Five Models of Teacher-Centered Professional Development (2024)

Five Models of Teacher-Centered Professional Development

A look at five models of teacher-centered professional development (PD) that are used well in low-income countries and that offer alternatives to the duopoly of workshops and the cascade approach.

November 26, 2014 by Mary Burns, Education Development Center

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Five Models of Teacher-Centered Professional Development (1)

Earlier this year I wrote a series of posts critiquing the hegemony of the cascade (train-the-trainers) approach (here, here and here) and promoting teacher centered professional development. In the spirit of “better-late-than-never,” I return again to this theme of teacher-centered professional development. Specifically, what are some models of teacher-centered professional development? What are some alternatives to duopoly of workshops and the cascade approach? To answer such questions, this post offers five models of teacher-centered professional development (PD) that I’ve seen used well in (all but one) low-income countries.

1. Observation/Assessment

In this model, the professional development provider—a master teacher in a school, a specialist, perhaps a very experienced teacher colleague—observes teachers in their classrooms, assessing their instructional practices and providing structured feedback. This model of PD may be used as a support measure following workshops or periodically throughout the school year as a form of peer coaching (Sparks & Loucks-Horsley, 1989). Using something as simple as a spreadsheet graph, a trained observer can provide an immediate visual snapshot of a teacher’s performance, as we did in one EDC project in Indonesia, and combined with per coaching observation/assessment can help teachers refine specific areas of practice.

2. Open Classrooms

Teachers want to see other teachers in action. In an open classroom model, teachers create lessons and invite colleagues to observe the lesson and provide feedback in a post-observation session.

The focus of open classroom is on teacher behavior. I first saw an open classroom in action in Azerbaijan in 2003 and have used this model in every face-to-face professional development program I’ve designed since (and with success in India, United States and Indonesia). When the observation is followed by structured discussion and information sharing, watching more skilled colleagues in action, it benefits both parties— those conducting the lesson and those observing (Gaible & Burns, 2007).

3. Lesson Study

Lesson study is a well-studied and highly successful form of professional development—if teachers are provided the time, support, resources and skilled facilitation needed to make it a success. Lesson study has been used as a dominant form of professional development in Japan for years. Japan’s curriculum focuses in depth on fewer curriculum topics and Japanese educational culture has a longer tradition of outside observers in classrooms.

In lesson study, teachers collaboratively plan, develop, or improve a lesson; field test the lesson in a classroom; observe it; make changes; and collect data to see the impact of the lesson on student learning. This usually occurs over a period of months.

Lesson study has been shown to be a proven way of enhancing teachers’ design and instructional skills (Stigler & Hiebert, 1999). However, there is a fairly high entry barrier: It is extremely comprehensive, focusing on all aspects of instruction, and is therefore time- and resource-intensive. It demands that teachers have foundational skills in all aspects of teaching. It also demands that professional development providers be skilled across a range of areas (content, instructional design, knowledge of instructional and assessment models). Oftentimes, implementing educational organizations or consulting firms do not have staff with such developed skills, and thus often deem lesson study “impractical” for poor countries— but in fact designing lessons is a core teacher competency.

4. Study Groups

Teachers benefit from formal discussions and interactions with peers around critical issues. In study groups teachers collaborate, as a single large group or in smaller teams, to study a particular issue with the goal of solving a common problem or creating and implementing a plan to attain a common goal. The study—the reading, discussion, writing and reflection, led by a skilled facilitator—is the key component of a study group. During the study process they may use print-based resources, classroom materials (such as work created by students) and their experiences as part of their approach to the problem.

5. Looking at Student Work

“Looking at Student Work” (LASW) is a model of teacher collaborative self-study and formative assessment that focuses on examining student work and assessing the way the teacher designed the particular activity being reviewed. Having participated in LASW activities as an instructional coach in urban schools in the United States, I saw firsthand the power of teachers collaboratively examining student’s work. Linking it back to how students learn, and how the lesson was designed, and then restructuring lessons based on this information is a key component.

This type of professional development uses highly structured protocols that make the examination of student work non-threatening and keep the focus off what the teacher did or did not do and instead on evidence of student learning.

The LASW folks have a great step-by-step website, which, though dated, provides more information for interested readers.

Pedagogies of Patience and Perseverance

What makes these forms of professional development teacher-centered and worthy options (ceteris paribus—all things being equal) for developing countries?

First, they start from where the teacher is in terms of his/her practice and offer planning, modeling, supervision and support that are differentiated and individualized. Next, they focus on the core behaviors of teaching—how students learn, how to design lessons that really target student learning, and the best ways to teach those lessons—all within the context of schools and classrooms. Third, they are active—eschewing the usual sitzprobe professional development sessions and involving teachers in the hard work of thinking about how students learn and how they themselves teach, and designing learning experiences that bridge the two. Fourth, they are highly structured, iterative and support based so that teachers can plan, practice, receive feedback and improve what they do.

Finally, these models build professional learning communities in which teachers, “enlisting colleagues to help them critique and improve implementation of a particular idea or strategy, can customize, personalize, and adapt new skills and concepts to their particular setting” (Burns, 2011: 190).

The community-based aspect of the above models can reinforce and institutionalize many of the main points learned in professional development workshops and indeed can increase, not just the human capital of teachers, but the social capital of schools. A recent U.S. study of “knowledge spillovers” among teachers, indicates that teachers who interact regularly with higher performing peers often improve their performance as a result (Jackson & Bruegmann, 2009).

The above models represent a shift in the psychology, pedagogy and pace of current paradigms of professional development. These models recognize that professional learning for teachers is iterative and developmental and that change occurs not at twitch-speed but at a much more evolutionary pace. They also show that instruction and support for teachers must be characterized by perseverance, practice and patience if we want teacher learning to be deep and sustained.

Mary Burns is a senior technology specialist and a professional development specialist at Education Development Center (EDC).

References:

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November 28, 2014 by Leandra Lok

Interesting overview which connects to a research I did in Cambodia about using video clubs, a way of professional development which is often used and researched in other countries. Please let me know if you are interested in the first results, which will be published hopefully early next year.

November 30, 2014 by Tracy Rosen

In reply to video clubs by Leandra Lok

Leandra,
I would like to read about your results. What is the video club about?
You can contact me via twitter @tracyrosen - thanks!

Professional development can be so much more than it is in many of our schools and centres in Quebec - looking to change that! :)

January 07, 2015 by Victorio N. medrano

In reply to video clubs by Leandra Lok

No comment yet

November 28, 2014 by Leandra Lok

Interesting overview which connects to a research I did in Cambodia about using video clubs, a way of professional development which is often used and researched in other countries. Please let me know if you are interested in the first results, which will be published hopefully early next year.

November 28, 2014 by Leandra Lok

Interesting overview which connects to a research I did in Cambodia about using video clubs, a way of professional development which is often used and researched in other countries. Please let me know if you are interested in the first results, which will be published hopefully early next year.

November 28, 2014 by Mary Burns

Hi Leandra,

I would love to see your research. You can email it to me at mburns [at] edc
[dot] org. Thanks for reaching out.

Mary

November 30, 2014 by caroline

Mary Burns very insightful article
but how about bringing the industry specialists to teach the practical so as to bridge the gap between theory and practice for example I would love to have the marketing gurus come into my class with their practical skills in marketing

November 30, 2014 by Sharifun Nahar Rani

Dear Leandra, I would like to know what is the video club about? I am very much interested to read about your research. Thank you

March 07, 2015 by Rhoda Koenig

Dear Mary,

Your piece, I believe, defines the vision that will ultimately enable us to get teacher professional development right. Pedagogies of patience and perseverance (love the alliterative lilt), are vital shifts needed everywhere, but particularly in areas where public education is the only healthy way out of lives circ*mscribed by poverty.

The small pilot study I am now doing in Maasailand, Kenya, is a promising entry level to teacher-centered professional development in the teaching of early grade reading and writing in an area of extreme scarcity. My approach and materials, which promote higher-level thinking and self-direction, engage teachers in practices grounded in the proverb ...If a person is hungry, teach her/him to fish... This touch stone goes a long way toward clarifying and motivating a shift away from traditional rote learning.

Demonstration lessons embedded in the context of a 6-part model of instruction; supported group practice; guided classroom implementation; individual cognitive coaching sessions dedicated to reflection & lesson planning and teacher-initiated collaborative work were implemented during a 6-week period. Literacy coaches were trained during the 6-week period as well. Their job is to sustain our model of instruction, student- teacher transactions, and coaching support for a minimum of 3 terms.

Given the early success indicators of this project, I would welcome the opportunity to share the details of my program www.creatingmasterteachers.com with you.

Thank you.

March 07, 2015 by Rhoda Koenig

Dear Mary,

Your piece, I believe, defines the vision that will ultimately enable us to get teacher professional development right. Pedagogies of patience and perseverance (love the alliterative lilt), are vital shifts needed everywhere, but particularly in areas where public education is the only healthy way out of lives circ*mscribed by poverty.

The small pilot study I am now doing in Maasailand, Kenya, is a promising entry level to teacher-centered professional development in the teaching of early grade reading and writing in an area of extreme scarcity. My approach and materials, which promote higher-level thinking and self-direction, engage teachers in practices grounded in the proverb ...If a person is hungry, teach her/him to fish... This touch stone goes a long way toward clarifying and motivating a shift away from traditional rote learning.

Demonstration lessons embedded in the context of a 6-part model of instruction; supported group practice; guided classroom implementation; individual cognitive coaching sessions dedicated to reflection & lesson planning and teacher-initiated collaborative work were implemented during a 6-week period. Literacy coaches were trained during the 6-week period as well. Their job is to sustain our model of instruction, student- teacher transactions, and coaching support for a minimum of 3 terms.

Given the early success indicators of this project, I would welcome the opportunity to share the details of my program www.creatingmasterteachers.com with you.

Thank you.

May 04, 2018 by Jacob

Dear Mary, thank you for your write up on PD and for some fresh insights too. I believe in your research and practice you have come across a lot of work done on PD for school teachers. I was wondering if you have found anything on PD for College Teachers. I am currently working on my doctoral dissertation in this area and seem to have come to a bind with very few articles talking about such a concept in the current scenario. Will be grateful for you inputs. Jacob

May 24, 2019 by Phillips O.

Hi Mary, I am inspired by your insightful knowledge and deliberations on teacher professional development. I am working with a humanitarian agency in Uganda that is now designing a project aimed at building capacity of teachers in IDPs schools and refugee camps in the West Nile region of Uganda. It is quite a difficult situation having teachers handling larger population of vulnerable and traumatized people. Would you mind engaging with you more on how best a teacher training program can be designed and tailor-made for teachers in IDPs schools and refugee camps?

May 29, 2019 by Mary Burns

In reply to Default Subject by Phillips O.

Hi Phillips, Thank you for reaching out. Feel free to contact me at mburns [at] edc [dot] org and I will see how we might help. Cheers, Mary

April 16, 2020 by Anjum Younmis

In open class room model it has many deficiencies like: lake of concentration, less use and arrangement of AV aids difference in grade of classes the technique or models may differ according to class level.

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Five Models of Teacher-Centered Professional Development (2024)

FAQs

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The teacher understands cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas of student development. learning experiences based on individual student's strengths, interests, and needs.

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Some qualities of a good teacher include skills in communication, listening, collaboration, adaptability, empathy and patience. Other characteristics of effective teaching include an engaging classroom presence, value in real-world learning, exchange of best practices and a lifelong love of learning.

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Professional development best practices frequently include these five core features: integrated content & pedagogy; coherence with standards and policies; active learning opportunities; mentoring/coaching/apprenticing; and individual learning.

What are the models for teacher professional development? ›

There are several models of continuing PD (Kennedy 2005) and they may be categorized as transmission (training, award-bearing, deficit and cascade), transitional (standards-based, coaching/mentoring, community of practice) and transformative (action research and transformative).

What are the 5 educational methods of teaching that are usually used in school? ›

List Of Teaching Methods
  • Teacher-Centered Instruction. ...
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  • Project-Based Learning. ...
  • Montessori. ...
  • Inquiry-Based Learning. ...
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  • Differentiated instruction. With this approach, teachers change and switch around what students need to learn, how they'll learn it, and how to get the material across to them. ...
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  • Graphic organization. ...
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The five major approaches are Constructivist, Collaborative, Integrative, Reflective and Inquiry Based Learning ( 2C-2I-1R ).

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The best teacher development has the following five essential elements in common:
  • It's relevant. ...
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  • It's hands-on. ...
  • It's community-based. ...
  • It's ongoing.

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Sharing knowledge, giving education, and teaching about life is the primary responsibility of a teacher. In general, teachers mean to teach students the specific syllabus and impart knowledge about the specific curriculum.

What are the 5 components of professional learning community? ›

As a result of extensive research, they cited five elements of a professional community: (1) reflective dialogue, (2) focus on student learning, (3) interaction among Page 7 teacher colleagues, (4) collaboration, and (5) shared values and norms.

What are the importance of professional standards in the advancement of teachers based on the principles of lifelong learning? ›

Anchored on the principle of lifelong learning, the set of professional standards for teachers recognizes the significance of a standards framework that articulates developmental progression as teachers develop, refine their practice and respond to the complexities of educational reforms.

What are the different types of teaching models explain each? ›

While there are many teaching models, some basic ones are direct instruction, lecture, cooperative learning, inquiry-based learning, seminar and project-based learning. Teaching models are methods of teaching or underlying philosophies that guide teaching methods.

How many models of teaching are there? ›

Most of them came in light in 1960's & 1970's. Joyce Weil & Showers (1992) have developed more than 20 models of teaching by analyzing theories of learning over a period of 25 years or so. They have grouped their models in to 4 families - namely - information processing, personal, social & behavioral family.

How many types of teaching models are there in teaching skills? ›

Teaching theories can be organized into four categories based on two major parameters: a teacher-centered approach versus a student-centered approach, and high-tech material use versus low-tech material use. Interested in developing your skills as a teacher?

What teaching methods can teachers use to help students learn? ›

Types of teaching methods
  • Differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction is the idea of creating tailored education plans for students based on differing needs. ...
  • Lecture-based learning. ...
  • Technology-based learning. ...
  • Group learning. ...
  • Individual learning. ...
  • Inquiry-based learning. ...
  • Kinesthetic learning. ...
  • Game-based learning.

What is teacher-centered method? ›

Sometimes called the “Sage on the Stage” style, the teacher-centered model positions the teacher as the expert in charge of imparting knowledge to his or her students via lectures or direct instruction. In this setting, students are sometimes described as “empty vessels,” listening to and absorbing information.

What do teachers need to do to improve their teaching methods and strategies? ›

7 Ways That Teachers Can Improve Their Lessons
  1. Use ICT tools and digital game-based learning.
  2. Differentiate between students.
  3. Use the flipped classroom model.
  4. Encourage cooperative learning.
  5. Communicate with colleagues.
  6. Communicate with parents.
  7. Create a welcoming environment.
  8. Conclusion.
7 Sept 2021

How teachers can help students with learning difficulties in the classroom? ›

Teachers may introduce various techniques, such as the following to help students succeed:
  • During a test, allow students to block distractions with earplugs.
  • Use a large-print version of a test or novel.
  • Make use of assitive technology.
  • Use graphic organizers to present information.
  • Repeat written instructions aloud.
7 Jul 2016

Why is it important to use pedagogical approaches in teaching and learning process? ›

Pedagogy is important because it gives teachers an insight into the best practices for a classroom setting. It allows them to understand how different students learn so they can tailor their lesson to suit these needs. As a result, this will improve the quality of their teaching as it will be well received by students.

What are the importance of teaching learning strategies in pedagogical analysis? ›

Pedagogical analysis is a tool in the hands of a teacher which helps the teacher to plan classroom teaching and implement it successfully and can evaluate the learning outcome of the students.

What are the 5 teaching Styles? ›

In the contemporary classroom, five distinct teaching styles have emerged as the primary strategies adopted by modern teachers: The Authority Style, The Delegator Style, The Facilitator Style, The Demonstrator Style and The Hybrid Style.

How the role of teachers and their methodology can be effective for moral development in the children with special needs? ›

Teachers are as facilitator in developing students' morality. They should provide opportunities to students to use moral reasoning skills independently. Students should have self-regulation so that they could monitor their own behavior and actions.

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Characteristics of a good teacher.
  • Patient and approachable. They say that 'patience is a virtue', and this couldn't be more true for teachers. ...
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  • Strong communication skills. ...
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1 Mar 2022

What are the top five characteristics you have that will make you a good teacher please briefly explain your reasons? ›

What Makes a Great Teacher?
  • Expert communication skills.
  • Superior listening skills.
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  • The ability to build caring relationships with students.
  • Friendliness and approachability.
  • Excellent preparation and organization skills.
  • Strong work ethic.
  • Community-building skills.
13 Jun 2022

What are five characteristics of a creative teacher? ›

5 Habits of Creative Teachers
  • They Don't Let Standards Stop Them. ...
  • They Teach the Same Concept in Multiple Ways. ...
  • They Organise Course Material in a Cognitively Advantageous Way. ...
  • They Are Creative Outside of Teaching. ...
  • They Stay Educated Themselves.
10 Jan 2016

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Professional development helps teachers renew existing skills, which can be especially useful for supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). According to BESA, 88% of school leaders say initial teacher training doesn't prepare them for helping SEND pupils, so CPD can help bridge this gap.

What are the five major characteristics of professionals? ›

The eight core characteristics of professionalism are: Competence, Knowledge, Conscientiousness, Integrity, Respect, Emotional Intelligence, Appropriateness, and Confidence. By finding ways to strengthen each of these attributes, you can become confident to act professionally wherever you find yourself working.

How will you improve your performance as a teacher? ›

This way they learn if their teaching skills need improvement.
...
How can we create an effective learning environment?
  1. 1 – Good communication. Fostering good communication on the classroom helps get to know better your students and create a true personal connection. ...
  2. 2 – Trust. ...
  3. 3 – Mentoring. ...
  4. 4 – Classroom management.
19 Feb 2022

How can you contribute to make your class meaningful and successful? ›

Be Prepared, Attentive and Original
  1. Prepare. This may be more important to contributing in a meaningful way to classroom discussions than anything else. ...
  2. Listen. This may sound obvious, but active listening is of paramount importance during a class discussion. ...
  3. Be Original. ...
  4. Ask Questions. ...
  5. Summarize Others. ...
  6. Be Concise.
12 Nov 2021

How can a teacher contribute to the success of a school? ›

As a teacher, you're the expert on what works for your students. You provide useful feedback to help develop curriculum, establish effective environments, and monitor student success. Working with the other teachers, you are in the critical position of consultant, engineer, and designer.

What is the most important stage in the 5 Stages Model? ›

The storming stage is the most difficult and critical stage to pass through. It is a period marked by conflict and competition as individual personalities emerge.

What are the five ways in managing your personal and professional development? ›

Create a Professional Development Plan
  • Focus on Objectives. If you can't see the benefit of something, you'll likely give up on it. ...
  • Manage Obstacles and Distractions. ...
  • Make Learning a Habit. ...
  • Set Boundaries. ...
  • Make Every Minute Count. ...
  • Learn at Your Best. ...
  • Find Your Own Learning Style. ...
  • Collaborate With Others.

What are the 5 models of professional development? ›

In this article, we will explore five ways for educators to participate in professional learning.
  • 1) Classroom & School Visitations. ...
  • 2) Education Conferences. ...
  • 3) Reading. ...
  • 4) Twitter Chats. ...
  • 5) Online/Asynchronous Professional Learning. ...
  • Conclusion.
13 Jan 2022

What is the main purpose of professional standards for teachers? ›

Professional standards are statements of a teacher's professional attributes, professional knowledge and understanding, and professional skills. They provide clarity of the expectations at each career stage.

How will you realize the professional development goals using PPST? ›

The PPST basically aims to: 1) set the clear expectations of teachers along well-defined career stages of professional development from beginning to distinguished practice; 2) engage teachers to actively embrace a continuing effort in attaining proficiency; and 3) apply a uniform measure to assess teacher performance, ...

What are the types of models of teaching? ›

The models which belong to this family are :
TEACHING MODELINNOVATOR
1-Concept Attainment Model 2-Inductive ModelBruner, Hilda Taba
Inquiry Training ModelRichard Suchman
Biological Science Inquiry ModelJoseph J. Schwab
Advance Organizational ModelDavid Asubel
1 more row
28 Nov 2013

What are the main teaching models? ›

While there are many teaching models, some basic ones are direct instruction, lecture, cooperative learning, inquiry-based learning, seminar and project-based learning.

What are teaching models? ›

Model of Teaching A model of teaching is a plan or pattern that can be used to shape curricula, to design instructional materials & to guide instruction in the class room & other setting.

What are the best teaching models? ›

Every teacher's classroom practice is unique, so here are 7 effective teaching strategies you can use for inspiration to give your students a fulfilling learning experience.
  1. Visualization. ...
  2. Cooperative Learning. ...
  3. Differentiated Instruction. ...
  4. Using Technology to your Advantage. ...
  5. Student Centred Inquiry. ...
  6. Professional Development.
6 Sept 2022

How do models of teaching help teachers and students? ›

Teaching models provide direction to instructors and planners while also speeding up the educational process. It helps them to assess and improve on their strengths and weaknesses. When developing such models, teachers consider elements such as social, personal, information processing, and behavior.

What is the role of models of teaching in teaching? ›

Models of teaching provide well-developed ways of teaching that guide the development of learning experiences and the identification of structures that support learning. Teaching models indicate the types of learning and outcomes that could be anticipated if they are used.

What do you mean by teaching model explain with example? ›

Models of teaching refer to different models that help the teachers to hone their teaching skills. This allows the teachers to facilitate the overall learning curve of students. There are several models, and these help them to develop an effective course curriculum for long-term and short-term courses.

What is model in teaching/learning process? ›

Many researchers have tried to put together classroom- or school-based models that describe the teaching-learning process. A model is a visual aid or picture which highlights the main ideas and variables in a process or a system.

Which is the most important function of a model in teaching? ›

Models of teaching serve the following purposes: It may help a teacher to develop his capacity to teach more children and create conducive environment for them. It may help curriculum-makers to plan learning centre and curriculum which provides a variety of educational experiences to children.

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