44 common factor crucial to effective support intervention in various subjects (Kalinowski et al., 2019). This intervention cuts across multiple disciplines through organizational attributes related to the structure and framework of intervention such as how educators deliver content and the relationship between students and school administration. Caccavale (2017) identified five core features of effective professional development as coherence, active learning, focus on content knowledge, sufficient duration, and collective participation. Coherence occurs when professional development experiences are aligned with the teacher’s goals and their district and state mandates. With coherence, teachers are more likely to apply their new learning. Active learning gives teachers opportunities to participate in the learning process. Teachers want to participate in hands-on activities focused on improving their work. “The most useful professional development emphasizes active teaching, assessment, observation, and reflection, rather than abstract discussions” (Darling-Hammond & Richardson, 2009, p. 47). Professional development is also effective when it expands teachers’ content knowledge and instructional practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter and how students acquire particular skills and knowledge. Studies on professional development highlight the importance of cooperative and supportive learning environments that facilitate the transformation process for educators (Darling-Hammond & McLaughlin, 1995). Professional experiences are more successful when importance is placed on educators from the same institution, department, or grade level joining together to learn and address challenges together (Darling-Hammond & Richardson, 2009). Effective professional development provides a significant amount of time, which must be thoughtfully organized, and effective activities are more inclined to offer a chance for in-depth exploration providing time for experimentation with new learning and feedback (Garet et al., 2001). The core features of effective professional development are depicted in Figure 1. Figure 1 Core Features of Effective Professional Development Note. Adapted from Investigating Professional Development Models that Assist Teachers in Developing High Quality Teaching Skills: An Action Research Study by L. W. Cacccavale, 2017, p. 23. In the public domain. Knikole Taylor, Ed.D.
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