CPD AND REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

CPD and reflective practice

CPD and reflective practice

In order qualify as a teacher, you are required to achieve Qualified Teacher Status obtained by undertaking initial teacher training, this is supported by a framework of professional standards indicating areas that a teacher needs to expand on in order to develop professionally and enhance their careers (TDA 2007). Continuing Professional Development is key to effective teaching and reflection is used as a tool to enhance a teacher's attributes, knowledge and skills. All children need some understanding of science to contribute fully in today's society, which is constantly changing in line with scientific advancements, hence science is taught as a core subject throughout schools in the curriculum.

Prior to the twentieth century, teachers were provided with little training to prepare them for the challenges of teaching. During the next hundred years, an increase in formal preparation including training courses; the introduction of unions, and strict guidelines as set out in the National Curriculum have increased awareness as to the uncertain status that teaching has in modern society.

CPD and lifelong learning is quite a new concept, but it is one that has been accepted by most educators; not all teachers, however, pursue some kind of personal development. Finding out why teachers engage in professional development is vital to ensure that the students receive the best education possible from the best teachers. The role of teacher has changed considerably and now most teachers have to assume a variety of roles distinct from their main (and previously singular) role of teacher. Traditionally, teacher/educators have identified the skills and abilities that teachers need to improve their classroom instruction and, in turn, improve student learning. Courses and workshops are prescribed, set up and implemented for teachers to learn the necessary skills and practice them in the context of their classrooms in order to improve their teaching.

CPD is very important because it is vital for teachers to continually update their knowledge and skills to be better teachers so that they are participants in lifelong learning themselves; so that they are not only paying lip service to the concept. Some states in the US force teachers to do further study; other countries take a more laissez faire approach and leave things to the teacher. What is certain is that some teachers do not pursue any CPD while others do. We, therefore, need to investigate the factors that influence teachers in the pursuit of Continued Professional Development and the positive (or even negative) effects they can have on teacher instruction.

The fact that there should be a multitude of factors that lead teachers to pursue their own Continued Professional Development (CPD) does merit research, as it is already common thinking among foreign educators and educational leaders that professional teacher development and lifelong learning are important criteria for being accorded the status of an educator “As recently as 10 years ago, the idea that teacher knowledge was critical for educational improvement had little currency” (Darling Hammond, Linda 1996); There ...