Using a profiling instrument to design teacher professional learning

There is limited awareness and knowledge of how teacher pedagogical reasoning and practice develops when teachers use information and communications technology (ICT). This is particularly so in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, where there is only limited awareness and knowledge of this territory. As the VET sector moves increasingly to the use of ICT to address the policy shift to flexible delivery on and off the job, VET teachers are faced with huge challenges. The question is; in what ways can teachers be best supported to meet these challenges? This paper presents a teacher profiling instrument that identifies teachers' strengths and professional development needs. The data gathered through the use of the profiling instrument was used to analyse professional learning needs for a group of trade teachers teaching in three regional areas in a public technical and further education institution. The profiling instrument is explained, and the following professional development is outlined to illustrate the value of the profiling instrument. © 2009 The Vocational Aspect of Education Ltd.