How and with whom do educators learn in an online professional development microcredential

A claimed technological advantage of online professional development (OPD) is the flexibility for educators to learn at a time and space of their convenience. However, the question of how, and with whom educators learn in OPD has received limited empirical attention. Using a participatory design app...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bart Rienties, Francesca Calo, Suz Corcoran, Kathy Chandler, Elizabeth FitzGerald, Daniel Haslam, Claire A. Harris, Leigh-Anne Perryman, Julia Sargent, Martin D. Suttle, Aqueel Wahga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123002310
Description
Summary:A claimed technological advantage of online professional development (OPD) is the flexibility for educators to learn at a time and space of their convenience. However, the question of how, and with whom educators learn in OPD has received limited empirical attention. Using a participatory design approach, we explored the lived experiences and social networks of 19 educators following a formal OPD in a microcredential format. The mixed method study findings indicated that most (but not all) educators developed learning ties with their peers. This suggests that additional structural opportunities are needed to maintain social engagement in OPD. The findings will be of interest primarily to educators developing and delivering OPD, as well as current or potential professional learners who want to make the most out of OPD.
ISSN:2590-2911