This chapter acknowledges the increasing impact of eLearning and the associated rise of Virtual Campuses (VCs) for Teacher Professional Development (TPD). On the basis of reported literature, in particular, deficiencies identified in Bell's (1991) traditional “individual”, “group,” and “school development” approaches, the authors propose an alternative model for TPD delivered through VCs. In support of this “new” model, key issues underlying the VC paradigm in terms of the design and implementation of such environments are further discussed. In particular, the authors argue about the value and complications behind the adoption of this model and suggest principles supporting the design of such type of environments.
TopIntroduction
In order to thrive in increasingly demanding school contexts, teachers must adapt to diverse students’ needs through adjustment to new pedagogical approaches, education policies and educational reform efforts. In this regard, teachers need continuous support through multiple professional development opportunities to deepen content and pedagogical knowledge and to improve teaching skills.
Studies on either school-based training programmes or training programmes designed and implemented by outside providers -at the local and national level- often prove such training ineffective (Clarke & Hollingsworth, 2002; Glazer & Hannafin, 2006). Traditional and popular approaches to Teacher Professional Development (TPD) appear to have negligible impact on teachers’ ability to put innovative teaching approaches to practice. In other words, conventional approaches to TDP in support of teachers’ continuous learning seem to fail (Mouza, 2002).
At the same time, the rapid expansion of the Web, as a potential course delivery platform, provides a significant incentive for educational institutions to develop e-learning programmes through both on-line and blended approaches (Harasim, 2000). E-learning is nowadays commonly accepted, not just as a popular alternative to traditional face-to-face education, but also as a tool for lifelong learning.
Consequently, since traditional education appears inadequate to provide an effectual answer to teachers’ enhanced professional development needs, Virtual Campuses (VCs) emerge as a route towards high-quality TPD. Thus, this chapter acknowledges the value of such settings, not only in building individual knowledge and skills but also in enhancing collaboration among colleagues across the world against feelings of isolation, often inherent in the education community. Through such settings, teachers can strategically position themselves in relation to others, enacting a collaborative rather than isolated professional role (Cohen, 2008). As Tickle (1994) proposes, online communities of reflective practitioners contribute towards development, beyond private introspection while networked intelligence can be utilized when planning educational interventions (Ryymin et al., n.d.). Therefore, the need arises for teacher trainers to design programmes of web-based learning that will break the boundaries of individual teachership and create activities for collaborative TPD (Ryymin et al., n.d.).
In an effort to draw the qualities and limitations of a ‘new’ teacher development model based on VCs -the VCTPD model- this chapter aims, primarily, to address authors’ concerns to re-define and re-design meaningful teacher professional development through virtual settings and, secondarily, to highlight the roles of academic and professional institutions as external forces in the implementation of this model to meet the learning needs of individuals and organizations (Sandelands, 1998).