Measuring the quality of teacher professional development

Resumen de los autores

Teacher professional development (TPD) is widely considered a key lever for improving instructional quality and student learning. Yet, evidence reveals significant variation in its eUectiveness. One explanation lies in diUerences in TPD quality, a multidimensional construct that remains conceptually fragmented and diUicult to measure systematically. This chapter defines TPD as structured, formally organized learning opportunities and conceptualizes its quality as a multidimensional construct encompassing input, process, and outcome dimensions. Particular emphasis is placed on process quality, captured through four overarching dimensions: clarity and structure, practical relevance, cognitive activation, and collaboration. We review methodological approaches to assessing TPD quality and group them into three strands: explorative approaches that use ad-hoc indicators without systematic validation, standardized and validated instruments that oUer more robust measurement (e.g., TPD Monitor, IMPRESS), and indirect approaches that measure quality through secondary or large-scale data (e.g., ITTSI). Each approach contributes valuable insights but also has clear limitations, with current evidence remaining fragmented across contexts and methods. Several challenges are highlighted, including the lack of conceptual clarity, limited psychometric validation, insuUicient knowledge of convergent validity across diUerent data sources, and practical barriers to large-scale monitoring. Open questions remain about threshold levels of quality, the diUerential eUects of specific quality dimensions, and the validity of assessments provided by diUerent actors. The chapter concludes that valid, reliable, and scalable measurement tools are essential not only for research but also for improving professional development systems.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Richter, E., & Richter, D. (2025). Measuring the quality of teacher professional development. https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/tbdsz_v1