Relevant Research on Professional Development

1. What does research say about effective professional development?

   • It focuses on content
   • It provides opportunity for active learning
   • It has coherence with other learning activities

   From a study of 1027 mathematics and science teachers. Garet, M. S., Porter, A. C., Desimone, L., Birman, B. F., & Yoon, K. S. (2001). What makes professional development effective? Results from a national sample of teachers. American Educational Research Journal, 38 (4), 915-945.

2. How much professional development? Schools should devote at least 25 percent of a teachers' work time to learning and collaborating with colleagues.

   National Staff Development Council. (n.d.). NSDC resolutions.