Practical Professional Development for Educators: A Global Toolkit for Modern Issues

Professional development is part of a teacher's responsibility as a professional: continually reflecting on their practice and engaging in professional learning. Leaders have a role in creating the conditions in which professionals can thrive: providing opportunities, access and resources for professional development. This book is a guide for professional development appropriate for increasingly challenging times. It will cover examples relevant to professionals working in early years, state primary and secondary schools, further education colleges not only across the UK four nations and also in low resource environments linked to global challenges in European as well as Global South contexts. Other contexts for education and professional development include international schools, NHS contexts and military schools. It will be relevant for those in the following sectors and beyond: early career professionals, middle leaders, senior or executive leaders and professional educators. Professional development is conceptualised broadly as encompassing activities which enhance, affirm, challenge or transform any aspect of a professional's identity, agency, knowledge, understanding, aspirations and, in particular, their practice. These activities might range from informal experiences in or out of work to engagement in formal events and planned programmes over days, weeks or months. The book will encompass the challenges and opportunities of embracing digital technologies for professional development, including social media and open educational resources.