professional development impacts the classroom design of a district instructional framework for professional development.
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Webster, Susan. "Professional pathways for teacher educators in further education practice : a framework to support professional learning." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/13073.
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This project evaluates a proposed framework designed to support professional learning for teacher educators, focusing on Post Compulsory Education & Training, and particularly practices in Further Education. The intention of the framework is to enhance practice and promote professional recognition for people who support others in becoming or developing as teachers: teacher educators. The project proposal is that this can be achieved through engagement with processes of professional learning (Timperley, 2011) in the form of professional pathways, defined here as professional and individual learning journeys supported by principles and research-based recommendations within a recognised framework of underpinning factors. The theoretical framework for the project is interpretative, based on transformative learning (Cranton, 1994, 2002; ; Mezirow, 1997) with a constructivist epistemology and reflexive ontology (Door, 2014). It builds on previous research (Exley & Ovenden-Hope, 2013) using new data to develop initial ideas through a methodology of creative praxis, representing practices and approaches where reflexive, innovative thinking and impact on the world are equally important. The intention is to arrive at a robust, flexible and well-considered framework designed to support the professional formation and development of prospective, new or experienced teacher educators practicing in the Further Education sector.
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Oddone, Kay. "Teachers' experience of professional learning through personal learning networks." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2019. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127928/1/Kay_Oddone_Thesis.pdf.
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There is an urgent need to improve continuing professional learning for teachers as education becomes increasingly complex. Traditional models of professional development are often fragmented, discrete events, disconnected from teachers' practice and perceived as empty measures of compliance. There is limited research that investigates alternative professional learning approaches that leverage online social technologies and involve teacher agency, collaboration and active participation. Therefore, this research explores teachers' experience of professional learning through personal learning networks (PLNs). The findings have supported the development of a new model of learning as a connected professional, which makes a significant contribution to theory and practice in the emerging field of professional networks and learning, enabled through the affordances of social technologies.
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Fornaro, Elisabeth Grace. ""It's Like Professional Food": Sustaining Urban Educators Through Service-Learning." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2018. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/497461.
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Urban EducationPh.D.
This dissertation examined the assumptions and motivations that shape teachers’ participation in a service-learning practice and community of practice and how their participation affects their professional practice and identity. Framed by Santoro’s (2013) model of teacher integrity, defined as an educators’ ability to teach in alignment with their commitments, it presents an understanding of challenges to participants’ integrity, and how they mitigate those challenges. Heuristically, this project can be understood as the study of two components conducted using an ethnographic perspective over the course of 16 months: (1) the study of the community of practice and (2) the study of how its characteristics manifest in practice. It involved 100 hours of participant observation, 31 interviews, and the collection of artifact data. Data promote service-learning as a vital pedagogy by shedding light on its potential to sustain urban educators whose integrity is challenged by discourses, policies, and practices that emphasize competition and social efficiency rather than more holistic understandings of education as a civic and social good. Findings show how and why urban educators’ professional and personal commitments are intertwined with beliefs about social justice and democracy. Because of their work with student populations underprivileged and marginalized by systemic situations, meeting students’ social and emotional needs, honoring student voice, and teaching citizenship skills were important to participants. Conditions in their urban schools— a lack of curricular autonomy; insufficient time and resources to meet students’ needs; and deficient support systems— challenged participants commitments. As a result, participants were pushed to participate in service-learning and a service-learning community of practice. In addition, several characteristics of the community of practice pulled participants to participate: a framework for integrating quality service-learning into school- or school district-mandated curriculum; pedagogical and emotional supports specifically needed by urban teachers; and recognition that countered discouragingly negative perceptions of urban teachers. These resources and supports helped urban teachers’ fulfill their professional and personal commitments, validated their work, and sustained them in the profession.
Temple University--Theses
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Mory, Joan Ann. "Teacher Leaders' Perceptions of Professional Learning Communities in Middle Schools." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7044.
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While much is known about the benefits of professional learning communities as supportive structures for teaching teams to work together to increase student learning opportunities, team development requires strong administrators and teacher leaders. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher leaders' perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of professional learning communities in the middle school setting. With a foundation in constructivist and organizational learning theories, differences in teacher leaders' perceptions were investigated based on gender, number of years teaching at the schools, and number of years on the school leadership team. Within a nonexperimental, quantitative research design, 380 participants were invited and 127 responded to the Professional Learning Communities Assessment-Revised (PLCA-R) survey. A t test for independent samples was used to examine gender differences, and one-way ANOVAs were used to analyze differences in perceptions based on number of years teaching and number of years on the school leadership team. The results revealed no statistically significant differences for any of the variables on any of the PLCA-R domains, but there was a statistically significant difference (p = .013) in the PLCA-R overall scores for years of teaching experience. The information from these overall scores reflects a strong relationship between the number of years teaching, either 6-10 or 11+, and the domains in the survey. Results of this study add to the research on middle school professional learning communities and may contribute to positive social change by providing information on the perceived strengths and weaknesses that exist in professional learning communities.
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Ban, Eric J. "The professional context for student teacher learning instructional coaching conversations /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2004. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3173525.
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Thesis (Ed.D.)--Indiana University, School Administration in the School of Education, 2004.Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-04, Section: A, page: 1322. Adviser: Ronald Barnes. "Title from dissertation home page (viewed Nov. 15, 2006)."
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Coulson, Shirley Ann, and res cand@acu edu au. "Practitioner Experience of a Developing Professional Learning Community." Australian Catholic University. Educational Leadership, 2008. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp194.07052009.
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Australian policy contexts are promoting school transformation through teacher learning and the development of schools as professional learning communities. However, Australian practitioners have very limited contextualised research to guide their efforts in response to these policies. The researcher’s involvement in a school revitalisation process provided the impetus for this research study that investigates the practitioner experience of a developing professional learning community at RI College (pseudonym for a large independent girls’ school in Brisbane). This study endeavours to gain a more informed and sophisticated understanding of developing a professional learning community with the intention of ‘living’ this vision of RI College as a professional learning community. Praxis-oriented research questions focus on the practitioner conceptualisation of their school as a developing professional community and their experience of supporting/hindering strategies and structures. The study gives voice to this practitioner experience through the emerging participatory/co-operative research paradigm, an epistemology of participative inquiry, a research methodology of co-operative inquiry and mixed methods data collection strategies. Incorporating ten practitioner inquiries over two years, recursive cycles of action/reflection engaged practitioners as co-researchers in the collaborative reflective processes of a professional learning community while generating knowledge about the conceptualisation and supporting/hindering influences on its development. The outcomes of these first-person and second-person inquiries, together with a researcher devised online survey of teachers, were both informative and transformative in nature and led to the development of the researcher’s theoretical perspectives in response to the study’s research questions. As outcomes of co-operative inquiry, these theoretical perspectives inform the researcher’s future actions and offer insights into existing propositional knowledge in the field. Engagement in this practitioner inquiry research has had significant transformative outcomes for the co-researchers and has demonstrated the power of collaborative inquiry in promoting collective and individual professional learning and personal growth.
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Hobart, Leigh. "The current context of Queensland primary teacher engagement with professional learning through professional associations." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2009. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/46122/1/Leigh_Hobart_Thesis.pdf.
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Engaging Queensland primary teachers in professional associations can be a challenge, particularly for subject-specific associations. Professional associations are recognised providers of professional learning. By not being involved in professional associations primary teachers are missing potential quality professional learning opportunities that can impact the results of their students. The purpose of the research is twofold: Firstly, to provide a thorough understanding of the current context in order to assist professional associations who wish to change from their current level of primary teacher engagement; and secondly, to contribute to the literature in the area of professional learning for primary teachers within professional associations. Using a three part research design, interviews of primary teachers and focus groups of professional association participants and executives were conducted and themed to examine the current context of engagement. Force field analysis was used to provide the framework to identify the driving and restraining forces for primary teacher engagement in professional learning through professional associations. Communities of practice and professional learning communities were specifically examined as potential models for professional associations to consider. The outcome is a diagrammatic framework outlining the current context of primary teacher engagement, specifically the driving and restraining forces of primary teacher engagement with professional associations. This research also identifies considerations for professional associations wishing to change their level of primary teacher engagement. The results of this research show that there are key themes that provide maximum impact if wishing to increase engagement of primary teachers in professional associations. However the implications of this lies with professional associations and their alignment between intent and practice dedicated to this change.
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Weadon, Helen Ann. "Teacher learning matters: The interrelationship between the personal and professional lives of rural teachers." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2007. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/13059746da236bfb5ce240db097bf1ff0f3704eeebdf35b28f2c67a874b6d6e2/1151083/65129_downloaded_stream_354.pdf.
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The aim of this thesis is to highlight the growing understanding that schools and all its members are continually learning. This has provided a new lens for educationists to view the professional and personal needs of teachers. Goodson (1996) refers to the fact that researchers have often omitted the 'lived voice' of the teacher in educational research. By this he means that the life stories and experiences of teachers, told by themselves, are ruled out as irrelevant data by many researchers. The early work of Hall and Morgan (as cited in Queensland Consortium for Professional Development in Education (1996)., and later Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1996) who based their work on the stages of nurse development, but adapted to assist with understanding the professional and personal lives of teachers, formed the initial interest in exploring the under researched area of teachers' lives. This qualitative research study explores the interrelationship between the personal and professional lives of teachers especially those in mid to late careers in rural areas. Participants in this study completed a written survey and then oral contributions through focus groups or interviews. A model which illustrated the critical influences on teachers' professional learning in their school was developed as a result of the analyses of the teacher data. This model highlighted the need for the provision of professional learning opportunities that incorporate the four major themes which emerged from this study. It also showed the need to maintain a learning culture in a school that is inclusive of all teachers regardless of their life or career stage. Reactions to this model were then obtained from the school principals, and from professionals working in the education system office. These reactions showed distinct variations to those of teachers. The teachers clearly had the view that teacher learning does matter to the life of a learning community.;The challenge for rural schools is to provide teachers with professional learning opportunities that incorporate adult learning principles and empower teachers to take control of their own professional and personal learning.
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Chiu, Siu-hong. "The impact of learning study on teachers' professional development." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B35669962.
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Calleja, Colin. "THE LET ME LEARN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROCESS FOR TEACHER TRANSFORMATION." Doctoral thesis, Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, 2013. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa-118616.
Full textAbstract:
This research set out to explore how a group of nine educators from a Catholic Church school in Malta, who have attended the Let Me Learn professional Learning process (LMLpLp), experienced personal and professional transformation. This study investigates those factors influencing participants in their transformative learning journey. It also explores the dynamics of transformative learning and whether individual transformation affects the school’s transformative learning experience. More specifically this study set out to explore how teachers who participated in the Let Me Learn professional Learning process have experienced transformative learning.
This study takes a qualitative phenomenological approach. It seeks to identify phenomena of personal and professional transformative learning through the perceptions of the educators participating in this study. Through the use of the semi-structured interview it seeks to gather ‘deep’ data. This data represents the voices of these educators in narrative, thus emphasising the importance of the personal perspective and interpretation. This allowed this research to understand the subjective experience, motivation and actions of the participants.
The Literature review informs the questions asked during the interview. The interview was used as a tool for gathering information regarding values, attitudes and beliefs of participants. Each interview was transcribed, translated (when response was given in Maltese) and categorised according to Mezirow’s ten stages. Excerpts from each stage were further processed to generate themes. The themes were later streamlined and an acceptable interpretive framework was created. Each interview excerpt was then analysed through the framework.
Once all interviews were coded, detailed narratives were written. These narratives are meant to help the reader reflect on the process of transformative learning. It underscores those factors highlighted by the participants, which helped bring about both personal and professional transformative learning.
This research has identified that individual constructs are strongly determined by an individual’s personal learning characteristics. Awareness of these personal learning characteristics (self-knowledge) helped educators assess their practice and understand how their personal characteristics were determining their approach to teaching and affecting their interpersonal relationships with students and colleagues.
This research showed that transformative learning is a mutually interdependent experience. Individual transformation amounts to, and is influenced by, the collective transformation. This study highlighted the role of the school community in the pursuit of personal transformation.
Yet another important finding of this research is the importance of a shared language of possibility. Through a shared language, a learning community can create a dialogic environment through which intentions, beliefs and interventions can be shared among the professional community. This research accentuates the importance of a shared language as a means of articulating a change in perspective.
The study identified three main agents of change. The Let Me Learn team, as promoters and experts of this particular learning process; the teachers, who internalised the process and applied it to their practice; and the school’s senior management team, who internalised the Process, positioned it into the larger vision of the school and created a conducive environment through which the whole school community was empowered to take responsibility to bring about change in practice.
A number of implications emerge from this study that could inform policy on teacher professional learning. A major implication concerns the importance of a shared language – a language that reflects the shared values and ideological position of the community. Such language frames the learning process, makes learning visible for teachers to be able to respond effectively with strategies that respect each learner’s learning preference and makes learning visible to the learner himself.
Another implication from this study arises from the finding that the transformative learning process of any individual educator and effectively of the whole school community, goes beyond the effectiveness and limitations of any one professional development programme. True and deep-seated transformative learning comes from within the individual educator. This statement has serious repercussions on any professional development programme that aims to aid participants in their quest to transform their practice.
This study also emphasised the importance that any professional development needs to be seated in the local experience and needs of the school community. Any attempts at developing comprehensive, nation-wide projects with pre-packaged approaches, are doomed to fail. What this research has shown is that for effective professional development, the identified outcomes need to correspond to the local needs of the school, rather than the national guidelines, detached from the realities of the particular school.
Finally, this study accentuated the importance of incorporating mentoring support in any professional development proposal. Delivery of information and skills without follow-up tend to lead to superficial application. Transformative learning presupposes a period of shared reflection on practice and collegial mediation of ideas through contact between teachers and their leaders and on-the-job support from their professional development mentors.
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Wilson, Adrianne G. "Understanding the Cultivation of Teacher Leadership in Professional Learning Communities." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3410.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of study was twofold. The primary purpose was to describe and explain the perceptions and lived experiences of high school teachers through their involvement in a Professional Learning Community, as defined by Hord (1997). Teachers' experiences within a Professional Learning Community were examined for patterns of cultivated leadership and social capital. The second purpose of the study was to identify the influencing variables connected with how the participants viewed themselves as leaders as a result of their participation in a professional learning community. One influencing variable in particular that was examined was the influence of social capital in professional learning communities. Hord's explanation of a professional learning community was the conceptual framework for this study, which states that such communities are made up of five essential dimensions: (1) Shared and supportive leadership, (2) Shared values and vision, (3) Collective learning and its application, (4) Shared personal practice, and (5) Supportive conditions. Online survey research method was used in order to investigate teacher leadership in Professional Learning Communities and the underlying variables associated with participation in such communities.
The findings of this study indicated that teachers have varying perceptions of their work with professional learning communities. Overall, the data suggested that teachers' experiences and perceptions negatively correlated with their development as a teacher leader. Although most teachers in this study did not experience empowerment as a teacher leader, most gained some sense of social capital through their collaborative efforts within their learning communities. The data reflected that most teachers felt connected to the colleagues within their communities. School leadership is vital to the sustainability of professional learning communities and towards the professional growth of teacher leaders. Consequently, this study suggests that future research is conducted to examine the influence of school leaders on teacher leadership development and the impact that professional learning communities have on such development for teachers.
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Lomas, Laurinda. "Innovative mathematics curriculum and teacher professional learning: A case study." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2018. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/80114b9e620e684062af9caef5045182bbff5cebb4236467f1edffd9c032948d/570294/Lomas_2018_Innovative_mathematics_curriculum_and_teacher_professional.pdf.
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Implementation of innovative curriculum is posited as an immersion strategy with the potential to deepen the mathematical knowledge of in-service teachers. The impact of beliefs on teacher practice, however, can be a substantial constraint in this change process. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of teaching an innovative mathematics unit on teachers’ knowledge and beliefs about mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning. Using a case study methodology within a constructivist epistemology, two Year 5/6 teachers were studied as they taught a rational number unit of work originally developed in the Netherlands, underpinned by Realistic Mathematics Education (see, e.g., Streefland, 1991). The interconnected model of teacher growth (Clarke & Hollingsworth, 2002) provided the theoretical model of change in this study, and the mathematical knowledge for teaching model (Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008) was used to analyse knowledge growth. The initial relationship between the case study teachers and innovative curriculum was pivotal in determining curriculum fidelity and the potential for meaningful change. Both teachers were very experienced and had volunteered for the immersion experience, but issues of trust and teacher authority constrained long-term change. Neither of the teachers in this trial took the full opportunity to learn afforded by the innovative curriculum because they did not seem prepared to reflect seriously on their established beliefs about teaching in general. One of the teachers was open to learning new ways to teach fractions and was pleased at the surprising responses of students he had previously considered lower achieving. This resulted in subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge growth, as he considered the problem-solving strategies promoted by the unit better than those he had used in his career. The second case study teacher’s negative attitude towards the innovative curriculum based on previous experiences overseas resulted in constant concern about extending higher achieving students. She found managing the dissonance of her goals for teaching with those of the innovative curriculum extremely difficult to reconcile, resulting in a reduced number of lessons taught, little long-term growth in knowledge, and no apparent change in beliefs. This research suggests that innovative curricula like those based on Realistic Mathematics Education have the potential to challenge the conceptual schema of teachers, but only if they are open to such experiences. Considering the resilient influence of beliefs on teacher practice observed in this research and its status in the change environment, strategies that both challenge and support teachers are needed if serious and sustained growth is to be realised.
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Koelsch, Jane-Marie Fetty. "Teacher Perceptions of Professional Learning Community Maturity in Catholic Schools." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2737.
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Many Midwestern Catholic schools have implemented professional learning communities (PLCs) to enhance teacher quality and attain school goals. However, not all schools have aligned practices essential to increase maturity in the five PLC dimensions, as defined by Hord. Guided by Hord's framework, this research study investigated teachers' perceptions of PLC maturity in select Catholic schools. A convenience sample allowed an examination of schools engaged in an initiative that included PLCs. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the Professional Learning Communities Assessment - Revised was administered to 42 teachers in 4 schools. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data revealed the dimensions of shared leadership and shared vision and values were most mature in the majority of participating schools. The dimension of shared personal practice was least mature in all participating schools. Demographic data, analyzed using independent sample t tests and a series of ANOVAs, showed some demographic factors had significant findings in individual schools but no single factor had a significant finding in all schools. Results of quantitative data analysis provided direction for qualitative interviews. Four teachers participated in interviews that examined PLC practices affecting maturity. Transcribed interviews were coded and 7 themes emerged: supportive administration, teachers as leaders, shared vision, peer teaching, teacher buy in, too many meetings, and improper use of PLCs. PLC training for administrators and teachers could result in positive social change as school staffs learn to align specific instructional practices with an infrastructure that supports increasing PLC maturity. This increased PLC maturity directly determines a school's ability to improve.
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Martello, Kristen Lynn. "Influence of Professional Learning Communities on K-8 Teacher Responsibilities." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5373.
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Professional learning communities (PLCs) were established in a local suburban school district in 2010; however, since their inception, the value of the program has not been determined. In a K-8 school district, a qualitative case study was conducted to determine the influence of PLCs on the 4 domains of teacher responsibilities: preparation, classroom environment, teaching, and professional duties. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's social learning theory and Danielson's framework for teaching. The research questions focused on how teacher participation and the allotment of time in a PLC, and the structure of a PLC, influence teacher classroom responsibilities. Data collected included interviews, written narratives by teachers, and a review of formative assessment documents. The participants were 5 teachers, selected through a purposeful sampling of teachers from across the grade levels of kindergarten to Grade 8, who had actively participated in a PLC for a minimum of 1 year. The data was analyzed to determine themes. The findings confirmed that PLCs allow for the exploration of ideas within a small group and that professional development is necessary to develop PLCs that influence teacher responsibilities in all 4 domains by Danielson. Based on the findings and supporting literature, a 3-day workshop was developed to provide teachers with an improved understanding of PLCs and how they can support teachers in implementing appropriate instructional practices for all students. This effort may result in a collaborative school culture for teachers and significant improvement in student achievement due to the recurring cycles of collective inquiry.
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Chang-Seo, Andrea J. "The Importance of Teacher Development| Investigating Teacher Experiences and Perspectives in Professional Learning Communities." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10823846.
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PLCs have been shown to be a promising professional development model in increasing overall student achievement. As a result, schools have turned to implementing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as a way to help teachers to collaborate, identify the needs of students, and formulate a plan to address the needs. However, little research has been done on how effective PLCs can contribute to both teacher development and student learning. Examining the experiences of teachers within PLCs is critical because, as a form of professional development, it can be used to help teachers feel supported within school sites which may, in turn, encourage retention rates.
The purpose of this study is to investigate teacher experiences and perspectives about the characteristics of effective PLCs that support their professional growth and commitment at a single urban high school site in Southern California. By examining effective PLC characteristics in this case study site, administrators and secondary school site leaders can benefit from implementing PLCs that focus not only on student learning but also with teacher development. This information can support the effective implementation of PLCs in K-12 districts that also contribute to teacher development and success. Creating effective PLCs can positively affect teacher development that may help deepen their commitment to the school and in return, create sustainable student achievement and teacher growth.
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Ackerman, Donna V. "The Impact of Teacher Collaboration in a Professional Learning Community on Teacher Job Satisfaction." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/962.
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A dilemma in some local educational institutions is the lack of a supportive teacher community which could lead to decreased teacher job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to describe to what extent teacher collaboration in a professional learning community (PLC) impacts teacher job satisfaction. Theoretical foundations by DuFour, Eaker and DuFour supported the relationships between PLC and teacher collaboration. Herzberg's theory of motivation and Maslow's hierarchy also served as frameworks in this study. An interpretive, qualitative research design was used to explore potential connections between collaboration and job satisfaction. Research questions addressed how scheduled school day collaborative time impacts teacher job satisfaction, job satisfaction changes due to a PLC environment, and the impact of teacher isolate on job satisfaction. Data included observations of collegial interactions, face-to-face interviews, recorded field notes and audio tapings captured during these data collecting events. Cross-referencing was applied between collection tools. Data were coded, categorized and analyzed following the process designed by Hatch. Ideal collaborative time and job satisfaction characteristics emerged as core themes. Specifically, scheduled collaboration provided a structure for developing strategies for meeting students' needs, and principal support for collaboration was shown to enhance teachers' perceptions of job satisfaction. Teachers also cited improved practices and enhanced collegial relationships as additional sources of increased job satisfaction. Implications for positive social change include improving teacher job satisfaction, which could assist in creating a positive, productive environment for teachers. This can result in more well planned learning environments and greater academic achievement for students.
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Chauraya, Million. "Mathematics Teachers' Knowledge Growth in a Professional Learning Community." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-82437.
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McClanahan, Debra Lee. "Teachers' Pedagogical Reasoning in a Professional Learning Community." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/565914.
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The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how teachers discuss pedagogy and learning in the context of a professional learning community in an elementary school. This understanding has the potential to assist principals and teachers to establish professional learning communities that use their time productively. Study participants belonged to a fifth grade professional learning community. Data sources included video and audio recordings, transcripts, field notes, interviews and artifacts. The data were examined for Episodes of Pedagogical Reasoning (Horn, 2005) which was the unit of analysis for the study. Episodes of Pedagogical Reasoning are units of teacher-to-teacher talk where teachers show their comprehension of a concern in their practice. One finding from the data analysis indicated that although the professional learning community in the study did not follow the "ideal" PLC model, the teachers used the time they were given to accomplish what they needed to do in the course of implementing the Common Core Standards. Another finding was the teachers use of practical talk (Doyle & Ponder, 1978) in determining how best to implement the Common Core Standards. Their practical talk focused on instrumentality and congruence. Instrumentality is defined as a change proposal that must describe a method in a way that depicts classroom contingencies. If the procedure fits the way a teacher normally conducts classroom activities, then it is congruent.
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Hamblin, Carolyn J. "How Arizona Community College Teachers Go About Learning to Teach." DigitalCommons@USU, 2015. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4283.
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This mixed-method study used a survey and semistructured interviews to learn how new Arizona community college teachers learned to teach, how available certain learning experiences and effective professional development activities were, how valuable teachers perceived those learning experiences and activities to be, and if there were any factors that underlie how new community college teachers learned to teach. The survey questioned whether 26 learning experiences were available to new community college teachers, and whether they had participated in professional development activities conducted using critical reflection, peer group conferencing, professional development cases, and active learning. All of these activities were available to the majority of new teachers except for professional development cases, which were available to only 38% of respondents. The perception of these community college teachers was that active learning, critical reflection, and peer group conferencing were more valuable than other more typical faculty development activities. The researcher expected that professional development cases would be rated more highly than typical faculty development activities; however, the survey respondents who reported participating in professional development cases rated them as equally valuable to other faculty development activities, but not higher. The researcher discovered six factors that underlie the process new Arizona community college teachers used to learn to teach. They were guidance from others, receptive communications, formalized teacher training, personal resources, experimentation and reflection, and student perspective.
The process that new Arizona community college teachers used to learn to teach can be explained by the adult learning theory of transformative learning. They valued learning experiences that were reflective and applicable to the classroom. They benefitted from professional development activities that used the principles of transformative learning theory such as active learning, critical reflection, and peer group conferencing. Learning to teach was a process that included challenging and changing their assumptions about what happens in a community college classroom. They adjusted their assumptions and their teaching behaviors with time and experience.
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Preis, Stacey Placier Peggy. "Teachers' perspectives on their professional learning environment and the relationship to growth in student achievement." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/6857.
Full textAbstract:
Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 24, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Peggy Placier. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.