A study of a process to assist teachers determine their professional development needs

The professional development of teachers is a continuing issue that concerns both teachers and organisational administrators. This study is concerned with one aspect of this broad issue: the manner in which teachers determine their professional development needs in the context of the varying individual and organisational changes they face. To conduct this study a process to assist teachers determine their professional development needs was developed, implemented and evaluated. This occurred as a series of case studies with a group of teachers drawn from the N.S.W. Department of School Education. Throughout the study a number of key issues are considered. These include teachers' responses to professional and personal change, an examination of a holistic range of potential needs, and techniques that teachers are able to use to appraise and validate their needs. The study sought to gain new understanding of the processes used by teachers in their professional development needs analysis, and to develop a model that can be used by teachers and schools for these purposes