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Promote inclusive pedagogy and cooperative learning
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Promote inclusive pedagogy and cooperative learning
An opportunity for teachers to renew themselves. The Centre de Formation pour Educateurs (CFDE) is launching professional development training courses for teachers as from 7th May. The deadline for registration has been set for 2nd May. The course will include two modules between which teachers will be able to choose (or they could do both) depending on their needs. The first course will focus on the learning process – with emphasis on inclusive pedagogy – and the second one will deal with issues and trends in cooperative teaching/learning.
The principle of inclusive pedagogy is at the centre of the Bureau of Catholic Education (BEC) philosophy. The ministry of Education has also showed interest in that concept in the context of the Gokhool reform to make of the sector a world-class education. The ZEP schools have also put emphasis on the overall development of the child, which could be achieved through this particular teaching method. This system child- centred and not as the present mainstream system tends to be.
Inclusive pedagogy is looking at children in their environment as well as their learning styles and intelligences. Teachers will have to take into account the child’s identity and ways of doing things. There should be regular collaboration between the family, the community and the school. Teachers have to show creativity in the way they are teaching and celebrate every little success of the child. In a nutshell, teachers should make sure they know the children well enough to make sure their teaching methods correspond to their needs.
Encourage peer learning</B>
“With the concept of mixed ability classrooms, there is a need to make teaching more efficient to make sure all children feel involved ,” explains Jimmy Harmon of the CFDE. This is why the course will also aim at developing “strategies for managing classrooms with diverse populations”.
This is also why the second module of cooperative teaching and learning appears as important for teachers. The objective of this module is to provide teachers with techniques to encourage peer learning. “A booklet could instance be used for the whole classroom and each pupil or group would have to give their own interpretation of what they have learnt,” explains one of the trainers.
“Understanding group dynamics and the cooperative learning approach and developing strategies for working with groups and its implications for lesson plans and classroom organisation” are among the main objectives of this second module.
Research indicates that peer learning activities have a very positive impact on children with benefits like team-building spirit and supportive relationships; greater psychological well-being, social competence, communication skills and self-esteem; higher achievement and greater productivity in terms of enhanced learning outcomes.
However, simply placing students in groups and telling them to ‘work together’ is not going to yield results. The teacher must orchestrate the learning exercise and choose the appropriate vehicle. Only then will students engage in peer learning and reap the benefits of such a method.
New recruits in the sector and seasoned teachers who wish to review their practices will be introduced to such teaching techniques during the courses. Participants will be awarded a certificate after completion of the modules that will each extend over 10 weeks with one two-hour session per week.
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