AbstractThe professional development of teachers is an ongoing issue that is essential to supporting teachers as change agents and international educational reform. Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College acknowledges its role in supporting visiting teachers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to utilize action research as an opportunity for professional development.
This chapter examines how a team of university experts within the field of education adjusted the focus of a professional development (PD) model to teach action research to 60 international educators. Three key educational elements were used to create the PD model: 1) transformational learning theory, 2) language acquisition and learning methodologies, and 3) a personalized system of instruction (PSI). When the unexpected worldwide pandemic caused a shift to remote learning, the team was tasked with adjusting the original face-to-face model. Evidence from meeting agendas, action plan tracking spreadsheets, and personal communication were analyzed as the program moved to an online learning environment. Based on this data, the team recognized that the theoretical principles and conceptual framework did not change but were refocused and emphasized a more human-centered approach. Future research should explore continued long-term professional development after action research has been implemented to support reflective practice and inquiry.
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