MEETING WITH HEADS OF PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS

1
MEETING WITH HEADS OF PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS

• THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN

2
GUIDING QUESTIONS

• WHY ARE YOU HERE?
• WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO?
• WHAT IS EXPECTED OF INTERNS?
• WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MENTORS?
• WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO YOUR SCHOOLS?

3
RATIONALE

• There is disconnection (gap) between theory as
  taught in teacher education institutions and the
  practice on the field
• Teacher education does not seem to influence the
  native theories of pre-service teachers
• The quality of the teaching corps depends on the
  effectiveness of teacher education programmes in
  place.

4
THE DESIRED REFORM IN EDUCATION REQUIRES A
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRACTICES AT ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION
5
THE NEW DAWN

• Linking professional development to the life
  culture of schools
• Establish formal collaboration between university
  and schools
• Use the cognitive apprenticeship model
• School teacher as legitimate participant in
  professional development of the intern
• Action research as indispensable tool for
  professional development of teachers
• Teacher as reflective decision maker

6
PARTNERSHIP
UNIVERSITY
1
UNI-DIRECTIONAL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
INTERACTIVE
UNIVERSITY
2
7
TEACHING PRACTICE STUDENT INTERNSHIP

• Covers all aspects of school life
• Time frame is one year
• Access thru partnership
• University-based (75)
• Joint supervision by university and school
• Emphasis on helping role
• Involves mentoring, writing philosophy, building
  portfolios, reflective practice, action research

• Restricted to classroom
• Time frame is 6 weeks
• Access to school is ad hoc
• University-based (95)
• Supervision solely by university
• Supervision is evaluative

8
GOALS OF THE SIP

• Establish a reciprocal, collaborative
  developing relationships with schools
• Foster the development of a professional learning
  community
• Facilitate school improvement through development
  of teacher mentors
• Provide holistic experience to student T
• Enable mentees to deal with the different
  experiences at the university schools.

9
OBJECTIVES OF THE SIP

• Apply and practise principles of T/L in school
  context
• Develop practical understanding of major roles of
  the teacher and skills required
• Broaden understanding and appreciation of the
  realities of working in a school
• Develop understanding of children and pupils and
  skills in professional decision-making.

10
COMPONENTS OF THE SIP

• SCHOOL ACTIVITIES- including co-curricular
  activities, staff meetings, etc.
• TEACHING PORTFOLIO
• TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
• REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
• ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

11
BENEFITS OF SIP TO SCHOOLS

• Opportunity to collaborate with UEW in teacher
  preparation
• Benefit from new ideas, special skills,
  initiatives and expertise of interns
• Share experiences with interns
• Identify outstanding interns for recruitment
• Provides professional training for mentors
• Develop a network of contacts with teachers and
  lecturers-learning community

12
GUIDELINES FOR HEADS

• Nominate mentors for interns in your schs
• Organise induction course for interns
• Make school policies available to interns
• Ensure interns do not take over completely the
  classes taught by their mentors
• Coordinate the activities of mentors
• Pay occasional visits to interns class
• Collect reports from all mentors prepare annual
  report for the university.