Overview & Instructor Notes

This module presents information regarding professional development for teachers and pre-service training.

"Professional development" is defined as activities for practicing teachers that provides them with opportunities to improve their teaching skills or develop new skills.

"Pre-service training" refers to the training that students receive at post secondary institutions that are preparing students to become teachers.

The participants at the policymakers workshop are probably not the individuals who will be developing inservice programs for teachers. However it is important for the policy-level participants to have an understanding of the importance of professional development and pre-service training.

Be sure and raise the issue of professional development throughout the workshop.

If there is not sufficient time for the "Inservice Designer" activity be sure to hand out the activity sheet to the participants and take a few minutes to explain its purpose. The information contained in the activity is important, as it illustrates the complexity of designing a professional development workshop.