What Makes a Difference in Teacher Professional Development?
A research team at CCSSO has completed a new meta-analysis study of teacher professional development and the effects of quality professional development on improving student achievement. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, answers two questions that education research has not often been able to answer:
1. What is the scientific evidence that investing in improving teacher knowledge and skills makes a difference for student learning?
2. What types of professional development for teachers in math and science really do produce change in teaching and learning?
CCSSO analyzed only study findings based on research that met rigorous criteria for study design, data quality, and significant effects. Of over 700 studies initially identified (1990 to 2007), 16 of the studies met the high standards used by CCSSO to judge effectiveness of professional development.
Three major factors stand out in the professional development programs that had positive effects in improving student achievement:
1. More time (average 91 hours) was spent in providing teachers with content-based teacher development;
2. Active methods of teacher learning; and
3. Multiple follow-up activities over a 6-month to 1-year period were conducted in the schools where teachers work.
"Professional development is gaining a research base, and this study seeks to identify characteristics of professional development that support teachers and improve student learning," says Francis Eberle, NSTA executive director. "The evidence confirms that sustained and coherent professional development is essential, and it supports that using multiple strategies and forums leads to positive student achievement."
To review the full report—Effects of Teacher Professional Development on Gains in Student Achievement: How Meta Analysis Provides Scientific Evidence Useful to Education Leaders—and read the recommendations of CCSSO regarding research and design for professional development based on the study, go to the study webpage: http://www.ccsso.org/projects/improving_evaluation_of_professional_development/
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