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Friday, November 12, 2010

Teacher Professional Development Needs Clearly Defined Purpose, Advocates Say

Education Week (11/10, Sawchuk) reported that teacher professional development in America is facing a severe "identity crisis," because the term "has become both ubiquitous and all but meaningless" for "describing ongoing training investments in the teaching force." The biggest problem with professional development, according to Education Week, is "mediocre, scattershot training." But, with the national spotlight on "teacher effectiveness," professional development is coming to a crossroads. Traditionally, professional development activities are seen as an giving teachers opportunities "to improve their craft." Still, "advocates acknowledge that [it] risks marginalization in the teacher-effectiveness conversation unless it is able to articulate clearly its place in producing better teachers." Education Week analyzes "some of the critical issues faced by those charged with upgrading the quality of post-preparation teacher training."

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