Supporting teacher reflection during online professional development: a logic modelling approach

This article aims to shed light on our understanding of how teacher reflection could be fostered through online teacher professional development. In this respect, the presented article starts from three theoretical foundations, namely the characterisation of online teacher professional development, logic modelling and fostering teacher reflection. Based on these foundations, a logic model is constructed and subsequently used to analyse an online teacher professional development programme. The examined online teacher professional development trajectory is the Digital Didactics programme, which originated in Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium). Twenty participants and four coaches participated in the study. The results explain how reflection was fostered through several online teacher professional development programme features. The reflective practices that formed the main outcomes of this study were mainly from a behavioural, attitudinal and social nature. The conclusions drawn can inform both theory and practice on how online teacher professional development could instigate teacher reflection

Examining lived experiences in a professional development program for online teaching : a hermeneutic phenomenological approach

The increased number of courses taught in an online environment has led to more teachers in need of professional development for online or blended teaching. Although various professional development programs have been scrutinised, only a few studies integrate the feelings of teachers during their professional development process. Teachers' feelings form an inherent part of their teacher-selves and are reflected in their everyday practice. Therefore, this study uses a hermeneutic phenomenological research method to examine the lived experiences - the feelings - of educational staff within a professional development program that targets online and blended teaching. The results indicate that teachers experience a large range of feelings and that these fluctuate throughout the program. These include positive feelings of connectivity, responsibility, and satisfaction, but also more negative feelings of chaos and frustration. The recognition and understanding of these feelings can illuminate particular aspects of professional development that are experienced more positively or negatively, which can guide further efforts for qualitative improvement

Improving teacher professional development for online and blended learning: a systematic meta-aggregative review

In order to fully realise the potential of online and blended learning (OBL), teacher professional development (TPD) strategies on how to teach in an online or blended learning environment are needed. While many studies examine the effects of TPD strategies, fewer studies target the specific important components of these strategies. This study addresses that gap by conducting a systematic review of qualitative data consisting of 15 articles on TPD that targets OBL. Using a meta-aggregative approach, six different synthesised findings were identified and integrated into a visual framework of the key components of TPD for OBL. These synthesised findings are the base for the action recommendations which present specific and contextualised suggestions. Taken together, the findings can inform in-service teachers and trainers, together with further research and development efforts that are concerned with TPD for OBL