An analysis of lesson observation through peer-coaching in a continuing professional development program: Teachers' perceptions of professional development, efficiency and feedback

Teachers' continuing professional development is one of the significant factors both in terms of their job satisfaction and students' academic progress. At this point, it cannot be denied that being responsible for their own learning process during their professional life and managing their perceptions in a proper way have determining roles in achieving the predetermined goals for teachers. In this respect, the purpose of present study was to investigate the teachers' perceptions of continuing professional development and observe to what extend peer-coaching effects their perceptions of professional development. A qualitative research case study design was applied for the present study in accordance with its purpose. 16 instructors (9 female and 6 male) working at the School of Foreign Languages in a private university took part in this study as participants. Collected data was analyzed with Creswell's (2012) inductive content analysis. The findings reached as a result of the study revealed that teachers' perceptions of continuing professional development before peer-coaching process were categorized under four headings. They were (1) lifelong learning, (2) staying up to date, (3) skills development, and (4) team-building process. As a result of the peer-coaching process, a new concept as self-leadership emerged. It was also observed that while the number of participants perceiving the CPD as staying up to date, skills development and team-building process increased, the number of participants perceiving the CPD as lifelong learning remained the same. It was observed that the most meaningful change occurred in perceptions was team-building process with the highest increase followed by skills development with the second highest increase. Additionally, according to the findings, the majority of the participants stated that peer-coaching model was efficient on their professional development processes. Keywords: Continuing Professional Development, Peer-coaching, Professionalism, Efficiency