Sponsored by the Higher Education Subject Centre for Education

ESCalate

atSt Mary’s University College, Belfast

April 5th 2011

Teacher Education Advancement Network

TEAN

AIMS OF THE WORKSHOPS

▪ To identify major issues in ITE

▪ To present informed input on these

▪ To engage with ITE colleagues in Higher Education and other interested parties

▪ To encourage debate on the issue(s) and identify both challenges and opportunities

▪ To share ways forward on the issue

RESPONDING TO CHANGE: Integration and Collaboration

Nasc - connections

THEMES

▪ Practical connections in Teacher Education at St Mary’s as one case

▪ What are the characteristics of effective connections (integration and collaboration)?

▪ What does the profile of connections (otherwise referred to as Integration and Collaboration) tell us about ITE and Teacher

Education in general?

▪ What about the ‘Big Issue’ – The Review of Teacher Education?

Established: March 2003 at LimavadyCompleted: ?

NASCCONNECTION

atSt Mary's

IFI

SCOTENS

NORTH-SOUTH STUDENT EXCHANGE

SCHOOL-BASED PARTNERSHIPS

UCET (NI)

PMB

INTEGRATED SERVICES

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

PGCE (Post-Primary)

IME ENHANCEMENTSOCIETY FOR THE DEAF

LITERACY AND NUMERACY STRATEGIES

NI ASSEMBLY EDUCATION

COMENIUS

PIEE & REGIO

LLP INTENSIVE PROGRAMME ON SEN

IME REVIEW

ERASMUS

DMU

WHY CONNECTIONS?

To enhance the quality of provision for Initial Teacher Education

OBSERVATIONSON THE CONNECTIONS

1. Scale of connectivity

2. Local to international

3. Characteristics of effective connectionsClarity of purposeEffective decision making and resource

allocationHigh levels of communicationTrust and RespectWIN – WIN situationResponsiveDevelopmental

THE NATURE OF COLLABORATIVE TEACHER EDUCATION inc ITE

▪ Person-centred

▪ Ambitious

▪ Dynamic

▪ Specialist

▪ Costs

▪ Relevant

▪ Commitment

BUT … WHAT ABOUT THE BIG ISSUE?

The Review of Teacher Education (in an era of high public investment)

Teacher Competence Framework (GTCNI, 2006) Managing connections (on a scale of 1-10) Clarity of Purpose? Effective decision making and resource allocation? High levels of communications? Trust and Respect for teacher educators?

THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW AFTER 8 YEARS?

- A policy vacuum

- Left behind

- Newly qualified teachers have no connection to Higher Education

- Frustration

- Loss of ambition and momentum

- Self preservation

• What should be done? - Dig deeper- Start again (in an era of disinvestment)