Elements of Effective Professional Development
Using this methodology, we found seven widely shared features of effective professional development. Such professional development:
- Is content focused
- Incorporates active learning utilizing adult learning theory
- Supports collaboration, typically in job-embedded contexts
- Uses models and modeling of effective practice
- Provides coaching and expert support
- Offers opportunities for feedback and reflection
- Is of sustained duration
Our research shows that effective professional learning experiences typically incorporate most or all of these elements, as suggested in the examples below. Each of these elements was part of the professional development addressed in at least 30 of the 35 studies we reviewed, and some were featured in all 35.