Professional Learning Experiences Research Articles

Midwives’ experiences of professional learning when practicing collegial midwifery assistance during the active second stage of labour: data from the oneplus trial

BackgroundLearning is a lifelong process and the workplace is an essential arena for professional learning. Workplace learning is particularly relevant for midwives as essential knowledge and skills are gained through clinical work. A clinical practice known as ‘Collegial Midwifery Assistance’ (CMA), which involves two midwives being present during the active second stage of labour, was found to reduce severe perineal trauma by 30% in the Oneplus trial. Research regarding learning associated with CMA, however, is lacking. The aim was to investigate learning experiences of primary and second midwives with varying levels of work experience when practicing CMA, and to further explore possible factors that influence their learning.MethodsThe study uses an observational design to analyse data from the Oneplus trial. Descriptive statistics and proportions were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Stratified univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed.ResultsA total of 1430 births performed with CMA were included in the study. Less experienced primary midwives reported professional learning to a higher degree (< 2 years, 76%) than the more experienced (> 20 years, 22%). A similar but less pronounced pattern was seen for the second midwives. Duration of the intervention ≥ 15 min improved learning across groups, especially for the least experienced primary midwives. The colleague’s level of experience was found to be of importance for primary midwives with less than five years’ work experience, whereas for second midwives it was also important in their mid to late career. Reciprocal feedback had more impact on learning for the primary midwife than the second midwife.ConclusionsThe study provides evidence that CMA has the potential to contribute with professional learning both for primary and second midwives, for all levels of work experience. We found that factors such as the colleague’s work experience, the duration of CMA and reciprocal feedback influenced learning, but the importance of these factors were different for the primary and second midwife and varied depending on the level of work experience. The findings may have implications for future implementation of CMA and can be used to guide the practice.

Which factors contribute to standardized test scores for prospective general science teachers: an analysis of the PraxisⓇ general science content knowledge test

Effective science instruction and associated student learning is reliant upon a strong foundation of teacher content knowledge. This study of the PraxisⓇ General Science Content Knowledge Test from May 2006 to June 2016 investigates content knowledge of 28,688 general science teacher candidates. Examinees performed well on Life Science topics while Earth & Space Science was identified as an area in need of support. Analysis of the assessment revealed differences in achievement associated with undergraduate major, gender, and ethnicity. Test-takers with STEM majors demonstrated stronger content knowledge than their out-of-field counterparts, that men outperformed women in the study, and White test-takers lost fewer scaled points than Black and Hispanic candidates. To strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, recommendations include reviewing our findings for alignment with state standards. This will facilitate development of comprehensive content knowledge professional learning experiences that will be used as an anchor for focused support on those topics where test-takers tend to demonstrate lowest proficiency.

Teaching Elementary ESL Writing in Canada

Writing is an important skill for children’s academic success (e.g., Fitts et al., 2016), underlining the need for effective ESL writing instruction in the elementary classroom (Brisk, 2012; Mohr, 2017; O’Hallaron, 2014). However, there is a paucity of research on elementary ESL writing instruction in Canada. Specifically, we have little understanding about the pedagogical practices in this context. To fill this gap, this paper reports on findings of a study that investigated: (a) factors that influence teacher preparedness, and (b) challenges teachers encounter in teaching ESL writing. Eight elementary teachers, each with at least three years of teaching experience, participated in the study. Data were collected from interviews and online surveys. Findings suggest that teacher preparedness was affected by four factors: (a) background knowledge of teaching ESL writing, (b) professional learning opportunities, (c) self-learning and experience as a teacher, and (d) collaboration, mentorship, and support for teachers. The challenges teachers encountered were grouped into five categories: (a) making sense of the writing curriculum, (b) finding relevant resources, (c) lack of time, (d) difficulty providing feedback, and (e) parental involvement at home. Drawing on these findings, the paper discusses implications and recommendations for ESL writing instruction in the elementary classroom.

The self-sought professional learning experiences of secondary school teachers in Malta

ABSTRACT With the introduction of the sectorial agreement signed between the Maltese Government and the Malta Union of Teachers in 2017, Maltese teachers have been incentivised to accelerate their salary scale progression following engagement in self-sought professional learning. The theory of affordances was applied in this mixed-methods research to explore the importance attributed by secondary school teachers towards self-sought learning. Following data collection of 166 questionnaires and 14 teacher interviews, quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using SPSS and MAXQDA respectively. Results suggest that while the majority of teachers are intrinsically motivated to pursue self-sought professional learning, they seek incentives and, in particular, monetary support. Other important barriers that hinder teachers in furthering their professional learning beyond school hours are family responsibilities and lack of time. This study provides insights into teachers’ conceptualisations of professional learning and implications for teacher education.

Exploring Private School Teachers’ Perceptions of Professional Development Sessions Through the Lens of Active Experimentation

The goal of this research study was to investigate the effects of D.A. Kolb’s active experimentation stage of experiential learning theory (ELT) on teacher professional development. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study addressed the problem of teachers’ desires for effective professional learning experiences to improve student learning and instruction in the classroom. The research questions explored the perceptions of private school teachers regarding professional development sessions, specifically in the context of active experimentation. The study aimed to investigate the advantages of promoting a professional culture of continuous learning and teamwork among teachers through various methods such as lab classrooms, peer observation, professional learning communities, and peer coaching. The study adopts a descriptive approach utilizing focus group discussion and semi-structured interviews for data collection. Purposeful sampling was used to determine the sample and criterion sampling was used to select the participants. Biographic data was collected to provide background information about the participants involved. The biographic data allowed for stratification enabling the examination of various factors connected to the aim of the study. The study focused on understanding the benefits of providing teacher support through active experimentation during professional development sessions. Results showed that although teachers did not explicitly reference ELT when discussing effective strategies during professional development sessions, they referenced the value of hands-on, active participation in real-classroom stimulations during teacher professional development. The study’s findings also indicate a need for creating a consistent framework for professional development sessions that includes active learning, teacher collaboration, and continuous support in a culture anchored in trust.

Exploring the role of instructional leaders in promoting agency in teachers’ professional learning

This qualitative study used structural analysis of conversational episodes and content analysis to examine how two instructional leaders fostered teacher agency and collaboration in planning ongoing structures and content during a yearlong professional learning experience in one elementary school. Framed within a theory of agency, we found a merging of insider and outsider knowledge in the interactions between university partners and the two leaders of the English language arts leadership team that occurred across time, that agentive discourse was topically coherent among the leadership team as a collective group, and that the collective group maintained reflective and forward-looking common professional learning goals. We argue that meaningful professional development contexts position all participants in ways that value and trust their individual contributions and prompt them to act agentively to meet individual learning goals while maintaining a focus on the school’s collective goals.

Professional learning of prospective elementary school teachers in supervised training

Abstract Professional learning has garnered considerable attention from researchers, as it forms a fundamental aspect of teachers’ professional development. Such learning encompasses a range of essential elements, including acquiring knowledge about curriculum content, teaching methods, core values, attitudes intrinsic to the teaching profession, and the nuances of professional culture. Notably, supervised training stands as a significant context for the professional learning of prospective teachers, offering direct exposure to the teaching profession and opportunities for critical reflection on theoretical and practical experiences. In this study, we undertake an investigation of the professional learning experiences of prospective teachers within the Early Years of Elementary Education, employing a qualitative and interpretative approach. To achieve this objective, we conducted in-depth research with ten female students enrolled in an Education Undergraduate Program at the Federal University of the Fronteira Sul, Erechim Campus. Our focus was on examining their learning encounters during supervised training. The empirical data for the study encompassed narratives shared by the ten interns during sessions dedicated to teaching in Elementary School, alongside textual productions prepared by the students throughout their training. The analysis of the gathered data has revealed noteworthy learning outcomes concerning teaching in various dimensions. Firstly, it shed light on the process of lesson planning, characterized by its reflective nature, theoretical underpinnings, and comprehensive approach to devising learning pathways for students. Secondly, the investigation illuminated the development of teaching skills, an intricate fusion of multiple elements that collectively facilitate effective classroom practices. Lastly, the study elucidated the dynamics of the school environment, perceived as an interactive, dynamic, pluralistic, and adaptable context conducive to the realization of successful teaching endeavors.

Aprendizagens profissionais de acadêmicos de licenciatura em pedagogia em estágio supervisionado

Abstract Professional learning has garnered considerable attention from researchers, as it forms a fundamental aspect of teachers’ professional development. Such learning encompasses a range of essential elements, including acquiring knowledge about curriculum content, teaching methods, core values, attitudes intrinsic to the teaching profession, and the nuances of professional culture. Notably, supervised training stands as a significant context for the professional learning of prospective teachers, offering direct exposure to the teaching profession and opportunities for critical reflection on theoretical and practical experiences. In this study, we undertake an investigation of the professional learning experiences of prospective teachers within the Early Years of Elementary Education, employing a qualitative and interpretative approach. To achieve this objective, we conducted in-depth research 3 with ten female students enrolled in an Education Undergraduate Program at the Federal University of the Fronteira Sul, Erechim Campus. Our focus was on examining their learning encounters during supervised training. The empirical data for the study encompassed narratives shared by the ten interns during sessions dedicated to teaching in Elementary School, alongside textual productions prepared by the students throughout their training. The analysis of the gathered data has revealed noteworthy learning outcomes concerning teaching in various dimensions. Firstly, it shed light on the process of lesson planning, characterized by its reflective nature, theoretical underpinnings, and comprehensive approach to devising learning pathways for students. Secondly, the investigation illuminated the development of teaching skills, an intricate fusion of multiple elements that collectively facilitate effective classroom practices. Lastly, the study elucidated the dynamics of the school environment, perceived as an interactive, dynamic, pluralistic, and adaptable context conducive to the realization of successful teaching endeavors.

Professional Practice And Learning Experiences of Students Taking Psychiatric Nursing Courses with Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Phenomenological Study

Çalışma psikiyatri hemşireliği dersi alan öğrencilerin nörogelişimsel bozukluğu olan çocuklarla mesleki uygulama ve öğrenme deneyimlerini niteliksel fenomenolojik bir yaklaşım kullanarak değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma deseni olan fenomenolojik araştırma tasarımı kullanılmıştır. Bu nitel araştırma 72 gönüllü hemşirelik öğrencisi ile yapılmıştır. Görüşmeler bireysel olarak ve yüzyüze gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler, Colaizzi'nin fenomenolojik analiz yöntemi kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde üç kategori (uygulama sırasında yaşanan duygular, uygulama sırasında yaşanan zorluklar, özel eğitim ve uygulama merkezlerinin yararlarına yönelik düşünceler) sekiz alt tema (olumlu duygular, olumsuz duygular, iletişim, bilgi, süre, yaşam kalitesi, iletişim, sosyal yönden) saptanmıştır. Psikiyatri hemşireliği uygulamasının sonunda, terapötik ilişkilerin geliştirilmesi yoluyla empati ile nörogelişimsel sorunlara yönelik ön yargı azaltılmıştır. Öğrenciler, nörogelişimsel sorunlarda iletişimin çok önemli bir yeri olduğunu ve özel eğitim ve uygulama merkezlerindeki uygulamanın kişilerarası ilişkileri geliştirmelerine yardımcı olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, eğitimcilere klinik eğitimin planlanması ve geliştirilmesi konusunda yol gösterici olabilir.

Partnering to support K-12 instruction of difficult topics through inquiry-based professional learning

PurposeMany K-12 teachers teach difficult topics as part of their curricula, and discussions of difficult topics are common across grade levels and content areas. As teachers increasingly engage with difficult topics in their classrooms, the need for high-quality professional learning experiences has also grown. In response, the purpose of this article is to introduce an emerging partnership between the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State and the Red Lion Area School District (Red Lion, Pennsylvania), conceptualized from the outset with an explicit focus on intentionally engaging in collaborative, inquiry-based professional learning surrounding difficult topics in formalized curricula and within educational practice.Design/methodology/approachThe article briefly describes how the partners came together, then provides a high-level overview of how they approached their first year of collaboration. Next, the partners’ adaptation of inquiry-based professional learning is outlined. The article concludes by discussing lessons learned from the first year of partnering and implications for scholarship in the areas of school-university partnerships, inquiry-based professional learning, and difficult topics.FindingsThe article observes that it took educators participating in a difficult-topics inquiry community an entire year to begin shifting ownership of inquiry to K-12 students. It illustrates how school-university partnerships can be used to support difficult-topics inquiry and raises new questions about the role of difficult topics in partnership work.Originality/valueThe article contributes an original example to the literature that demonstrates how inquiry-based professional learning focused on difficult topics can provide a powerful basis for forming a school-university partnership.

Reflective Practices: A Connecting Bridge between Theory and Practices in Teacher Education

Reflective practice has become a buzzword in teacher education as a mark of professional competence. The purposes of using reflection in their practices for pre-service teachers are not only for illuminating their pedagogical and professional learning experiences, but also critically reflect to their values, beliefs, attitudes, and evaluate learning experiences. Although the significance of reflective practice has long been acknowledged, a mutual agreement has still not reached on how it should be defined or what processes should be initiated in teacher education programs. It serves as a bridge connecting the gap between theory and practice as it allows pre-service teachers to apply the theoretical knowledge and teaching techniques that they acquire in their coursework in the real classroom setting. As a result, pre-service teachers gain a better understanding of teaching in the real-world context, recognize the students’ needs, and acknowledge the difficulties in teaching that they may face in the future (Smith &amp; Lev-Ari, 2005). This article discusses concept of reflection, reflective practices and how it is implemented in educating pre-service teachers on their early stage of professional learning. Besides this article has also highlighted some perceived difficulties to implement reflective practices, as well as the way how reflective practices are employed in teacher education for overcome the gap between theory and practices.

Using Virtual Reality to Support Retrieval Practice in Blended Learning: An Interdisciplinary Professional Development Collaboration between Novice and Expert Teachers

This small-scale study comprised an evaluation of a teacher professional learning experience that involved the collaborative creation of resources using immersive virtual reality (VR) as a retrieval practice tool, specifically focusing on the open access aspects of the SchooVR platform. SchooVR offers teachers and students tools to enhance teaching and learning by providing a range of virtual field trips and the ability to create customised virtual tours aligned with curriculum requirements. By leveraging the immersive 360° learning environment, learners can interact with content in meaningful ways, fostering engagement and deepening understanding. This study draws on the experiences of a group of postgraduate teacher education students and co-operating teachers in Ireland and Northern Ireland who collaborated on the creation of a number of immersive learning experiences across a range of subjects during a professional learning event. The research showcases how immersive realities, such as VR, can be integrated effectively into blended learning spaces to create resources that facilitate retrieval practice and self-paced study, thereby supporting the learning process. By embedding VR experiences into the curriculum, students are given opportunities for independent practice, review, and personalised learning tasks, all of which contribute to the consolidation of knowledge and the development of metacognitive skills. The findings suggest that SchooVR and similar immersive technologies have the potential to enhance educational experiences and promote effective learning outcomes across a variety of subject areas.

What Works in Collaboration? Identifying Key Ingredients to Improve Service Delivery in Schools.

This survey study examined factors that may influence interprofessional collaboration in schools to support children with oral and written language impairments, namely, knowledge, collaborative beliefs and practices, and resources. A survey was conducted across 319 school-based professionals, in a partnering public school district, to examine these constructs within the context of each individual participant's professional role. Between-groups comparisons were made between special educators, general educators, paraprofessionals, and indirect educators (i.e., those whose roles do not explicitly include language-based instruction). Special educators had significantly higher levels of learning experiences and knowledge about language disorders compared to other groups. Those who engaged in the most independent learning (i.e., learning outside of pre- or in-service learning) exhibited the highest levels of knowledge. Collaborative beliefs among professionals were best predicted by access to resources and overall professional learning experiences. More positive collaborative beliefs, in turn, predicted higher rates of collaborative behaviors. Resources were predicted by a small negative relationship with years of experience and by working in specific school buildings within the district. Those with less experience in specific buildings reported more resources. Individuals with higher levels of individual learning and positive attitudes toward collaboration may enhance the interprofessional collaborative practices of teams supporting children with language disorders. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24059178.

“You can’t build a revolution with no education”: Deepening equity-mindedness in professional learning activities

Institutes of higher education have adopted equity-minded frameworks as potential solutions to dismantle the permanence of racism within them. Yet, little empirical evidence documents the outcomes of these frameworks, which often include professional learning experiences for faculty and staff. Drawing on critical race discourse analyses of interview data from a 16-week professional learning seminar on race and racism in higher education, the authors of this study posit that equity-mindedness is a process where one becomes aware of oppressive structures of harm and one’s participation in, and reproduction of, these structures. This claim expands previous scholarship on the topic, which fails to articulate the importance of reflexive equity-mindedness. The authors conclude with a call for P-20 practitioners to focus on the contexts of interpersonal transformation as necessary to create more equitable and just educational settings for all students in addition to institutional policies and practices.

It's a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations

In Australia, and internationally, mentoring is proffered as a powerful professional learning experience for both early career teachers (ECTs) and their mentors alike. However, authentically beneficial learning partnerships have proven challenging to achieve. This paper provides a theoretical and practical response to this issue, arguing the criticality of genuine conversations cultivated through balanced, non-hierarchical questioning to position ECTs and mentors as co-learners. Drawing on positioning theory in conjunction with the concept of genuine conversations, the contents of five recorded mentoring conversations involving Australian ECTs and mentors were analysed. These findings have important implications for mentoring practice across educational contexts.

Profile of an innovator: a Delphi study to surface key characteristics for innovative educators

As the context of K-12 education changes, new technologies emerge, and we increasingly focus on student-centered learning, there is a need to understand how best to catalyze and lead innovation in schools. If we can identify the key characteristics – skills, concepts, and mindsets – that innovative educators draw on, teacher educators can better assist in providing academic and professional learning experiences to grow the next generation of educational innovators. This study used a Delphi process to generate a list and description of the key characteristics of educational innovators from those working every day to transform teaching and learning in K-12 classrooms, schools, and districts. Implications for teacher educators are offered to consider how best to leverage this “profile of an innovator” to lead professional learning efforts.

Identifying Key Features of Equity-Centered Professional Learning

To address the inequities within the educational system, there are calls for teachers to have an intentional focus on equity. Unfortunately, teachers often do not receive enough preparation within their certification programs or during in-service trainings to center equity- driven practices. This study provided insight into the features that one group of teacher leaders relied upon and found essential when working to enact high-quality, equity-centered professional learning for teachers, and researchers utilized these findings to develop a framework for equity-centered professional learning. The context for this research was teacher leader-led professional learning within the context of a job-embedded professional learning experience for teacher leaders. Data collection included professional learning lesson plans, written reflections by teacher leaders after the professional learning sessions, and field notes. Findings point to five features of professional learning focused on equity that teacher leaders utilized. These include: (1), Safe, trusting community grounded in relationships, (2) Dialogue to explore and critically reflect upon biases, beliefs, and experiences, (3) Active learning opportunities that promote dissonance, (4) Authentic connections to equity within the local context through inquiry, and (5) Responsiveness to participants’ varied experiences and understanding of equity. The findings have implications for routines of practice that can be utilized to enact these essential features and how an equity lens can permeate the design of professional learning.

Teacher professional development programs integrating science and language with multilingual learners: A conceptual framework

AbstractAs the vision in A Framework for K‐12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) takes hold in schools and classrooms, there is an urgent need for teacher professional development (PD) programs that align with NGSS‐designed curriculum materials and address the unique strengths and needs of diverse student groups, including multilingual learners (MLs). The purpose of this article is to propose our conceptual framework for PD programs that aligns with current reform efforts and is grounded in the mutually supportive nature of contemporary science and language instructional shifts. Specifically, we examine our previous NGSS‐designed curriculum development project with MLs and review the literature in science education and language education with MLs. Our conceptual framework for PD programs is grounded in the perspective of symmetry that teacher professional learning experiences should be symmetrical to the learning experiences we organize for students. Grounded in this perspective, our conceptual framework consists of three design principles that describe how PD programs can guide teachers to (a) develop an asset‐oriented view of MLs and instructional practices for recognizing and leveraging their assets, (b) integrate science and language in mutually supportive ways with MLs, and (c) develop more sophisticated instructional practices for integrating science and language with MLs over time. We describe contributions of our conceptual framework, which could generate a new research agenda and inform PD programs aimed at facilitating uptake of NGSS‐designed curriculum materials in linguistically diverse science classrooms.

Towards pedagogical content knowledge learning trajectories: tracing elementary teachers’ infusion of computational thinking

ABSTRACT This paper documents the Making CT researcher-practitioner partnership, designed to support in-service elementary teachers in understanding and integrating computational thinking into their disciplinary teaching. Drawing from this collaborative work with teachers, over a sustained time, we describe the shifts in teachers’ integration of CT into their teaching, as well as shifts in their abilities to attend to children’s development of CT skills. In doing so, we have developed a unique construct – pedagogical content knowledge learning trajectories – which draws from literature on learning trajectories, the use of learning trajectories for teacher professional development, and domains of knowledge for teaching. Operationalizing our construct, we propose two specific learning trajectories – first, for integrating CT into disciplinary teaching, and second, for attending to students’ computational thinking – which we describe and illustrate using data from the Making CT teachers. This includes a description of professional learning experiences that supported teacher growth on each of the two learning trajectories, thus explicating the knowledge gained and classroom impact from participation in the Making CT project. Our learning trajectories can be used to plan for CT-specific teacher professional development and our pedagogical content knowledge learning trajectory construct can be applied to additional contexts.

Pursuing professional learning by using social media: how do instructional designers apply self-regulated learning?

The instructional design and technology field are dynamic, requiring instructional designers to stay abreast through timely professional learning. Social media offers characteristics to collapse the time, geographical, and financial limitations of informal professional learning, but challenges exist. Continuous professional learning requires proactive actions, wherein self-regulated learning (SRL) plays an important role. However, not all professionals know the effective strategies to promote SRL skills. This study examines instructional designers’ (N = 17) experiences of professional learning on social media through an SRL lens. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings include SRL strategies conducted by instructional designers and the challenges they faced. This study informs instructional-design professionals and educators of ways to encourage continuous professional learning using social media while fostering SRL simultaneously.