Share Paper: Implementation Strategies and Challenges in an Online Teacher Professional Development Program in the COVID-19 context

1. Sohini Sen, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India
2. Amina Charania, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India
3. Durba Sarkar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India

Abstract: The UDISE data (India) 2018-19 says 22.59% teachers in Assam (Eastern Indian state) lack any professional qualification required for teaching & less than 20% are trained in computers. When schools closed during COVID-19 lockdown, teachers shifted to online teaching-learning. Teacher Professional Development program including 3 online micro-credential courses leading to digital badges was offered by a deemed university in India catering to 500 teachers from government schools of Assam. The courses explored constructive pedagogies, using distance technologies for active & collaborative learning, 21st-century skills, and OERs for active teaching-learning. The major focus was to enable teachers to conduct project & ...