Curriculum Update, delivered direct to schools once each term, outlines recent projects to
support teaching and learning, together with information from current
research that could be valuable to schools in their pursuit of excellence
in teaching. This issue looks at Professional Development Programmes in 2002.
Index
Ministry of Education Professional Development Programmes in 2002
School Support Services
An Outline of the 2002 Programmes - Building School and Teacher Capability
An Outline of the 2002 Programmes - Foundation Learning
An Outline of the 2002 Programmes - Curriculum Implementation
Contact and Copyright details
Ministry of Education Professional Development Programmes in 2002
A key Ministry goal is the development and promotion of effective teaching through strategically planned programmes of professional development and support to raise student achievement and reduce disparity. The professional development programmes funded by the Ministry of Education seek to complement professional development opportunities provided for teachers by each individual board of trustees.
In 2002, the Ministry will continue to build on and extend the current successful professional development programmes as this will provide schools and teachers with a sense of coherence and allow for long-term planning.
Next year's programme continues national coverage of key long-term strategies, including literacy and numeracy, assessment, information and communications technology (ICT), proficiency in te reo Māori, implementation of the arts/ngā toi curriculum statements, the development and implementation of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), and support for early childhood education. Support for teachers of Māori and Pacific students will continue to gain momentum.
New components in this year's programme include the principal leadership programmes and support for mental health, as announced in the Budget. Smaller local projects and pilot projects again feature, and these will provide the Ministry with valuable input into policy development.
The 2002 professional development programme is linked to the long-term strategic direction of government and Ministry policies. The programmes offered will reflect the findings of current research into effective professional development and school improvement. Recent research (Elmore and Burney, 1999) shows that successful professional development programmes:
- focus on the concrete classroom application of general ideas;
- expose teachers to actual practice, rather than descriptions of theory;
- provide opportunities for group support and collaboration;
- involve deliberate evaluation and feedback by skilled practitioners;
- are accompanied by sustained support;
- build on teachers' current pedagogical and content knowledge;
- allow for observation, critical analysis, reflection, and evaluation.
"Elmore, R. and Burney, D. (1999). "Investing in teacher learning". Teaching as a learning profession. San Fransico: Jossey-Bass.
