INTERACT: building a virtual community of practice to enhance teachers’ intercultural professional development

This project focuses on the design and implementation of an
online professional development platform tailored to teachers’
needs to improve and promote their intercultural knowledge.
Drawing upon the framework of virtual communities of
practice, the project escapes from traditional professional
development programmes. Although a total of 103 teachers
participated in the project, in the implementation phase we
carried out observations and interviews with a sub-sample of
40 teachers. Research findings indicate the generation of new
knowledge regarding new pedagogical practices with respect
to intercultural education as well as an increased collaboration
among all involved stakeholders. Through the active
involvement in the INTERACT platform, teachers became
reflective practitioners by having opportunities to raise their
voice and share views on their intercultural practices.