Share Paper: The Affordances of Informal Learning for Supporting Teachers ICT Professional Development

1. Emmanuel Abedi, Griffith University, Australia
2. Sarah Prestridge, Griffith University, Australia
3. David Geelan, Griffith University, Australia

Abstract: This study investigated the reasons behind teachers’ preferences for informal learning to supporting information and communication technology (ICT) professional development. Although many researchers have studied the various ways teachers learn about technology integration along formal learning modes, much less is understood about teachers’ informal technology-related learning and its opportunities. With a focus on learning goals and perceptions of why teachers learn informally to integrate technology, data were collected from 20 teachers in Ghanaian primary and junior high schools using qualitative online telephone interviews and open-ended questionnaires. Through an interpretive and thematic analysis of data, findings revealed affordances including self-paced and ...