RISING TO GLOBAL PANDEMIC: LIVED EXPERIENCES  OF EDUCATORS IN ACQUIRING CONTINUING  PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Pablo  F. Busquit,; Jennebeth  S. Dacay,

RISING TO GLOBAL PANDEMIC: LIVED EXPERIENCES OF EDUCATORS IN ACQUIRING CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Abstract:

Professional development is critical in the life of every organization in positioning workers to meet changing trends of globalization. The primary goal of this study is to investigate the lived experiences of teachers in acquiring professional development in times of the pandemic. This study employed a phenomenological research design which aims to determine the experiences and perceptions of the participants. Three themes emerged regarding the impact of the pandemic on teachers' professional development, Which was acquiring pedagogical knowledge and skills in distance learning, improving ICT competence, and filling the mental health training gap. Meanwhile, three themes also delved into the challenges teachers face in acquiring professional development in times of the pandemic, which were time on tasks, intermittent connection and inadequate resources. Further, the following are the themes culled from the educational insights that teachers gained from their experiences which were time management, the necessity for continuous improvement and opportunities for professional networking. Further, the results generated provided comprehensive data for conducting future research with similar or relevant scope.