Developing a Professional Development Program Model Based on Teachers' Needs.

This paper presents a model of a teacher needs-based (TNB) professional development program. The TNB model fo rmed the fo undation of th ree e xternally funded professional d evelopment p rograms. The o bjectives of th is model a re to maximize th e e ffects of a professional d evelopment p rogram, a nd to help participants sustain their learning over the long term. The goals, content, main activities, and structure of the present professional development program were decided based on teachers’ and administrators’ inputs. The structure of this model was a combination of traditional and reform types. The main activities of the programs were h ands-on activities, collaborative work, reflections, discussions, self-monitored practice, and providing an inservice program. The effects of the program are discussed in the Findings. This study suggests ways to enhance professional learning: including the participants as decision makers and consumers, recruiting participants from the same context, connecting professional learning and practice, and building a partnership between university, public schools, and local education agents.