Reading through a lot of literature about the professional development or professional learning of teachers has inspired me to reflect on my participation and beliefs concerning my own professional learning. Before I do this, I'd like to distinguish between the two terms: professional development and professional learning. According to Gibson and Brooks (2013), professional development is a deficit model implying that teachers need to develop in order for their students to meet certain achievement scores and institutional goals. It fits the narrative that teachers are what is wrong with the schools and education system. Professional learning implies ongoing growth and is part of the narrative of the growth mindset popularized (at least among educators) by Carol Dweck . For most people, the terms are interchangeable and "professional development" is still more widely recognized. Professional Learning as a Newbie ELT I became an English language teacher a...
Attempting to bridge the research-practice gap in English language teaching with a focus on curriculum, instructional technology, and intercultural communication.