Abstract

Professional development and innovative strategies are essentials for developing competence in performing specific tasks. Thus, this study examined the relationship between teachers’ professional development, innovative strategies, and instructional competencies. The aim was to explore how these factors are associated within the context of public schools in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur. A convergent mixed methods design was employed, utilizing a validated, self-reporting instrument administered to 125 elementary and secondary teachers, alongside qualitative data from focus group discussions. The instrument demonstrated acceptable to excellent content validity, verified by expert review, and internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.840 to 0.970. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and thematic analysis of qualitative data. A self-reported questionnaire revealed that teachers’ involvement in professional development was "very high," particularly in seminars and workshops attendance. The teachers were experts in the use of innovative strategies, specifically in differentiated instruction, and “very good” in instructional competencies in the area of classroom management. A significant association was found between professional development activities and the use of innovative strategies. Further, variations in teachers' instructional competencies were related to differences in age, civil status, and teaching experience. Teachers reported benefits such as pedagogical advancement, career growth, and enhanced personalized instruction through technology integration. Challenges included time constraints, technical difficulties, resource limitations, and resistance to change. It can be concluded that professional development and innovative strategies are intertwined with teachers' instructional abilities, highlighting the complex interplay of these elements in shaping educator effectiveness.

Keywords

  • Pedagogical Advancement
  • Career Growth
  • Personalized Instruction
  • Technology Integration