Teacher Professional Development: Experiences in an International Project on Intercultural Education

Abstract

The present study reports on the analysis of a professional development experience within an international Erasmus + project for primary and secondary teachers focused on intercultural education. The project consisted of intercultural education actions to promote the integration of migrant children in primary and secondary schools. A qualitative research method framed as a case study was chosen to assess the effects of the project activities. The perceived professional development was analyzed through the administration of semi-structured interviews with the teachers after the end of the project. The following six categories were identified in the qualitative analysis: attitudes, teaching approach, community of practice, communication with students, professional development, and implementation issues. The findings showed that participating in the project offered an occasion to discuss different pedagogical orientations, examine practices, and develop teaching strategies for intercultural education. Project activities provided teachers the opportunity to reflect on how their teaching approaches related to the integration of migrant students. Suggestions for professional development and the encouragement of a pedagogical change among primary and secondary teachers are proposed for further studies.