Collaborative Inquiry Communities: Teachers’ Stories for Professional Development

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 4:15 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Empowering In-Service Teachers Through Professional Development

Abstract

Teachers’ professional development is an ongoing process that helps them better prepare and motivate students by integrating new, age-appropriate, relevant, and engaging resources into the curriculum. While earlier research has focused on traditional professional development, there has been limited attention to inquiry communities as tools for growth. This study aims to examine how teachers improve their teaching skills through reflection and participation in inquiry-based learning communities. Drawing on the researcher’s 20 years of personal experience, combined with the transformative power of inquiry groups, this paper encourages teachers to view personal stories as valuable sources of knowledge, promoting them as agents of change who can shape a more equitable future for all students.

Author

• Nneka Ebele Nwaokeafor, University of North Dakota