Understanding professional
development
Glossary
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Developing professionally is a continual and individual process of trying to understand ourselves
and our practice so that we become the best teachers we can.
It involves rethinking and questioning existing classroom practices. It may involve a change in
attitudes and beliefs about teaching and learning.
An important part of the process of developing professionally is becoming aware of or noticing
what you do in the classroom. Without this noticing, it is difficult to make any change.
Opportunities for professional development
Developing professionally involves both working alone and working with others.
Opportunities for professional development can occur anywhere and at any time, while you are
working, outside work, informally and more formally on courses like this.
Professional development can take place in a variety of ways, for example trying to solve
problems in your work, trying out new ideas and reflecting on the experience, reading about
new ideas, discussion or collaboration with other teachers, taking a course or taking part in a
project.
Action research is a process in which teachers investigate teaching and learning so as to
improve their own and their learners’ learning.
A blind observation is a type of observation where the process of being observed is gone
through with the observer, e.g. discussion, checking plans and materials, etc., but the observer
does not go into the classroom.
The lesson is then discussed after the class, with the teacher making observations on what
happened in the classroom.
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Professional development cycle
The cycle of developing professionally is a continual process involving:
• noticing – seeing familiar things in different ways
• understanding the new way of seeing things
• making sense of this new learning and the implications for your teaching in your own
context
• applying the new ideas in your teaching practice
• reflecting on what you have done/changed.
After reflecting, we start noticing again, and so the cycle continues.
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Development plan questions
Teacher:
Date:
Focus: What area do you want to improve? What specifically do you want to concentrate on?
Change: What do you want to achieve? How will your learners benefit?
Rationale: Why will this change be beneficial and a good use of your time?
Options: Which professional development activities could help you achieve this change?
Action plan: What exactly are you going to do? When? How will you know whether it’s been
successful?
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References and further reading
The following links and resources explore the areas discussed in this module in more detail:
Edge, J.,1992. Cooperative development. Longman.
Head, K. and Taylor, P., 1997. Readings in teacher development. Heinemann.
Ur, P., 1992. A course in language teaching: Practice and theory. Cambridge University Press.
An annotated bibliography of references for CPD
An article about the definition of professional development
An article about phases of professional development
An article about ways to continue professional development
An article about classroom action research and how to get started
An article about research circles
A framework for teachers about CPD
A podcast about in-service teacher development
A self-study guide for teachers looking at taking responsibility for professional development
A video looking at what continuing professional development is
A webinar about creative ideas for CPD
A webinar about transformational CPD
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A webinar about CPD frameworks
A webinar exploring the benefits of teacher development for daily work and career plans
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