Research on Professional Development Schools

Research on Professional Development Schools the seventh Teacher Education Yearbook is concerned with the professional development of teachers at every phase of their careers. It focuses on professional development schools (PDSs) and attempts to determine whether collaborative efforts between schools and higher education are paying off in better-educated teachers.The book is divided into four sections each dealing with a different aspect of teacher education in a PDS: collaboration contexts leadership and inquiry. Each section focuses on one of these themes and includes an introductory chapter that provides a framework and overview and a closing chapter that discusses the theme’s implications.Professional development schools historically have had four primary goals. These goals are to encourage the teacher as:Researcher — to get teachers involved in action research and studies to improve school practiceDecision maker — to move teachers toward self-empowerment and help them assume teacher leadership rolesTeacher educator — to have teachers work more directly with colleges as partners in planning teaching and supervising student teachers Political activist — to help teachers find ways to bring more equality and social justice into schools