Asking the big questions: Elementary educators developing their professional practice through inquiry

Using a variety of qualitative methods, this participatory action research study investigated how a group of elementary school educators experienced and perceived an independent, inquiry-based approach to professional development. It includes a discussion of how the participants described the similarities and differences between and inquiry-based professional development process and the more traditional in-service workshop model of professional development. The teachers reported feeling motivated to engage in this form of inquiry-based learning. Each of the educator participants in this study felt the self-directed and problem-based nature of their learning, which is in line with the tenets of adult learning, or androgogy (Kidd, 1959; Knowles, 1980) were important factors in this engagement. The participants reported that despite the challenges that they identified, such as time pressure, accountability, and administrative support, inquiry-based professional development led to positive changes in their teaching. Recommendations for implementation of inquiry-based professional development are also discussed.