Transforming Teacher Education and Learning in Ghana: The Impact of a Continuous Professional Development on Physics Teaching at the Colleges of Education
- August 12, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Social Science
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705
Isaac Sonful Coffie
Wiawso College of Education
Abstract – The colleges of education in Ghana have been involved in a continuous professional development for over four years with support of Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL). The main purpose of this research was to assess the perceived impact of the continuous professional programme on physics teaching at the colleges of education. Descriptive cross sectional survey was used for the study. An online survey was conducted which was completed by 85 physics tutors. The survey data were analysed using means and standard deviations and ANOVA. It was found that the professional development is perceived by the physics tutors to have great impact on their teaching practice. It was also found out that there was no statistical significant difference in the perceived impact of the professional development based on tutors’ experience. It was concluded that if the student teachers who are being trained by these tutors will learn these ideas from their tutors and practice them, teaching at the basic schools will be more interactive, students-centered and gender responsive.
Key words: Professional development, Physics, Impact, Teacher education.
I. INTRODUCTION
With the changes in the educational sector brought about largely by technology coupled with government reforms, all teachers will require some new knowledge and skills which comes in a form professional development. This applies to both experience and beginning teachers [1]. Teachers’ ability to teach the 21st century skills needed by students, will depend on a more effective professional development which is sustainable, job-embedded and collaborative [2]. [3] posit that professional development is an on-going learning experience which begins and end with the teachers’ career.
