We had the action research start-up workshop last week - very productive (and exhausting). In this project, TNQT, WBIT and SQIT Leaders will each plan and implement action research projects in our respective institutes. We will also link together with leadership from Jo Balatti, to review progress and compare findings.
At the workshop we achieved a number of things:
- clarification of TROPIC's purpose, principles and elements
- a shared understanding of what action research is and how it works
- some agreed measures and benchmarks for ensuring the continued quality of TROPIC
- resolution of some identified issues, based on learnings from the TROPIC experience to date
- agreed tasks and timeframes for the central action research team
- a preliminary draft action research plan for SQIT and TNQT (due to exceptional circumstances WBIT Leaders were not able to attend both days and their plan will be forthcoming)
Documents pertaining to the above dot points will be available in the wiki and we will be regularly publishing updates there on the action research, to share with all interested parties.
SkillsTech
On Tuesday I visited SkillsTech with Peter and Angela. We met with Mary Campbell, Sue Forsayth, Pam Blowers and Tracey Hart. It was agreed that we will train a group of Mentors in June, drawing some of these from a pool of retired teachers or those transitioning to retirement. This will solve the problem of time allocation for doing observations and engaging in mentoring activities. These teachers will add to the small pool already created by the training conducted in February (Simon, John, John and Farid).
Then in August we will implement the one day training currently in development. When that's done, those teachers will have a team of Mentors to call on.
Reframing the Future
I was successful in my application for a Change Agent project with Reframing the Future. This will be about my work with SkillsTech and I believe will also help me develop some skills that I can definitely apply in other realms. Exciting times ahead!
2 comments:
Responding to SkillsTech Australia's call for EOIs in the TROPIC Mentor and Teacher program, I'd appreciate comment on the following draft:
Expression of interest: TROPIC Mentor
I wish to register my interest in becoming a SkillsTech Australia TROPIC Mentor, believing that I am suited to the role because I have:
• A resolve to improve the overall educational quality of SkillsTech Australia’s training delivery
• A desire to assist fellow teachers developing professionally, particularly in the TROPIC program
• A passion for my own professional development, particularly in applying the Ten Teaching Microskills
• Completed the three-day TROPIC Mentor workshop
• Carried out one TROPIC observation since the February mentor workshop
• Previously been a BNIT “E-Champion”, seeking to support teachers’ e-Learning capabilities
• Developed electronic delivery resources under the LearnScope program
• An ongoing involvement in the Vocational e-Learning Mentors network as committee member (previously Convener, and “Media Meister”).
• As a member of the SkillsTech Australia Professional Development committee, a determination to connect SkillsTech Australia delivery and support staff with the TROPIC program through the VeMentoring network
• Active participation in collaborative networks of educators on matters of educational technology and innovative training delivery practices
Since the original blog by Martha, SkillsTech Australia held a 3 day mentor program where 12 new Tropic Mentors were trained. SkillsTech Australia also hosted 2 teacher workshops in August and have further teacher workshops planned for December. The feedback from all the workshops has been excellent. Mentors have been conducting Tropic Observations using the skills they learned in the mentor workshops. SkillsTech Australia is integrating the Tropic Mentor concept into a range of other programs. For example, mentoring new teachers, for induction purposes and information about the program is available through a newly developed Intranet page. It is envisaged that in the future, Tropic Mentoring will be further extended across SkillsTech Australia.
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