May 18, 2017
The report of the ‘Task Group on Assessment and Testing’ (TGAT), December 1988, introduced me to the term ‘feed forward’. It is not a particularly elegant term but it serves to remind us that when tutors comment on students’ work, the Read more…
March 13, 2017
Professional development in England is shaped by policymakers. What is the true meaning behind the political vocabulary of England in 2017? In this blog I argue that the politics that is shaping professional development in England in 2017 is more Read more…
February 8, 2017
“If it is very important to you how clean your house is, you will not make it through this course” the tutor announced. This massive news, delivered a quarter of the way through my Access to Higher Education course, was Read more…
January 23, 2017
The appeal of Flann O’Brien’s novel ‘At-Swim-Two-Birds’ rests within its oblique interpretation of the world. The literature student in the book disagrees with one beginning and one ending in a novel. So we get three stories set in motion at Read more…
January 13, 2017
The IPDA (International Professional Development Association) conference at the University of Stirling in 2016 witnessed a number of highlights. One highlight that led to much post-keynote discussion was Jan Vermunt’s recommendation for us to explore the hidden themes within education. Read more…
March 28, 2016
The IPDA prize is intended to acknowledge outstanding work undertaken by post graduate students in the field of professional learning. IPDA is reviewing the criteria for the prize and further details will be published later in the year. Here, one Read more…
January 22, 2016
One of the key purposes of the IPDA blog is to allow contributors to send opinion pieces which hopefully stimulate, challenge and invite debate. I’m new to blogging but I assume that bloggers should be ready for their views to Read more…
July 6, 2015
The IPDA International Committee had an exchange of emails recently. The term ‘Professional Development and Learning’ (PDL) was used and I responded (reacted?) by saying that I preferred ‘Professional Learning and Development’ (PLD). Although both are correct, I felt that Read more…
March 2, 2015
Recently I overheard an animated conversation about the functions of a power tool used for a DIY task. Talking about the job or even the tool itself was insufficient; the item was removed from its box, the attachments scrutinised and Read more…
February 2, 2015
Leadership of teachers is considered as one of the key factors for innovation and quality improvement in schools. However, as leadership qualities are not a standard element in initial teacher education programs, arrangements for post-initial professional development of teachers in Read more…
January 18, 2015
This article was originally written in March 2013 in response to a speech by Ben Goldacre and the publication of a UK government report on educational research. 18 months on and the ‘what works ‘ agenda is becoming more embedded Read more…
December 24, 2014
Colleagues will note my interest in members working in collaboration to research and develop CPD. I have been sent the following information (thanks to Cliff Jones and James Noble at UCET), and 1 wondered if several of us might be Read more…
December 3, 2014
The recent IPDA conference provided plenty of food for thought. The keynote speakers gave a view on the need for leadership in the field of professional learning. Some spoke of the need to take context and local culture into account. Read more…
