Teachers' Motivation for Participating in Professional Development and Its Relationship to the Uptake of Professional Development

• In Event: 32.084 - Poster Session 6
  In Poster Session: 32.084-1 - Division K Section 8 Poster Session 3

Abstract

This study investigates what motivates teachers to participate in professional development (PD) and how this relates to the uptake of PD activities over a two-year period. The sample includes more than 4,000 secondary school teachers in math and science who completed a questionnaire about their PD activities and their motivation for participating in PD. Teachers’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation were assessed using five constructs, namely personal interest, occupational promotion, external expectations, practical enhancement, social contact, and social stimulation. Teachers reported that they primarily chose to participate in PD for reasons of personal interest and in order to improve their professional capabilities. We also found statistically significant relationships between teachers’ motivations and the uptake of PD activities.

Authors

• Dirk Richter, University of Potsdam

• Marc Kleinknecht, Technische Universität München

• Alexander Groeschner