Teacher development has emerged over the last decade as an identifiable area of study and much has been written on the subject. The teacher development literature has served to disseminate information on and ideas for improving teachers' and, by extension, schools' performance. It has provided the forum for discussion about the future of the teaching profession and the nature of teaching as a job. Yet, as an area of study, teacher development tends for the most part to be dominated by issues, while the concept itself and the methods that may effect teacher development remain comparatively neglected. In the teacher development literature, for example, very few definitions of teacher development may be found. This article examines the concept of teacher development and presents the author's own interpretation and definition, as well as her views on how the development of this area of study ought to proceed.

What is Teacher Development

A codified model of teacher knowledge, situated in school science teaching, is proposed as a synthesis of a number of models, metaphors, and notions already described in the literature about teachers' knowledge. This model, called pedagogical context knowledge, suggests that in discussion of their classroom practice, exemplary science teachers utilize four kinds of knowledge: academic and research knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, professional knowledge, and classroom knowledge. The model is used to examine data collected through interviews with science teachers about the ways in which they design and implement science lessons. Analysis of the data shows that the model is sufficiently robust to provide a simple and rapid, yet effective and efficient way of examining teachers' views and the knowledge base in which they are embedded. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed85:426–453, 2001.

Pedagogical context knowledge: Toward a fuller understanding of what good science teachers know

This paper reports on an exploratory, longitudinal study that analyzes and interprets the evolution of teachers’ beliefs regarding learning teaching and technology, and their instructional practices, in the context of integrating technology-based information-rich tasks in six 4th-6th grade classrooms. The study used multiple research tools, interviews, questionnaires and observations, focusing on both teachers’ beliefs and classroom practices. The findings reveal that following multi-year experiences in technology-based classrooms, teachers’ educational beliefs had changed quite substantively, demonstrating multiple views rather than pure beliefs. The study argues that teachers’ beliefs form a mosaic of complementary visions, even conflicting ones. It also shows that it is easier to change classroom practices than educational beliefs.

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Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices in Technology-based Classrooms: A Developmental View

The purpose of this study was to examine reasons for teacher participation in online communities of K–12 teachers. The authors interviewed 23 teachers from three self generated online communities and analyzed more than 2,000 postings in those communities. The findings indicated five reasons for participation: (a) sharing emotions, (b) utilizing the advantages of online environments, (c) combating teacher isolation, (d) exploring ideas, and (e) experiencing a sense of camaraderie. In conclusion, the findings imply that when designing teacher professional development programs, more emphasis needs to be placed on teachers’ emotional sharing and promotion of self-esteem.

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Teacher Participation in Online Communities: Why Do Teachers Want to Participate in Self-Generated Online Communities of K-12 Teachers?

This study explored the development of a community of learners through a professional development program to improve teachers' views of nature of science (NOS) and teaching practice. The Views of Nature of Science questionnaire and interviews were used to assess teachers' conceptions of NOS three times over the course of the study. Notes and videotapes taken during workshops and classroom observations were used to track influence of the community of learners on classroom practice. The community of practice (CoP) was fostered through an intensive summer workshop, monthly school site workshops, and classroom support to aid teachers in incorporating new techniques and reflecting upon their learning and practice. We found that teachers became aware of their changes in views about NOS once they struggled with the concepts in their own teaching and discussed their struggles within the professional development community. The CoP on its own was not sufficient to change teacher's practice or knowledge, but it created a well-supported environment that facilitated teacher change when paired with NOS modeling and explicit reflection. Cases of three teachers are used to illustrate changes in views and teaching practice common to the teachers in this study. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 1090–1113, 2009

Fostering a community of practice through a professional development program to improve elementary teachers' views of nature of science and teaching practice

Beverley Bell

Papers

Teacher development as professional, personal, and social development