Voices from the deck: Lecturers’ and middle managers’ perceptions of effective FE sector professional development

Goldhawk, Andy; Waller, Richard

Abstract

This article discusses the findings of research into further education (FE) lecturers' and middle managers’ perceptions of what constitutes effective professional development. This focus addresses an area of paucity in the literature that requires attention in this historically under-funded, yet evermore burdened, education sector which can ill afford to divert scarce resources to forms of professional development that do not result in salient learning, and consequential improved student outcomes. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed that effective professional development is perceived to involve: the participation of lecturers in determining the focus of their own professional learning; opportunities for reflection; active learning and an element of fun; and learning within communities of practice.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 11, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Journal: Research in Post-Compulsory Education
• Print ISSN: 1359-6748
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-5112
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 485-504
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2221121
• Keywords: Education
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11017525