A Strategy for Uncovering Teacher Professional Development Needs

Abstract

ABSTRACT A process for identifying professional development needs and planning teacher inservice programs involved the participation of 4 university professors, 4 local administrators, and 20 physical education teachers in 2 workshops. Each of the four groups was asked to brainstorm (for 20 minutes) the question, What do you see as the strengths/concerns of current professional development activities in physical education? and group leaders recorded remarks. Each participant then rated the listed strengths and concerns on a scale of strongly agree, moderately agree, or slight or no agreement, and reactions were recorded. Workshop organizers categorized reactions into clusters of similar statements (goals, communication, administration, resources, etc.), which then were listed on a transparency showing exactly what the participants had said. Interpretations by the organizers were confirmed and clarified by the group. A second workshop meeting focused on concerns identified by the group, and participants again divided into four small groups, ranked the concerns, and brainstormed to identify possible actions and agencies that could help alleviate these concerns. Results were presented at a final session and additions, deletions, and revisions were made based on the group reaction. (JD)