- Chris Plyley
- Assistant Professor
- VI-EPSCoR Workforce Development
- https://viepscor.org/
- University of the Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Inst for STEM Ed Res & Practice
- Lawanda Cummings
- http://www.linkedin.com/in/lawanda-cummings-57b60411
- Director of STEM Education Research
- VI-EPSCoR Workforce Development
- https://viepscor.org/
- University of the Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Inst for STEM Ed Res & Practice
- Nadia Mills
- Assistant Professor
- VI-EPSCoR Workforce Development
- https://viepscor.org/
- University of the Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Inst for STEM Ed Res & Practice
Public Discussion
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Chris Plyley
Assistant Professor
Welcome everybody!
Thank you watching our video about our professional development program in the United States Virgin Islands! Through this video, we hope to give you a glimpse into our overall program direction and how we've tried to adapt to the unique challenges that this past year has brought. We serve a wonderful, enthusiastic, and close knit community of educators, and we would be very interested in hearing your thoughts or ideas about our program. Additionally, if you have any thoughts about collaborating or connecting with other professional development initiatives or programs, please let us know.
Thanks again, and enjoy the showcase!
Mesut Duran
Professor of Technology
Hi Chris: Among others, I really liked the Teacher Talk Fridays idea implemented in your project. I was wondering if you developed a research question on this particular component? If yes, what the current data is pointing out? Thanks, Mesut
Chris Plyley
Assistant Professor
Good day Mesut - thank you for the question!
The TTF component is tied to a larger longitudinal study, where we've been examining long-term trends in things like teachers' engagement, self-efficacy, and confidence and knowledge in STEM content and teaching (among other things). Generally speaking, our program has its most significant impacts on teacher engagement and efficacy, but we see positive trends in several areas. With TTF just wrapping up, it's a bit too early for us to determine the impacts of this specific intervention.
Mesut Duran
Professor of Technology
Thanks for the reply, Chris, and for the additional info about TTF. --Mesut
Toby Baker
Since I am a researcher, copresenter, and special educator, Iunderstand how important teacher engagement is to positive teacher morale. Fortunately, this program demonstrates how zoom can connect teachers to problem solve and work together to support each other during the pandemic. It is great to see the increased self-efficacy among the teachers in the Virgin Islands. Teacher self-efficacy impacts these teachers' ability to teach well and impacts how well their learners learn the curriculum.
Chris Plyley
Assistant Professor
Good day Toby,
Absolutely...and well said! Since the amount of social support one receives tends to have a positive correlation with self-efficacy, we decided that providing that social support structure and responding to the drop in teacher morale should be a high priority for us. Thanks for your insight!
Kristin Grimes
I loved hearing from the educators! Do you think you'll continue with Teacher Talk Fridays virtually or in-person, if possible, into the future, considering their success?
Nadia Mills
Assistant Professor
Hi Kristin,
The teachers have expresses interest in continuing Teacher Talk Fridays next school year. We will definitely look into how we can continue this support group.
Liandra Larsen
As a Crucian, this was an exciting video to come across! I loved hearing from those who continue to be positively impacted by this initiative. It's so important to provide resources to educators, especially during difficult times. I'm proud to see this and want to congratulate you all on a job well done!
Chris Plyley
Assistant Professor
Good afternoon Liandra - I'm excited to hear from a Crucian! You are definitely correct, and, as you probably know, it is an ongoing struggle for the teachers in the USVI to get adequate learning resources. We're happy to assist where we can. If you want to know more about the program or are interested in engaging with our teachers in some way please reach out!
Liandra Larsen
Neela White
Project Director
I thoroughly enjoyed viewing your video and learning about your project. I saw one instructor mention that she has been in the program for five years! Could you expand a bit more on how teachers are recruited into this support group? Also, what does your data conclude as the greatest benefit of this support group for its participants? Keep up the good work.
Chris Plyley
Assistant Professor
Good day Neela. Thank you for your comment! The level of motivation and commitment from our teachers always amazes me. We promoted TTF at some of our workshops last summer and sent email notices to territorial STEM teachers. Since it is a year-long program that is just wrapping up, it's still a bit too early to know for sure what the data will say.
Neela White
Project Director
Thank you for your response, Chris. I would be very interested in hearing from the teachers to learn what they found to be the greatest benefit. I really wish you, your team and the teachers involved in this project the very best.
Alexander Rudolph
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
I really like the Teacher Talk Fridays; community building is one of the most effective ways to keep people connected, especially during the pandemic, though I hope you should continue them even as the effects of the pandemic end.
Susan Warshaw
What a great idea! Teacher Talk Fridays are needed for all educators I hope you can get broader recognition for this idea.