Abstract:
The recently completed National Professional Development Program (NPDP) actively promoted the delivery of teacher professional development (PD) activities that were designed by partnerships including professional associations and Education Faculties.
The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) NPDP project final report recommended key issues requiring further investigation. The primary focus was the reality of a professional association developing a PD activity that would satisfy university requirements and allow participating teachers to obtain meaningful university credentialling.
From the NAAE project emerged the question of whether this experience (to date) was representative of that experienced by other professional associations involved in NPDP projects, or was it peculiar to teachers of agriculture? The answer to this question would inform the practice of all professional associations. Consequently the managers of those NPDP projects facilitated by professional associations were interviewed.
The findings reflect the perceptions of these managers on a range of issues including:
1. The reality of obtaining credentialling from Tertiary Institutions
2. The willingness of teachers to engage in the activity
3. The enthusiasm of teachers to seek the available credential.
This study is the first stage of a much wider study of the participants' perceptions of professional development.
The National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) NPDP project final report recommended key issues requiring further investigation. The primary focus was the reality of a professional association developing a PD activity that would satisfy university requirements and allow participating teachers to obtain meaningful university credentialling.
From the NAAE project emerged the question of whether this experience (to date) was representative of that experienced by other professional associations involved in NPDP projects, or was it peculiar to teachers of agriculture? The answer to this question would inform the practice of all professional associations. Consequently the managers of those NPDP projects facilitated by professional associations were interviewed.
The findings reflect the perceptions of these managers on a range of issues including:
1. The reality of obtaining credentialling from Tertiary Institutions
2. The willingness of teachers to engage in the activity
3. The enthusiasm of teachers to seek the available credential.
This study is the first stage of a much wider study of the participants' perceptions of professional development.