ERIC Number: EJ1488400
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0119-5646
EISSN: EISSN-2243-7908
Available Date: 2024-12-16
Transforming Online Teacher Training through Expansive Learning: A Case Study Applying Cultural-Historical Activity Theory and the Change Laboratory Method
Ken-Zen Chen1; Jing-Yu Tseng2; Barbara Oakley3
Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, v34 n4 p1413-1430 2025
This study investigates the transformative potential of a professional development program launched in 2022 to meet the evolving needs of digital teaching competencies within K-12 and higher education sectors. Using the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Change Laboratory (CL) framework, the research examines how a MOOC platform designed and iteratively improved a training program for high school teachers, enhancing their online teaching capabilities. Data were collected through meeting minutes, course materials, participant surveys, and platform engagement analyzed using inductive qualitative methods. The study identifies critical contradictions and tensions within the MOOC platform's activity system and explores how these challenges were resolved through collaborative and expansive learning. Findings show that the vibrant learning community established through the MOOC platform was critical in supporting teachers' continuous professional development. Teachers expanded their professional capabilities through peer mentoring, collective problem-solving, and sharing innovative practices, adapting to digital education's changing demands. The study highlights the importance of ongoing support and community-driven learning in sustaining long-term professional growth. The insights gained through CHAT and CL provide fresh perspectives on the dynamics of online teacher training programs, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement to address evolving needs. The study affirms the critical role of vibrant digital teacher communities as hubs for learning, collaboration, and innovation, calling for further CHAT-based research to enhance MOOC platforms and enrich educational exchanges.
Descriptors: Case Studies, Faculty Development, Digital Literacy, MOOCs, Electronic Learning, High School Teachers, Cooperative Learning
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Institute of Education, Hsinchu City, Taiwan; 2National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Research Center of Higher Education Resources for Openness, Hsinchu City, Taiwan; 3Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

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