Reflective Blog #2 (3) Research in Educational Technology 3/5

Duncan-Howell J. Teachers making connections: Online communities

as a source of professional learning. British Journal of Educational

(Serial online). 2010.41(2), 324-340. Retrieved February

20th, 2010 from Education Research Complete.

Author J. Duncan-Howell conducted an online survey to gather demographic data on professional teachers. The goal of the survey is to provide insight of the skills and attitudes of members of online teacher professionals, regarding their professional development experiences. The majority of teachers came from primary school teaching background, and have had over twenty years of experience. The purpose of the survey is also designed to compare PD experiences online and offline. The highest method of learning preferred was learning with your colleagues face-to-face not from your workplace. The second highest method was learning with your colleagues face-to-face from your workplace. The third highest method was learning individually and electronically. The author also brings to light advantages and disadvantages by these methods that teachers prefer. An overwhelming number of teachers identified time as being the number one advantage of online professional development. Another advantage was that this method was targeted to their needs and was authentic. However, there were disadvantages using online methods of PD. Time was also listed not only as an advantage, but it was listed as an disadvantage as well. Careful management of time is needed for a online method to be a benefit. One can become sidetracked if they are not able to manage their time effectively.

The survey showed that teachers with 20 years or more of experience typically engaged in conferences, workshops and courses. The author suggest that professional development needs to be pushed not only offline, but online as well. The results of the survey concluded,those with online opportunities for PD are provided with a rich source of professional learning.

If teachers were given a choice, the study shows that online communities present a worthwhile opportunity for professional learning for teachers. The traditional method offline is yet still very popular, but the survey shows that there is a merging interest in online opportunities.