One day workshops 9-11 April 2008

After successfully completed trainings for interactive teaching 30% of the teachers completed portfolio as a proof that they have applied all methods for interactive teaching that they were trained for.

Still, the formative evaluations that the component made suggested that the teacher trainers, as well as the teachers in general, have difficulties combining strategies during one class. Realizing the need for overcoming this condition, the teacher development component organized one day workshops in April 2008. The main goal of the workshop was deepening the knowledge and skills of teacher mentors for planning and preparation of class with integration of interactive teaching methods and formative assessment. The workshops were led by IRA consultants together with SEA trainers. 135 teachers attended the workshops divided in seven groups. Bureau for development of education advisors also attended the workshop with which they provided support for teachers.

During the workshop the following objectives were achieved:

·         Deepening the knowledge and skills of teacher mentors for designing and selecting instructional goals.

·         Developing the knowledge and skills of teacher mentors for design of the instruction with active methods.

·         Deepening the knowledge and skills for formative assessment of student’s learning.

·         Encouragement of critical reflection in teacher mentors.

In order the workshop to be most successful and useful for teachers, they needed to prepare for the workshop.

1. Teacher mentors made lesson plans that represented a model of effective class and in it they paid attention to:

·         Defining teaching goals (using the Bloom’s taxonomy)

·         Designing activities, questions and exercises that promote critical thinking and problem solving

·         Assessing the learning of students and giving feedback

2. While designing the lesson plans the teacher mentors used the material that SEA office sent - Guidelines for lesson planning; Instruction and Designing lesson plans with included analytical lists

3. The class was held with the students before the workshop.

4. After the class the teacher mentors filled reflective journal.

5. Teacher mentors made self-assessment of the conducted class according to the list for analytical assessment

6. The lesson plans, reflective journals and self-assessment of the conducted class were brought to the workshop.

Structure of the workshops

The workshop was realized according to the following activities

1. The check list was introduced and the teachers gave comments and supplemented the check list. The teachers used the check lists for analysis of their plans brought to the workshop.

2.  The IRA consultant presented model of class. Afterwards the participants was given the lesson plan of the modeled class and they analyzed the plan according to the adopted check list.

3. The teachers grouped by similar subjects and worked on lesson plans using the check list. The lesson plans were presented on posters.

4. Introduction of the concept professional learning communities.

5. Reflection and next steps as teachers and teacher mentors.

The idea is that after the end of the workshop, with deepended knowledge and skills, the teacher trainers will go back in their schoold and will transfer the knowledge and experience to the other teachers.