Greater Than the Sum of the Parts: The Role of Community in Comprehensive Professional Development

• In Event: 14.043 - Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: 14.043-8 - Community-Informed Approaches to Teacher Education

Abstract

Effective professional development (PD) requires that teachers learn new skills, then translate them into improved instructional practices. Professional learning communities, coaching, and strategies to increase students’ social presence in online learning contexts have been identified in the literature as ways to increase a sense of community among learners. This paper explores the role of community in supporting implementation of PD knowledge and skills for a multi-faceted PD project in highly diverse, high need, urban schools. Analysis of focus group and individual interviews, and data from online coursework suggests that teachers identified personal relationships with colleagues and professors-in-residence as largely responsible for their success in an online graduate program, and their ability to implement new practices in their classrooms.

Authors

• Tina M Smith-Bonahue, University of Florida

• Rachelle Curcio, University of Florida

• Raquel Rosa Diaz, University of Florida

• Magdi Castaneda, University of Florida

• Stephanie C. Sanders-Smith, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign