Teachers' use of online social networking to support their learning may have important implications for classroom teaching practices. This mixed methods study investigated how elementary schoolteachers used Twitter professionally. Teachers described what they learned from Twitter and how they applied their new learning to their teaching.…

This paper discusses findings from a small-scale empirical exploration of how professional development (PD) programme session strategies influence secondary science teachers' practice. It draws on a series of session questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and lesson observations from six secondary science teachers participating in a 2-year…

In this paper we consider the pedagogic and cultural role of practitioner research (PR) in teacher learning, using a case study approach set in a secondary academy school in the West Midlands of England. We acknowledge teacher learning and its influence on pupils as complex and relational, and that this should encourage more research, not deter or…

This article draws on interview data across eight months from senior teachers (i.e. experienced teachers who are subject leaders) in Egyptian primary schools, to explore how they described their learning during a professional development project in which they led gatherings of interested teachers in teacher learning communities. The article…

As test-based accountability gains more popularity worldwide, concern has been growing that it reduces and confines teacher learning and professionalism to exam-oriented teaching. Given novice teachers' vulnerability and the likelihood that accountability regimes will affect them significantly, this review examines 12 studies focusing on novice…

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a large-scale professional development (PD) programme delivered to 258 schools in Queensland, Australia is presented. Formal evaluations were conducted at two stages during the programme using a tool developed from Desimone's five core features of effective PD. Descriptive statistics of 38 questions and…

Learning to teach out-of-field is a challenge that many teachers worldwide face at some time in their career. Whether they are motivated to seek formal professional development as additional qualifications in this area, however, depends on many factors. Alignment between the specific professional development needs of out-of-field teachers and the…

In-service professional development aims to change what experienced teachers do and think, using innovations to improve teaching and learning. Teachers' beliefs and classroom practice are linked, but how they interact is less certain, and how they are changed by professional development is presented in the research literature by various models:…

The purpose of this study was to describe and examine how school leaders in the United States used social media and networking (SMN) for professional development (PD), and to determine which SMN platforms school leaders perceived as most useful for PD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six school leaders who used SMN for PD to provide…

This study was a qualitative comparative case study of two secondary schools (one urban high school and one suburban middle school) where teams of teacher leaders were in the planning stages of implementing an initiative about a peer observation protocol called collegial visits. The primary research question was, 'How does a team of teacher…

This article analyzes the present status of continuing professional development of teachers (CPD) in Slovakia in the post-communist era. During 25 years of democracy in Slovak society, the system of education has undergone several formal reforms, mainly in the area of legislation. As the analysis demonstrates, CPD in Slovakia still follows the…

This paper reports on continuing professional development (CPD) innovations in an Australian university to address challenges commonly faced by sessional academics teaching progressively diverse student cohorts. With the impact of Widening Participation (WP) policy increasing university participation of students in recognised equity groups,…

The purpose of this research was to investigate secondary teachers' perceptions of professional development. Results indicated that although teachers perceive professional development as a tool for learning, teacher leadership, data analysis, and collaboration are needed to increase its effectiveness. Results of teachers' perceptions may be used…

This article explores teacher learning and development, drawing on insights gained during two study visits and an international collaborative project. The article also charts a phase in the author's own learning, reflecting a growing recognition of the complexities of professional growth, gained through listening to teachers. A tentative process…

The attention being devoted to teacher educators as professionals and their professional development is unquestionably increasing. Whilst much of that attention is being directed at teacher educators in different countries, international comparisons have been quite rare to date. The research question addressed in this study was: "Do…