School-based Professional Community Learning: An alternative to reinforce quality teachers

Abstract Teacher professional development is becoming an important issue in the education system of Indonesia as a result of an increase in teachers’ perceived importance. Consequently, various number of teacher professional development (PD) programs are designed. Most of the devised PD programs, however, are considered not very supportive, particularly in terms of putting things gained in the PD programs into practices in the classroom. It is therefore necessary to find an alternative program that enables schools to take part in reinforcing teacher PD programs. Among the alternatives is the school-based professional community learning. This type of PD program accentuates the roles of schools in providing possibility for teachers to put training or other PD programs materials into real practices. Keywords: teacher professional development, professional community learnin

Teacher Professional Development

Professionalism of teachers is often attributed to three factors are quite important, namely the competence of teachers, teacher certification and teacher professional allowance. The third factor is the background that was allegedly closely associated with the quality of education. Professional teachers as evidenced by its competence shall promote the establishment process and product performance which can support the quality of education. Competent teachers can be evidenced by the acquisition of teacher certification following an adequate allowance according to the size of Indonesia. Today, there are a number of teachers who have been certified, it will be certified, has gained professional allowance, and will acquire the professional allowance. The fact that the teachers have been certified is a strong assumption, that the teacher already has competence. The problem that arises then, that the teacher is assumed to have had the competence which is only based on the assumption that they have been certified; it seems in the long term it is difficult to be accountable academically. Evidence have been certified, the teacher is present condition, which is generally a quality teacher resources shortly after certification. Therefore, the certification is closely related to the learning process, the certification cannot be assumed to reflect the competence of a superior lifetime. Post- certification should be an early milestone for teachers to constantly improve competence by means of long-life learning. To facilitate the improvement of teacher competence, it is necessary that a competence is initiated in order to manage the development of teachers’ professionalism

Teacher Professional Development: Who is the learner?

One of the challenges in in-service teacher education is how teachers can be given professional development (PD) that enables them to respond to national curriculum and policy change. In recent years primary teachers in New Zealand have been inundated with Ministry of Education-funded professional development programmes to help them implement a plethora of curriculum policy and reform initiatives. This paper explores how the design and delivery of one PD programme, the Physical Activity Initiative (PAI), positioned and supported teachers as learners. An evaluation of the programme sought data from 25 teachers and 14 advisers to schools. The focus was the impact of the PD on how and what teachers learnt about teaching physical education and how their learning impacted upon their classroom practices. The data highlight the difficulty of accommodating the teacher as a learner, within a “one size fits all” PD model. Little attention was paid to the learning differences among the teachers. It is argued that providers of PD need to understand the unique complex web of contextual factors that impacted upon each teacher, and that each teacher’s learning needs and learning approaches vary and this needs to be accounted for in the design and the delivery of PD

The 'Good' Teacher? Constructing Teacher Identities for Lifelong Learning

The symposium will focus on trans-national constructions of the 'good' teacher through popular culture, through professional development orthodoxies and through professional practices such as professional growth plans, inspection and teacher regulation

Reflecting Theories in Three Themes of Professional Development

There are three themes of professional development will be discussed in this paper; a commitment to professional development, a commitment to collaborative reflection on practice, recognizing context and culture in professional development. All Themes are elaborated respectively and relate the professional development theories to the Indonesian education system, and as a result, develop any potential understanding. All themes seem to support each other. the succeed effort of a teacher will contribute positively to their profession, in collaborative work or in the context and culture. The progress of the teacher professional development should come from the all parties' effort. As we all know that education does not only stand alone but it is strongly influenced by the present context of politics, social, culture, or religious. In, Indonesia the advancement of this sector would strongly rely on government action rather than grassroots or professional organization initiatives. Based on the reflection, the paper proposes narrowing gaps between the universities and the schools. Implementing this direction is believed to some extent would reach certain advancement in teacher professional development in Indonesia

Librarians as Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry into Professional Identity

This study explores the development of ???teacher identity??? among academic librarians through a series of semi-structured interviews. Drawing both on the idea of teacher identity from the literature of teacher education and on existing studies of professional stereotypes and professional identity development among academic librarians, this study explores the degree to which academic librarians think of themselves as teachers, the ways in which teaching has become a feature of their professional identity, and the factors that may influence academic librarians to adopt a ???teacher identity??? as part of their personal understandings of their role on campus.published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Guidelines for Selecting Professional Development for Early Childhood Teachers

Engaging teachers of young children in effective in-service professional development is a critical component of establishing high quality early childhood education. However, not all professional development offerings are effective in imparting new knowledge, enhancing teacher practice, or improving child outcomes, making it difficult for teachers and directors to select professional development that will benefit their centers. This paper critically reviews the research literature on professional development for early childhood education to identify what features of professional development make a difference for teacher interactions and children’s learning and development. Guidance is provided for selecting professional development opportunities which meet the needs of children and teachers. Recommendations for how to create an ongoing professional development program within an early childhood center by creating a professional learning community are also made. Such an approach supports the center to become a place that values learning and continued education for all professionals

What do beginning English teachers want from professional development?

This qualitative, interpretive case study allows insights into the reflective emerging teacher practitioner as it explores pre-service and beginning teachers’ preparedness to deal with curriculum change and the demands of the classroom and school community. Five beginning teachers were asked what they want from professional development in a period of rapid curriculum change. The study aligns with emerging local and national agendas for teacher professional development and accreditation in Australia. The data analysis, based on “community of practice” perspectives, shows that new teachers have clear ideas about the professional development they need and want. Professional development is seen as integral to their developing professional identities. The paper has implications for the way leadership teams offer and how new teachers take up professional development opportunities, upon which registration is contingent

An Examination of Professional Development Activities Available to Teachers in the Mid-America Region of the Association of Christian Schools International

The spotlight in education in recent years has been focused on the areas of professional development activities for teachers and the development of professional learning communities. However, the majority of research has omitted the Christian school community which requires its own body of research examining the unique conditions in which both private school students and educators learn and work. While the need for student achievement remains constant in both public and private schools, the social, philosophical, political, financial, and emotional contexts are quite dissimilar. The purpose of this study is to examine the availability and utilization of professional development activities in select schools in the Mid-America Region of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) that support the development of professional learning communities (PLC). By identifying effective and affordable professional development for Christian schools, this study provides usable information that can minimize teacher isolation and encourage the professional development necessary for continued teacher growth and quality as well as student achievement. The findings also support the need for teachers to become less isolated and confident in their craft through engagement in appropriate professional activities. As teacher quality and student achievement increase, this may also positively affect the future of the Christian school community, strengthening enrollment and stability