Research & Online Design

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Subject: [PD 3403] Re: Characteristics of Successful Online Learning Experiences
From: Jerome Johnston jerej at umich.edu
Date: Tue Jun 16 08:45:05 EDT 2009

In 2003, when Project IDEAL was designing its online study study groups for distance teachers, we looked at Cristine Smith's NCSALL report reviewing the research on teacher PD. Here are a few of her findings, worthy of consideration in today's discussion.* Effective PD:

  • Is longer in duration, and teachers participate for longer
  • Makes a strong connection between what is learned in the staff development and the teacher’s own work/context
  • Includes a strong emphasis on analysis and reflection, rather than just demonstrating techniques
  • Focuses on helping teachers study their students’ thinking
  • Includes a variety of activities (presentation, demonstration, practice, feedback, classroom application)
  • Encourages teachers from the same workplace to participate together
  • Is high quality (good facilitation, group dynamics and flexible adaptation of design to participants' needs

These principles led IDEAL to focus its first study group on case studies developed by each participant. This insured that participating teachers could make a strong connection between their own work/context and the goal of the study group, which was to build participants' skill in analyzing their students' learning difficulties and developing appropriate teaching interventions. You can find out more about the study groups in "A Pilot Test of Study Groups: Professional Development for Experienced Distance Teachers" (2004) available at projectideal.org under publications.

  • Smith, C., Hofer, J., Solomon, M., Gillespie, M. & Rowe, K. (2003). How Teachers Change: A Study of Professional Development in Adult Basic Education. NCSALL Reports #25. Boston, MA: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy.
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