Utilizing local project experts to provide professional development for early childhood educators : a professional development project

This project consists of a series of professional development sessions designed to support early childhood educators in implementing Project Approach in their classrooms. The project utilizes local project experts of the Southeast Iowa Project Group. In addition, the project addresses the need of early childhood educators in rural southeast Iowa to have opportunities to attend professional development locally. Research indicates that professional development is enhanced when educators are given opportunities to learn in authentic contexts, engage in problem-solving, practice new skills, and participate in extending learning experiences. Additionally, professional development greatly affects educators' abilities to provide children with high quality learning experiences such as those associated with project work. Therefore, the goal of providing educators with this professional development is to embed knowledge in practice. The next step for the Southeast Iowa Project Group will be to provide coaching to the participants. The development of a coaching model will enable the Southeast Iowa Project Group to better meet the individual needs of its participants.