ABSTRACT
This chapter applies Senge's five interrelated disciplines of a learning culture: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision and team learning to teachers' professional development. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development explains the term 'professional development' to mean activities that develop an individual's skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics as a teacher. The chapter discusses the historical background of teacher development in South Africa, and teachers' professional development through Open distance learning (ODL) in view of the advent of the ever-changing and new learning culture pervading the society. Open distance learning appears to be the only option for adults worldwide to further their education so as to improve professionally. Open distance learning refers to flexible teaching and learning that is accessible to multitudes of people in various modes. There are a number of commonly used terms for ODL. Some of these are: adult education, independent study, learner-centred education and technology-based and mediated education.
