Evaluation of the impact of professional development on teachers in social and emotional learning programmes

Abstract

The prime motivation for becoming a teacher is the desire to make a difference to the life outcomes of learners. This research attempts to make a contribution to the understanding of how teachers' professional learning in SEL is most effectively supported. By examining where teachers' professional learning and development did and did not lead to improved outcomes for both teachers and students, I was able to make tentative propositions in helping to understand why professional practice is successful or fails. The findings will only make a difference to the profession if those in positions of influence also learn from them and use them to inform policies designed to support good teaching. This research on teacher professional learning and development in social and emotional learning (SEL) has demonstrated to have a positive impact on teachers' practices and student outcomes. Its findings relate to teachers who have received professional development in the process of deepening their knowledge and refining their skills in SEL together with implementing a programme. The main finding of the this study identifies that teacher knowledge acquired through SEL professional development does in fact have a positive impact on a range of student outcomes and, at the same time, develops that knowledge to build a SEL culture in the school. Another interesting finding illustrates a top down approach is necessary to compliment the impact of SEL professional development. It can be concluded that the SEL professional knowledge base that is most needed to improve the quality of teaching is knowledge about the ways in which classroom activities, including teaching, affect the changes taking place in the minds of students. An immediate challenge for policy is to attend to situations where SEL should be considered as an important aspect of students’ educational path, hence adequate professional development should be provided in order to optimize educational opportunities for students.