PhD scholarship opportunity in Professional Learning

Sheffield Hallam University is offering a number of  PhD scholarship opportunitiesv with the Education proposals listed here (closing date Friday 20th March). Proposals are invited in a range of areas within education. In particular, one focus is on professional learning. An initial outline is given below, however proposals in related areas are also encouraged.

Professional learning and teacher leadership in a changing educational landscape

The development of a school led system means that teacher leaders increasingly have opportunities to organise and facilitate professional learning. New roles and designations have been created such as Specialist Leaders of Education tasked with contributing to system leadership. Other teachers have developed informal roles that have emerged in new ‘do-it-yourself’ CPD such as Teacher Meets and through social media. Connections have been made between this and social movements. The research would focus on the roles, identity and practices of teacher leaders in either or both of these types of contexts. You would select appropriate qualitative methodologies and methods supported by social theory, research on teacher leadership and theories of professional learning. The research would aim to develop a rich account and understanding of one or more aspects of this new environment or of a current professional learning project. It would seek to extend conceptualisations of teacher leadership and our understanding of leadership of professional learning in a complex system.

Sheffield Hallam University has a leading role in researching and evaluating large scale projects focused on teacher professional learning, and CPD is also an important part of our own educational offer. As part of the Professional Learning in Educational Contexts Research Group you would have the opportunity to contribute to and participate in these activities.

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Mark Boylan m.s.boylan@shu.ac.uk

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