Agency at Scale: Embedding Interpersonal Interaction and Collaboration in an Online Professional Development Platform

Woods, Peter J.; Anderson, Emma; Lin, Grace; Hargroder, Alex; Liao, Alice; Hanks, Brandon; Beazley, Garrett; Tung, Angie

Abstract

Responding to an increasing demand for scalability, designers have begun creating online teacher professional development (oTPD) platforms and curricula. However, researchers have also critiqued the field for overlooking the role of teacher voice and interpersonal interaction within the instructional design of most oTPD programs. In response, we explore the design and initial implementation of Zodiac, an online professional development platform specifically designed to amplify teacher agency within oTPD contexts through the application of activity theory. Using this tool, we developed and piloted a curriculum (called PathsPD) centered on helping teachers implement project-based learning in their classrooms and increasing learner-learner and learner-instructor interactions in online settings. In analyzing our design and post-interviews with users, we show that the technology/curriculum we developed attended to the community and division of labor aspects of the activity theory framework and amplified teacher choice and interpersonal interactions within this oTPD experience.

Citation

Woods, P. J., Anderson, E., Lin, G., Hargroder, A., Liao, A., Hanks, B., Beazley, G., & Tung, A. (2023, June). Agency at Scale: Embedding Interpersonal Interaction and Collaboration in an Online Professional Development Platform. Presented at 16th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) 2023, Montreal, Canada

• Presentation Conference Type: Edited Proceedings
• Conference Name: 16th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) 2023
• Start Date: Jun 10, 2023
• End Date: Jun 15, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 1, 2025
• Print ISSN: 1573-4552
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 3-10
• Series Title: Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series
• Series ISSN: 1573-4552
• Book Title: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning - CSCL 2023
• ISBN: 9781737330684
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22318/cscl2023.352932
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/38633974
• External URL: https://repository.isls.org//handle/1/9219