Title: TEACHER DEVELOPMENT - EduLearn2Change
Headings: 
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT: What Teachers Need to Know
Last updated 30 April 2021 / By Zineb DJOUB
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TEACHER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
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Content: Teacher training aims to help teachers learn the necessary pedagogical knowledge and skills. More particularly, it is mostly concerned with the “How”. For instance, how to use a particular digital tool and integrate it into a given lesson, how to teach mixed-ability classes, how to flip the classroom, etc. Professional development incorporates training, but it emphasizes more teachers’ awareness of their teaching contexts and how to apply such practical skills in these contexts. This is because teaching is a challenging job that requires more teacher flexibility and creativity to deal successfully with the unexpected and cater for the different students’ needs in each classroom. Thus, professional development’s aim is to aid teachers to learn how to adjust their teaching to their students’ learning needs through understanding the “Why” or rationale behind any pedagogical decision made or choice in relation to their teaching contexts. An effective professional development s hould, therefore, encourage teachers to experiment with new ideas or tools in their teaching contexts, reflect on how these impact their students’ learning, make further decisions to achieve their intended objectives and share their experiences. Its elements should include reflective discussion sessions based on previous and current classroom experience, collaborative learning, reflective diaries/journals or portfolios, and teacher-led activities that provide multiple opportunities for teachers’ choice, autonomy and active learning. There are schools, colleges and universities that provide in-service educational opportunities for teachers through planned programmes that intend to address their needs (formal professional development). But, professional development can also be self-initiated (informal).