There is strong evidence that professional learning in schools can positively impact learner experience and outcomes. This conceptual paper draws on key literature focused on understandings of high-quality professional learning and what makes an excellent environment in which to learn. This literature informed and spoke to the sense-making of our…

This paper reviews the work of the Enabling Conditions Collaboratory (ECC), a team of researchers that looked across research projects to study the conditions that support the success of project-based learning. The researchers found that student engagement often fueled the adoption of PBL and helped sustain and scale it. In addition, the…

Shorter lectures punctuated with activities to engage students in the learning process can increase student understanding, critical thinking, and overall learning. However, some students have negative responses to active teaching strategies. Here we explore the topic of student resistance to active learning, including reasons for this opposition…

Education has an important role to play in advancing the green transition and building a sustainable future for Europe's societies and economies. This Eurydice report examines how European countries integrate learning for sustainability in teaching and school life in 39 education systems. The report investigates which sustainability-related…

Project Tomorrow's Speak Up® Research reports have advocated for a broader definition of the digital divide to include access challenges at home and the obstacles K-12 students face in gaining access to high quality digital tools and resources to support classroom learning. Project Tomorrow, in collaboration with Spectrum Business, is creating a…

The author reflects on six dilemmas that teachers and mentors may face during the implementation of project-based learning (PBL): (a) the conflict between student autonomy and teacher control, (b) the belief incongruence between a mentor and a mentee, (c) the gap between an advanced pedagogy and novice teachers, (d) the gap between a mentee's need…

This paper outlines the logistics and discusses the benefits of the Professional Development School (PDS) partnership between Sandhills Middle School (SMS) in Lexington School District Four and the University of South Carolina (USC). Through this partnership as well as the University of South Carolina's Center for Excellence, teachers at Sandhills…

In this chapter we report and discuss inquiry-based science teaching/learning and more specifically dialogic inquiry, as a basis for a professional development programme for teachers. The pilot programme aimed at (1) considering teachers' experience, (2) letting teachers develop their current lessons and (3) prompting teachers' reflections on…

Background: This article focuses on the complementarity between formative interventions research conducted within the framework of cultural historical activity theory, action research and learning, as well as how this complementarity influences the researcher's role. Purpose: The study suggests how action research, learning and formative…

This article outlines a secondary analysis of two European studies on innovative teacher professional development, through the lens of the Personal, Social and Learning to Learn European key competence. The 2018 European Recommendation describes it as being resilient, reflecting upon oneself, working with others, and managing time, information,…

Technology is a critical resource in adult education, yet opportunities for ongoing training and support for practitioners are few. This article explores an inquiry-based, collaborative professional development initiative focused on technology adoption, sharing the firsthand accounts of three adult education teachers who participated. Perceived…

"Out-of-field" teaching refers to the practice of assigning secondary school teachers to teach subjects that do not match their training or education. This practice is an issue of concern in many countries around the world, and seems particularly prevalent in the teaching of mathematics. The aim of this paper is to analyse the design…

This article is the second in a pair examining my experience leading 30 educators through professional development training on the "SPEAK Young Women's Vocal Empowerment Curriculum" in Guatemala. To guide my examination, I have looked to the question, "What does it take to train non-teaching artists in the skills needed to lead a…

This paper describes the oral assessment activity we designed and used as a culminating activity for faculty participants in a professional academic development program. The program offers multiple certificates, and the goal of each certificate is to enhance participants' abilities to design and deliver exceptional student learning experiences. We…

There are many potential harms to individuals, societies and environments associated with powerful "networks" of living, nonliving and symbolic entities (actants), such as financiers, banks, think tanks, transnational trade organizations and agreements, competitiveness, scientists, engineers, universities, governments, military,…