Teacher Professional Development Programs Research Articles

Membangun Karakter Siswa Melalui Keteladanan Guru

Character formation in students is a crucial aspect of modern education, with teachers serving as primary role models. This study aims to analyze the impact of teacher exemplarity on student character development and identify effective strategies for its implementation. Using a qualitative approach, the study combines literature analysis with in-depth interviews of 15 teachers and 30 students from various educational levels. Results indicate that teacher exemplarity significantly impacts student character formation, particularly in aspects of integrity, discipline, empathy, and work ethic. Effective strategies include consistency between words and actions, positive attitudes in facing problems, and respectful interactions. Key challenges include social pressure and time constraints. The research concludes that teacher exemplarity plays a vital role in creating a conducive learning environment and shaping positive student character. These findings imply the need for enhanced teacher professional development programs focusing on exemplarity aspects and the integration of character values into school curricula.

Teacher Professional Development Program in Nepal: An Inquiry of the Benefits and Challenges

Teacher Professional Development Program in Nepal: An Inquiry of the Benefits and Challenges

Zoo-based Teacher Professional Development: Facilitating Learning through a Conservation Lens

ABSTRACT Museum-based settings such as zoos provide a unique opportunity to engage educators in professional development opportunities. For instance, zoo settings can provide professional development opportunities focused on facilitating learning through a lens of conservation action to promote sustained action by teachers and their students. In this paper, we present an overview of a new zoo-based teacher professional development program designed to develop educators’ connections with wildlife and experiences with conservation actions. The program specifically aligns to the CARE framework for conservation education that addresses limitations of prior models for moving individuals from caring about wildlife to taking action to protect wildlife. We present results from two implementations of this professional development program with 21 teachers. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the value of action-based frameworks for guiding zoo-based teacher professional development and empowering educators to facilitate learning through a conservation lens to promote conservation action.

Evaluating teacher competencies in Pakistan's public schools: Enhancing the impact of professional development programs

Professional Development (PD) programs in Pakistan typically follow a standardized approach, often overlooking the diverse strengths and weaknesses of various teacher groups, which may not adequately address their specific needs. This study aims to evaluate teacher competencies among different groups from the perspective of school principals in Pakistan's public schools, with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of PD programs. Initially, the study identifies three key themes of 21st-century teacher competencies through an extensive review of recent literature. An interview guide, based on these competencies, was used to gather data from seven public school principals via structured interviews. The data were analyzed using a deductive content analysis approach, with MAXQDA software employed for theme coding. The findings revealed notable differences in teacher competencies from the principals' perspectives. Female and younger teachers exhibited more competencies compared to their male and senior counterparts. These insights provide crucial information for planning and customizing Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programs, emphasizing an objective evaluation of teachers rather than self-assessment. Tailored PD programs based on these findings can more effectively enhance teachers' professional growth and competence."

Aprendizaje activo en enseñanza media: creencias docentes que facilitan y obstaculizan su aplicación

The health crisis has accentuated the teaching-learning challenges in the national school system, highlighting the urgency of improving educational quality. To achieve this, it is essential to improve pedagogical practices in classrooms, moving from conventional methods to student-centered strategies. This allows active and conscious participation in their challenges and achievements, adapting to current needs. This research analyzes the beliefs of secondary school teachers in Chile through a multiple case study in three high schools in the Metropolitan Region. The opportunities and difficulties linked to active learning in high schools that apply a teacher professional development program were explored. The results reveal that teachers incorporate their beliefs about active learning, considering factors such as the diversity of students, the development of skills such as inquiry and reflection, and the challenges that come with the transition from a traditional to an active approach. These findings indicate that teachers are willing to adopt active learning, demonstrating a commitment to improvement, which increases the challenge for the educational system to provide the necessary tools to make this possible.

What Makes a Difference Between Teachers?: Exploring South Korea’s Early Childhood Physical Education Teachers’ Competency

Physical activity in early childhood plays a crucial role in the holistic development of young children. However, challenges persist in the effective implementation of early childhood physical education (ECPE) due to the lack of specialized expertise among early childhood teachers. This study aimed to identify the essential components of the teaching competency required for ECPE through a Delphi survey approach. A panel of experts categorized teaching competency into four core areas: physical activity education, understanding learners, professional development, and environmental management. This study highlights the importance of reflective professionalism, safety management, and creating a positive learning environment. The findings offer valuable guidance for enhancing teacher education and professional development programs, ultimately empowering early childhood teachers to provide meaningful and effective physical activity education to young children. Further research is needed to explore how these competencies can be effectively integrated into ECPE settings.

On the function of teacher professional development (TPD) programs in improving language teachers’ engagement in online education environments: voices from Chinese English teachers

Given the integral role of teacher engagement in the efficiency of education, factors contributing to increased teacher engagement have always been at the forefront of researchers’ attention. Simply put, great attention has been dedicated to the predictors of teachers’ physical, cognitive, and emotional engagement in classroom contexts. However, factors predicting teachers’ engagement in online classes have somehow been neglected. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, no inquiry has considered the role of teacher professional development programs in language teachers’ engagement. To address these gaps, this study looked into the determinants of teacher engagement in virtual language courses and the function of professional development programs in increasing Chinese teachers’ engagement in online English classes. To accomplish this, an open-ended inventory was given to 37 Chinese English teachers. The thematic analysis of the dataset indicated that most of the participants perceived extrinsic factors such as user-friendly platforms, effective professional development programs, and principals’ transformational leadership to be more influential in teacher engagement. Data analysis also showed the majority of respondents viewed professional development programs to be highly effective in promoting teacher work engagement. The outcomes may be instructive for all teachers and educational principals working in online education environments.

Professional Development Effective From a Teacher Performance Perspective (Study of Literature in Various Countries)

The purpose of this research is to examine and explain the description related to professional development in teacher performance. The study adopts a literature review approach and utilizes data collection methods in the form of journals and scientific articles that encompass the concept of teacher professional development. The analysis used in this research involves reviewing the latest research findings and sequentially filtering relevant research materials. The study reveals that teacher professional development programs implemented in various countries have been proven effective in enhancing the quality of teacher performance. These findings emphasize the importance of continuous professional growth and indicate that these programs play a role in shaping and refining educators' competencies. By engaging in targeted professional development initiatives, teachers can acquire new knowledge, pedagogical techniques, and innovative strategies, enabling them to deliver more effective instruction and promote optimal student learning outcomes. The research also recognizes the significance of sharing experiences and insights among educators, fostering a supportive professional community. An important contribution of this research lies in the identification and provision of a reference program that can serve as a valuable resource for educators and facilitate the advancement of the teaching profession. In conclusion, this literature study provides valuable insights into professional development programs aimed at improving teacher performance. Through the examination and analysis of various literature sources, it has been demonstrated that these programs effectively contribute to enhancing the quality of teachers.

From Needs Analysis to Programme Design: Online Speaking Skills Upskilling Programme for ESL Teachers

This study observed that many teacher professional development programmes are designed without considering teacher’s voice. The present study addresses this gap by designing an online speaking skills upskilling programme that is based on a group of ESL teachers’ needs. The study employed the mixed methods research approach. Using the convenience sampling, 104 ESL teachers answered an online needs analysis survey. In the qualitative phase, an online interview was carried out with seven teachers who took part in the upskilling programme. Based on the findings, two conclusions can be made. First, for an upskilling programme that focuses on the enhancement of the speaking skills to be successful, psychological constructs such as self-esteem and anxiety need to be considered at the design stage. Second, as the programme was conducted fully online, having synchronous sessions is an important design feature. There are two implications. Firstly, it underscores the importance of integrating psychological considerations into the design of online speaking skills programs for ESL teachers. Secondly, it emphasizes the value of striking a balance between online and synchronous components While the study contributes valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. Specifically, it does not explore the impact of improved speaking skills on teachers' classroom practices, and it solely focuses on speaking skills development. Future research could delve into the relationship between teachers' speaking proficiency and their instructional practices. Additionally, exploring the broader benefits of such online upskilling programs on other language skills would be a promising avenue for further investigation.

The Roles of Student-Teacher Relationship Quality and Classroom Self-Regulatory Supports for Children’s Self-Regulatory Skills in Kindergarten and First Grade

ABSTRACT Research Findings: The current study aimed to explore the independent and interactive roles of individual student-teacher relationship quality and classroom-level self-regulatory supports in kindergarten for children’s self-regulatory skills in kindergarten and first grade. We did so using multiple measures of children’s self-regulation, drawn from multiple sources, and a relatively new measure of classroom-level supports for self-regulation. Our sample included 726 low-income kindergartners in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Controlling for children’s fall of kindergarten self-regulatory skills, student-teacher relationship quality in kindergarten was associated with children’s self-regulation at the spring of kindergarten and again at the fall of first grade, but classroom-level self-regulatory supports in kindergarten were never significantly associated with children’s self-regulation. Overall, associations between student-teacher relationships and children’s self-regulation were stronger and more consistently significant for student-teacher conflict than closeness, and for teacher-reported than directly assessed or assessor-rated self-regulation. They did not, however, vary by classroom self-regulatory supports. Practices and Policy: Results affirm the primacy of student-teacher relationships for children’s self-regulatory development across the transition into formal schooling, regardless of the quality of classroom-level supports for self-regulation. Teacher training and professional development programs should equip teachers with strategies and resources that support their ability to develop warm, responsive relationships with individual students.

Exploring Teacher-Student Interaction in a Synchronous Online Modality: A Critical Discourse Analysis

The rise of online education, prompted by challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has revolutionized the education landscape and challenged the traditional norms and communications that have characterized communication in the education sector. This research, drawing on the interplay between Critical Discourse Analysis and Sinclair’s IRF model, peers into how language power is played out in cyberspaces of a virtual classroom. The study traces language’s hidden yet palpable influence in shaping power relations through an examination of various online engagements. Findings from the study show that teachers use rhetorical questions and affirmations to guide discussions and retain power based on Sinclair’s IRF model. On the other hand, Wodak’s CDA framework brings out the hidden power dimensions that lie unnoticed in language, which seems inclusive but seeks control. The outcome confirms how language influences power dynamics when teachers use linguistic strategies to shape narratives and dictate conversations. The study reveals strategies instructors utilize in General Education courses at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Philippines. While appearing democratic, rhetorical questions and affirmations maintain the teacher’s authority as they help create an illusion of equality. The paper emphasizes the necessity of understanding language-power interplay in online education and advocates for including a course component devoted to language and power dynamics in teacher professional development programs. This awareness creates inclusive environments in online learning spaces where various voices are recognized, encouraging shared knowledge development. This research illuminates the intricate nature of language and power, laying the foundation for informed online learning teaching practices.

Integrated STEM Teaching: Innovative STEM Training for Preschool and Primary School Teachers

The effective implementation of STEM education relies on qualified and well-educated teachers who employ good practices for integrated STEM education. Quality STEM education equips children with the necessary skills to address 21st-century challenges, playing a critical role in developing critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and responsibility. In this context, preschool and primary school teachers were recommended to attend STEM Professional Development (PD). This study aimed to determine the impact of the EarlySTEM Leader Teacher PD Program on teachers' ability to design STEM lesson plans, using mixed method. Researchers analyzed the STEM lesson plans prepared by preschool and primary school teachers (n=33) who participated in the integrated STEM PD program. All participants who met the graduation criteria were included in the study. The plans were evaluated using the Authentic Problems of Knowledge Society (APoKS) rubric. The findings showed that the Integrated STEM PD program positively influenced teachers' lesson planning skills, specifically when writing the APoKS. The implications of the study were discussed in detail.

Personalization of Professional Development of Teachers in Formal and Informal Professional Development

Introduction. The article considers the problem of improving the professional development of teaching staff in terms of their involvement in continuing education, including through inclusion in formal and informal professional development. On the basis of the revealed contradictions, the problem of research is determined: how to personalize the professional development of teachers (including young teachers) in formal and informal professional development. The purpose of the study is to empirically test the effectiveness of the personalized professional development program for teachers in formal and informal professional development. Methodology. The experimental search work was carried out on the basis of the Information and Methodological Center in Verkhnyaya Salda, Sverdlovsk region in the period 2021–2023. The target audience of the study is young teaching staff. Results. Approbation of the 2022/23 academic year program (compared with the 2021/22 academic year program), personalized education for young teachers of general education organizations was successful, there is an increase in the competence of young teachers in the field of professional activity in comparison with the results of primary diagnostics. Conclusion. The authors note that the process of personalizing the professional development of teachers in formal and informal professional development is effective with the developed program in the aspect of continuous professional personalized education of teachers of general education institutions based on the integration of a system-activity, personally-oriented and environmental approach.

Examining the Impact of Compensation and Competency on Elementary School Teacher Performance

Teacher competence in schools is still not optimal because the average teacher competence is below 50%, especially in pedagogical, personal, and social competence. The compensation given to teachers who teach is still not optimal; the average amount offered does not meet the principles of justice. The average basic salary is 42.4%, and allowances are 57.6%, which consists of primary, functional, teaching, and transport allowances. This research analyzes the relationship between competence, compensation, and teacher performance in elementary schools. The research method uses a quantitative approach with a non-experimental correlational design. There were 40 respondents (non-permanent teachers) in the research using a non-probability sampling method. The data collection technique uses a survey method with closed questionnaire tools. Data analysis was carried out using validity tests, reliability tests, descriptive analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis. The research results show that the regression coefficient analysis of the competency variable (0.018) and compensation variable (0.025) significantly affects performance. Research results: The better the teacher's competence, the more the teacher's performance will increase. The implication is that the competency of elementary school teachers needs to continue to be improved in various ways, one of which is through continuous teacher professional development programs, both independently and with managerial encouragement from school principals.

First-generation scholar in Indonesian indigenous family tribe: economic, social, and cultural capital

Indigenous tribe students have difficulty in their education. Only a few of them managed to complete the tertiary level. This study aims to explore and understand deeply the efforts made by these first scholars in obtaining educational economic, social and cultural capital. This research is qualitative research with a phenomenological approach to understand deeply the economic, social and cultural capital of scholars from the Dayak Meratus Tribe. The data were collected through interviews with 17 participants such as first- generation scholars in the family, their parents, and teachers. The results showed that economic capital was built by parents through great effort on gardening, farming, and trading. Meanwhile, the social and cultural capital built by parents was very limited. Social capital and cultural capital are provided by the extended family, communities and non-profit institutions. Role of school is very limited to build social and cultural capital. The study recommends school administrators implement professional development programs for teachers and counsellors to improve their competence in building student social and cultural capital. Government should decide a policy to support indigenous tribe education not just financial support, but social and cultural capital support, and job opportunity for them in their community.

Experiences of Learners with Mathematics Learning Difficulties in Regular Classrooms in Malawian Secondary Schools

The purpose of this study was to establish the experiences of learners with mathematics learning difficulties in regular classrooms in Malawian secondary schools. The study embraced the qualitative approach and it was conducted in the Central West Educational Division in Lilongwe, at one secondary school with the learners’ population of 1,100. Forty learners were sampled at the school to be involved in the study. Data was analyzed using the thematic method. Out of the results of the study, it was concluded that students experienced lack of support from their teachers as most teachers had negative attitude towards them. Teachers’ use of poor Mathematics Instruction techniques caused the learners to have difficulties in the subject. Furthermore, lack of teaching and learning materials made the teaching and learning of Mathematics more theoretical than practical, which made the subject even more difficult for learners with Mathematics Learning Difficulties. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education needs to orient the general education teachers in mainstream schools on the effective teaching of learners with learning challenges such as those with Mathematics Learning Difficulties. Furthermore, there should be school based Continuous Professional Development programs for teachers of Mathematics to improve their classroom delivery of Mathematics lessons. The Ministry of Education should provide required teaching and learning materials in order to facilitate the teaching and learning of Mathematics.

Developing professional capital through technology-enabled university-school-enterprise collaboration: an innovative model for C-STEAM preservice teacher education in the Greater Bay area

Purpose Preservice teacher (PST) professional development programs are crucial for cultivating high-quality STEAM teachers of the future, significantly impacting the quality of regional STEAM education. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as a region of cross-border cooperation, integrates the resources and advantages of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, possessing rich cultural heritage and innovative capabilities. Transdisciplinary Education for Cultural Inheritance (C-STEAM) is an effective approach to promoting educational collaboration within the Greater Bay Area, facilitating the integration of both technological and humanities education. This study aims to develop a Technology-Enabled University-School-Enterprise (T-USE) collaborative education model and implement it in the Greater Bay Area, to explore its role as a support mechanism in professional development and its impact on C-STEAM PSTs' professional capital. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a qualitative methodology, the study interviewed PSTs who participated in a C-STEAM teacher education course under the T-USE model. Thematic coding is used to analyze their knowledge acquisition, interaction benefits with community members, and autonomous thinking and decision-making in theoretical learning and teaching practice. Findings The findings show that the T-USE model significantly enhanced the PSTs' human capital, including teaching beliefs, knowledge, and skills. In terms of social capital, PSTs benefited from collaboration with PST groups, university teaching teams, in-service teachers, and enterprises, though challenges such as varying levels of expertise among in-service teachers and occasional technical instability emerged. For decisional capital, the T-USE model provided opportunities for autonomous thinking and promoted teaching judgment skills through real teaching challenges and scenarios. Reflective practice activities also supported PSTs' professional growth. Originality/value This study reveals the effectiveness and internal mechanism of the T-USE model in C-STEAM PST training, offering significant theoretical and practical references for future PST education.

PENGEMBANGAN PROFESIONALITAS GURU MELALUI PENDIDIKAN PROFESI GURU (PPG) DALAM PENINGKATAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA.

The Indonesia state continues to strive to imporove the quality of education and so far the government has taken various strategies in an effort to improve the quality of educator, both in the form of education and training programs. Teachers professional teacher are produced through academic education (S1) and teacher professional education (PPG) government teacher professional development programs are seen as an important way to improve the quality of educators, through curriculum research, infrastructure, human resources and field experience programs, to produce quality teachers wuth the competence and certification of educator. The PPG program pursued by the government will produce professional teachers who have high graduate competencies and are able to be competitive. Key words: Teacher Professionalism, Teacher Professional Education (PPG).

The Impact of School Climate on Teachers’ Self-efficacy Towards a Comprehensive Program for Professional Development

This study evaluated the school climate and the teachers' self-efficacy with a goal to propose a comprehensive program for teachers' professional development. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded the following: (1) The majority of teacher respondents are female, aged 31 to 40, holding Master’s degrees, and collectively possess over ten years of experience across all school departments. (2) School climate, especially student interactions, was highly manifested among the four indicators evaluated by teachers. Teacher relations ranked second, followed by leadership and decision-making. Attitude and culture were rated lowest but still assessed as highly implemented. (3) Teachers expressed highest self-efficacy in digital literacy, followed by instructional strategies, student engagement, and classroom management, indicating confidence in various teaching aspects. (4) School climate significantly impacts teachers' self-efficacy, influencing empowerment, motivation, and confidence in engaging students and using instructional methods effectively. (5) A proposed teacher professional development program aims to enhance teachers' self-efficacy through targeted initiatives focused on school climate improvement. Based on the study's conclusions, the following recommendations are suggested(1) Focus on raising awareness of attitude and culture within the school through initiatives like cultural competence training and diversity workshops. (2) Encourage collaboration among teachers from different departments to enhance understanding of teaching practices and promote a unified school climate. (3) Provide ongoing support and resources for integrating technology into teaching practices, including training on new tools and effective digital resource incorporation. (4) Foster cross-departmental collaboration among teachers to enrich teaching experiences and promote a sense of shared efficacy. (5) Execute a comprehensive teacher professional development program to cultivate a positive school climate, promote collaboration, and empower educators for an enriched teaching environment.

Examining mathematics teachers’ creative actions in programming-based mathematical activities

There has been a renewed interest in creativity as a twenty-first century skill in K-12 mathematics education. However, previous research has paid less attention to creative actions than to other learning outcomes, which are often product- instead of process-based, especially in a programming context. Thus, situated in the context of mathematical learning in a block-based programming environment, Scratch, this study seeks to investigate how in-service mathematics teachers develop mathematical concepts and programming skills to demonstrate their creative actions as a form of professional development. By conducting task-based interviews and thematic analysis, we found that testing and iterative practices of reusing and remixing are two important kinds of creative actions inspired by the programming environment, which give rise to new possibilities for doing mathematics in terms of generating new ways to engage in mathematical processes and to understand mathematics from a computational perspective. Our findings will inform teacher education and professional development programs addressing creativity in technology-enhanced mathematics classrooms, with particular attention to the role of mathematics, programming, and their interplay in inspiring teachers’ (and students’) creative actions and new possibilities for doing mathematics.