Professionally Speaking

Readers like what they see, want practical content

Content? Check. Quality? Check. Design? Photography? Check. Check.

Professionally Speaking rates high on all counts, according to a readership survey conducted last November.

The online poll of readers (46,000 English, 4,000 French) revealed that the College’s official publication is relevant, useful and regularly perused among members.

Eighty-five per cent said they read all or most of the magazines they received. Sixty-one per cent said they read half or more of the publication. Forty-one per cent said they kept back issues for six months or longer for reference.

Eighty-four per cent of readers of the English edition said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the magazine, compared to 79 per cent of readers of the French edition.

Readers of both gave high marks to features and regular departments such as Remarkable Teacher (86 per cent of English readers, 87 per cent of French) and resource items such as reviews (71 per cent of English readers) and Cyberespace (NetWatch) (79 per cent of French readers).

English readers said they turned to PS for news about teaching and education (53 per cent) and for new developments in the profession (44 per cent). Four in 10 look for ideas they can use in their classrooms.

The appetite for resource information rated higher among French readers, possibly reflecting the recognized dearth of French resources for Ontario teachers.

Readers of both editions want to see a continued commitment to information on curriculum changes, instructional how-tos, lesson preparation and reports on trends or best practices.

Roughly 87 per cent of survey respondents said they consulted a web site and 63 per cent applied an idea in their classroom after reading the magazine.

Ninety per cent of those polled said they were somewhat or very satisfied by Professionally Speaking’s design and photography.