e-learning through collaborative teacher professional development in primary and secondary schools in England

Walsh, Christopher S.; Bradshaw, Pete and Twining, Peter (2011). e-learning through collaborative teacher professional development in primary and secondary schools in England. In: IADIS International Conference e-Learning 2011 75, 20-23 Jul 2011, Rome, Italy.

URL: https://www.iadisportal.org/elearning2011

Abstract

Creating sustainable ‘bottom up’ models of continuous professional development (CPD) around the use of information communication technologies (ICT) in primary and secondary education in England has long been recognized as a significant problem, while providing effective CPD for teachers is seen as even more problematic. While a variety of models of ICT CPD have been reported on in the research, too little attention has been paid to large-scale models that promote collaborative teacher-generated CPD that recognizes their ICT expertise. This paper examines data from Vital, a professional development programme in England which aims to help teachers use ICT to add value to lessons and find new ways to engage their pupils. It focuses on Vital’s model of CPD which includes ‘TeachMeets’ and ‘TeachShares’. Both are analysed to explore teachers’ participation in, design of and responses to collaborative ICT CPD. This differs significantly from traditional CPD courses which tend to be centralised and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. The paper argues that collaborative e-Learning through Vital was significant in enhancing teachers’ motivation and accomplishment in using ICT in their classroom. We argue this kind of CPD provides a productive framework for future teachers to achieve a greater understanding of the dynamic relationship between ICT and its practical application to their individualized contexts and subject areas.

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