In South African schools, teachers have heavy teaching loads and little free time. They can ill afford to spend periods away from their schools. In addition, studies have shown that collegial staff development and peer coaching have more influence on teachers’ pedagogical practices than training removed from their school context.
For these reasons, the In-service Teacher Education programme has developed a model which takes its lead from the needs of the teachers and the school.
Engagement in and subsequent implementation of learning is directly related to:
- participation being voluntary
- workshops taking place on the school premises
- facilitated learning in a group of colleagues
- scheduling being tailored to work around the school’s timetable
- workshop packages meeting the specific needs of teachers in the school
- buy-in from the school’s management team.
Development Topics
The KICP team strives to meet the needs of schools and teachers, tailoring material for each specific school In-service. Teacher Education packages cover a wide range of topics aimed at best classroom and school practice.
Digital Teaching and Learning Basics
As technology advances, schools can harness digital opportunities to add value to classrooms and become more efficient and collaborative in their work. Learning how to use Google Docs, Calendar, and Sheets can radically change planning, test setting and record keeping. The use of Google Slides opens opportunities for audio-visual aspects to be included in lesson presentations, changing the experience of learning.
Working with Others
Key to schools being healthy, productive spaces are the ways in which staff teams work together. Understanding stages of organisational change and multi-generational teams can impact the way in which staff collaborate and leadership is exercised. Teams work best when members draw on each others’ strengths and experience to resolve conflict.
Discipline
Managing discipline in a school has always been a crucial element in ensuring that learning can happen in a safe, productive space. A disciplined macro environment (where routine, structure and security are maintained) pre-emptively creates a school culture where the priorities of education are obvious and uppermost. A disciplined micro-environment is found in classrooms where teachers use non-invasive methods to ensure that learners are engaged and participating fully.
