Professional Development Schools Researching Lessons From the Field

Professional Development Schools: Researching Lessons from the field is designed to help educators identify quality PDS research so that they can design their own research and make significant contributions to the body of knowledge in the field. The team of Breault and Breault used an extensive qualitative meta-synthesis to closely examine the research over the past 20 years. Neither author is involved in PDS movement; thus, their work provides an objective look in the pedagogy and contribution of PDS. Each chapter looks at a particular aspect of PDS research. The authors then conclude by highlighting strong studies, such as the following: a large-scale, multi-site study; an example of how action research can inform a larger audience; an example of how pilot studies are effective ways to research new partnerships; a study using mixed method design; a theory that uses theory to engage in high levels of abstraction; and a study using theory to clarify a complex relationship.

Rick Breault is currently visiting professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy at West Virginia University. He received his EdD in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis in social foundations of education, from Northern Illinois University. Donna Adair Breault is associate professor of curriculum studies at West Virginia University. She received her PhD in curriculum and supervision from Georgia State University.