Chris Farrel: The practicalities of integrating research based Teacher Development
Transcript of Chris Farrel: The practicalities of integrating research based Teacher Development
The practicalities of integrating research based Teacher Development
Chris FarrellHead of Teacher DevelopmentCES
1. Where we were2. Where we want to be3. How do we get there?
Our ‘situation’
1. First step of TD: What is ‘good teaching’
2. Inputs and considerations3. Why? Why Research?4. Type of event5. The Process6. What’s next?
What will we talk about?
1.First step of TD: ‘What is good teaching?’
▸Where do we get our definitions from?
▸How does management create a bespoke ‘best practice’? Considering our context?
▸What do we need? How do we analyse deficiencies in current practice?
▸What options for development are available to us? What’s best for us?
▸How do we assess the success of our events?
2.Inputs and Considerations into our TD
▸External bodies: CEFR, EPG, and Accreditation bodies
▸ Internal actions: Observations, appraisals, Student feedback/focus groups
▸Market needs▸ Institutional/other limitations
Considering the TEACHER
Bottom-up approach to TD▸What do teachers bring to the
table:• Motivations• Pre-conceptions• Auxiliary skills• Study/research skills (or lack
of)• Self awareness (of lack of)
3.Why Research?
“Important as a way of understanding and
disseminating what teachers can demonstrate about good
practice”Burns (2010)
‘Promote an ethos of enquiry in staffroom’
▸ Moving from Service providers to Academics
▸ Intangible value of TD▸ Encouraging ‘Deliberate
intervention’ (Burns)
4.Types of ‘Research based’ event
1. Action Research/Supported Experiment
Practicalities!▹ Small manageable groups▹ Defined period of time with set deliverables and
‘end point’
Essentials!▹ Supported self reflection creating actionable
target sentences (“to investigate/experiment/develop…”)
▹ Regular support meetings
Wedding Cake Workshops
‘Wedding cake’ workshops
▹ Tiered Workshops1. Focus on theoretical groundwork2. 3-4 week ‘trial’ periods3. Second tier of practicalities4. Further checks5. 3rd tier if necessary
▹ Exams, Diagnosing, Paperless Lessons
PROVISOS!▸ Paperlight▸ Easy to implement▸ ‘Sold’ differently to
different people▸ Aimed at creating a
degree of reciprocal vulnerability
▸ Practical
5.The Action Research Process
The ‘Why-What-How’ Process
Justification
Event
Evidence
Based around: Classroom Management, Effective Planning,
Content Knowledge
Meeting One: Reflection task
▸ Targeted research▸ Observation (live and videoed)▸ Student surveys▸ Practical results
Sample Effective Planning Project:Aisling: Homework
To promote language recycling and skill development through
homework tasks
▸ Reflection, Observation, Learner (B2) survey.
▸ Research on h/w tasks (ETp, research meetings, staffroom interviews)
▸ End of week reflection on variety▸ Students ‘language passport’▸ End of research cycle presentation on
‘10 tips for making homework more effective’
Sample Content Knowledge Project:Emma: Reading
To push learners from ‘language knowledge’ to ‘language use’
▸ Self reflection, testing learners (B1), observation
▸ Issue with use outside classroom, exposure to authentic language
▸ Research led to experimentation with extensive reading.
▸ Trial and error▸ Workshop on findings
6.Lessons and follow up: What’s next?
1. Issues with lack of detail/focus in reflection
2. Cultural issues3. Differing levels of
teacher ‘buy in’ 4. Issues with managing,
timetabling5. Still too bottom up
“Signs Vs Evidence:Developing A Diagnosis Radar
Take Home One:
““help teachers systematically draw conclusions about their teaching and
share them with other teachers who are asking similar questions”
Salto-Stehberger (2004)
Take Home Two
Justification
Action
Evidence
Reflection
So…1. Research is the way
forward in TD2. Consider your inputs and
context3. Focus on justification and
evidence4. Take the little victories!
THANKS!Any questions?Chris FarrellHead of Teacher Development Centre of English StudiesM: [email protected] T: @ChrisPatrickF
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