A model development research related to teachers' professional development

The aim of this study was to develop a sustainable and practical professional development model which can suggest solutions to problems related to teachers's professional development in Turkey. Design based research model was used in this study following design, analysis and re-design steps. A detailed literature review was carried out for the problematic area and professional development studies around the World were investigated. A qualitative needs analysis was carried out with a group of teachers to make the problem more visible and concrete. The designed model was applied at a school for 10 weeks and finally the model was re-designed based on the gathered data. Needs analysis was carried out in July 2015 through interviews which were conducted with 24 teachers who were chosen randomly. The practise phase of the study was done in 2015-2016 fall in a school which has 12 teachers and 3 school managers. This qualitative study's data were gathered through interview form, focus group interview and observations. Descriptive and content analysis was used in analyzing the data. This study which was school based, university supported, supervised and continuous in nature achieved important positive findings. High motivation of the teachers and interactive seminars which were based on teachers' needs were among the main contributions of the study. Also it was found that there were positive reflections for the presence of a professional development supervisor. For the timing and duration of the seminars teachers reflected negative feelings. Teachers asked to develop a better time instead of conducting seminars at the lunch break which was their free time. As a result of the study 12 main principles were found which should be paid attention in studies for professional development of theachers. Those principles were: school orientedness, continuity, expert support and guidance, needs focused, localization, enough and good timing, pricing, rewarding, volunteerism, incentive and motivation, planning and academic support. Keywords: professional development, professional development consultant, school-based , university-supported , needs-oriented, design based research