Under the Flamboyant Tree

'Under the Flamboyant Tree: an exploration of learning' is based on research into the experiences of 10 teachers, teaching assistants and a Local Authority officer participating in a one-week Teachers' International Professional Development visit to South Africa. Three related themes are explored. In the first concepts of 'deep' and 'surface' learning (Marton and Slj (1976)) and 'profound' learning (West-Burnham and Coates (2005)) are investigated to look at the nature of the learning experienced by the research participants. The second theme looks at how a sensation becomes learning and offers a four-stage model outlining the movement from experience to deep or profound learning. In the final theme the nature of continuing professional development (CPD) is explored and a tension identified between a declared aspiration for autonomous, self-directed professionals and the current emphasis on measurement and audit.