Networked Professional Development: Describing a learning activity design that utilizes social media and OERs

This paper reports on an outcome of a design-based research (DBR) program evaluating the design and delivery of Networked Professional Development for Teachers (NPD): a learning activity design. With the increasing use of blended and fully online spaces to support student engagement, it is critically important to develop teacher capacity of online-networked teaching skills and strategies. Having teachers participate in NPD activities is one manner in which this goal can be accomplished. The results of the research indicate that teacher participation in NPD develops TPCK skills, supports the sharing of instructional resources and engages teachers in meaningful discussions about teaching and learning. This paper provides details about the specific NPD learning activities that were delivered using social media tools and Open Educational Resources (OERs). Further research around learning supports for NPD, as well as methods to develop networked communities of practice is needed.