(PDF) Teacher Professional Development

Running head: SOCIAL RESEARCH
Policies on Teacher Professional Development and Successful student learning
Name of the student:
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SOCIAL RESEARCH
Table of contents
Policy of USA- Teacher evaluation...........................................................................................2
Policy 2- Finland........................................................................................................................4
Which policy is more effective?................................................................................................6
Recommendations......................................................................................................................6
Comparison with Finland...........................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................9

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SOCIAL RESEARCH
Policy of USA- Teacher evaluation
USA falls under the OECD countries aiming to raise the standards and quality of
education. Plans towards upgrading the performance of the teachers is a good practice. The
major drive behind this are the policies, which aims to uplift the quality of academics.
Undertaking continuous improvement helps in planning effective programs and lesson plans
for the learners. The main focus of teacher evaluation is the appraisal of pedagogy, which
helps in excavating the areas, which needs modification (Santiago & Benavides, 2009).
Feedbacks from the stakeholders and shareholders is assistance in terms of seeking support
and opportunities for attaining professional development. Meeting with the higher authorities
helps in preparing conceptual frameworks, which are integral in terms of evaluating the
performance exposed by the teachers.
The main parameters, which are considered for developing the teacher evaluation
framework are: who, by whom, what, how, for what and with whom. Societal parameter
adversely affects the functions of teacher evaluation policies. As a matter of specification,
these factors are political, demographic, cultural diversity, labor market conditions, media,
public and private resources and evaluation and assessment policies. Teacher evaluation has
two aims:
To improve the performance of the teachers through self-assessment exercise
To ensure that the teachers exert hard efforts to enhancing the learning of the students
Educational authorities are responsible for evaluation the performance of the teachers. As
a matter of specification, these authorities set learning outcomes, professional standards for
the teachers and set norms, which the teachers need to abide by, for catering to the
educational needs of the students (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,
Arlington, 2002). Inspectors pay visits to the schools and the other educational institutions for