Evaluation of a Workshop as a Form of Continuing Professional Development for Primary Education Teachers in the Context of Developing Students' Manual Skills

Abstract

The development of students’ manual skills in primary education is a key competency, important not only for their personal growth but also for their future career development. Despite this, a noticeable deficiency in these skills exists, contributing to declining interest in traditional craft and technical fields. This situation underscores the need for continuous professional development to enable teachers to effectively foster students’ practical skills. The aim of this article is to evaluate a workshop focused on promoting manual skills as a form of lifelong professional learning for primary school teachers. The research focused on analyzing the opinions of participants who completed the workshop, which were gathered through a questionnaire survey. The survey results revealed that this form of professional development was perceived as highly effective and relevant. Teachers expressed satisfaction with the connection between theory and practice and confirmed that they plan to implement the knowledge and skills gained in their teaching practice. The data suggest that practical workshops constitute a valuable and necessary component of continuing professional development for teachers, potentially contributing to the enhancement of students’ manual skills in Slovakia.