Highlights in This Issue Professional Development Matters€¦ · Professional Development Matters...
12
Highlights in This Issue Volume 11, Number 2 Winter 2010 • Editorial —Professional Development Matters..................... 1 • Upcoming ATA Events .......................... 2 • Professional Learning for Informed Transformation: The 2010 Professional Development Survey... 3 • Reminders ................... 3 • Feature Workshop —Collaborative Learning.................. 4 • Links ............................ 4 • Between the Stacks —The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life ........................... 5 • In Your Neighbourhood —Professional Development in the North (or What I Learned in Fort Chipewyan) ............. 6 • Specialist Council Profile —Fine Arts Council .... 8 • Look Who’s Talking —International Teacher Exchange and Student Exchange Services ... 9 • À votre écoute! .......... 11 E ditorial Professional Development Matters Michael Podlosky, Coordinator, Professional Development Happy new year! I trust your Christmas break gave you the opportunity for relaxation, time with family or travel. As we turn to 2011, professional development will continue to be a major focus of attention and discussion. I invite you to take advantage of every opportunity to lead and shape the conversations that will ultimately define a key aspect of our profession. Teacher quality and the critical role of ongoing teacher professional growth are seen as major factors in student success. The trend in the United States to base teacher pay on student achievement demonstrates the ridiculous extremes of some policy initiatives. We have seen how the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) has used the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) to leverage policy development. It has now developed a second analytical tool, Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), which claims to provide “groundbreaking insights” into factors that lie behind differences in learning outcomes in PISA results, such as professional development; teacher beliefs, attitudes and practices; teacher appraisal and feedback; and school leadership. Some of the policy implications of these directions are already evident through greater demands on teachers to continuously update their knowledge and skills, to access high-quality PD, and to increase focus on induction and mentoring of new teachers. Other considerations are likely to focus on the amount and type of PD undertaken, the impact of different forms of PD on teachers’ work and the PD needs of teachers. The Alberta Teachers’ Association will be working closely with other education stakeholders (including the provincial PD consortia), and has received a conditional grant from Alberta Education to undertake a major research study to examine aspects of teacher efficacy and PD. You may find the following two documents of interest: • Professional Development in the United States: Trends and Challenges: Phase II of a Three-Phase Study, by Ruth Chung Wei, Linda Darling- Hammond and Frank Adamson
Transcript of Highlights in This Issue Professional Development Matters€¦ · Professional Development Matters...
Highlights in This Issue
Volume 11, Number 2 Winter 2010
• Editorial
—Professional Development Matters..................... 1
• UpcomingATAEvents.......................... 2
• ProfessionalLearningforInformedTransformation:The2010ProfessionalDevelopmentSurvey... 3
• Reminders................... 3
• FeatureWorkshop—Collaborative
Learning.................. 4
• Links............................ 4
• BetweentheStacks—The Leader Who Had
No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life........................... 5
• InYourNeighbourhood—Professional
Development in the North (or What I Learned in Fort Chipewyan)............. 6
• SpecialistCouncilProfile—Fine Arts Council.... 8
• LookWho’sTalking—International Teacher
Exchange and Student Exchange Services... 9
• Àvotreécoute!.......... 11
Editorial
Professional Development MattersMichael Podlosky, Coordinator, Professional Development
Happynewyear!ItrustyourChristmasbreakgaveyoutheopportunityfor
relaxation,timewithfamilyortravel.Asweturnto2011,professionaldevelopmentwillcontinuetobeamajorfocusofattentionanddiscussion.
Iinviteyoutotakeadvantageofeveryopportunitytoleadandshapetheconversationsthatwillultimatelydefineakeyaspectofourprofession.Teacherqualityandthecriticalroleofongoingteacherprofessionalgrowthareseenasmajorfactorsinstudentsuccess.ThetrendintheUnitedStatestobaseteacherpayonstudentachievementdemonstratestheridiculousextremesofsomepolicyinitiatives.WehaveseenhowtheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)hasusedtheProgramforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA)toleveragepolicydevelopment.Ithasnowdevelopedasecondanalyticaltool,TeachingandLearningInternationalSurvey(TALIS),whichclaimstoprovide“groundbreakinginsights”intofactorsthatliebehinddifferencesinlearningoutcomesinPISAresults,suchasprofessionaldevelopment;teacher
beliefs,attitudesandpractices;teacherappraisalandfeedback;andschoolleadership.
Someofthepolicyimplicationsofthesedirectionsarealreadyevidentthroughgreaterdemandsonteacherstocontinuouslyupdatetheirknowledgeandskills,toaccesshigh-qualityPD,andtoincreasefocusoninductionandmentoringofnewteachers.OtherconsiderationsarelikelytofocusontheamountandtypeofPDundertaken,theimpactofdifferentformsofPDonteachers’workandthePDneedsofteachers.TheAlbertaTeachers’Associationwillbeworkingcloselywithothereducationstakeholders(includingtheprovincialPDconsortia),andhasreceivedaconditionalgrantfromAlbertaEducationtoundertakeamajorresearchstudytoexamineaspectsofteacherefficacyandPD.
Youmayfindthefollowingtwodocumentsofinterest:
• Professional Development in the United States: Trends and Challenges: Phase II of a Three-Phase Study,byRuthChungWei,LindaDarling-HammondandFrankAdamson
2
(www.edweek.org/media/nsdcstudytechnicalreport2010.pdf)
• Teachers’ Professional Development: Europe in International Comparison,ananalysisofteachers’professionaldevelopmentbasedontheOECD’sTALIS(http://ec.europa.eu/education/school-education/doc/talis/report_en.pdf)
Pleasetaketheopportunitytoinformtheconversationaroundprofessionaldevelopment.TeachersstillhavetimetoprovidefeedbackonAlbertaEducation’sBackground Paper: Professional Learning for Teachers in Alberta’s K–12 Education System.Pleasecompletetheonlinesurveyathttp://engage.education.alberta.ca/other-initiatives/proflearn,individuallyorwithyourPDcommitteeorexecutive,beforeMarch 31.
Ilookforwardtocelebratingtheprofession’songoingcommitmenttohigh-qualityprofessionallearningattheupcomingteachers’conventionsaroundtheprovince.
Upcoming ATA EventsJanuary
28 Integrating Citizenship Education into Alberta Classrooms (Conference)
February
10–11 Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention
North Central Teachers’ Convention
17–18 Calgary City Teachers’ Convention
Northeast Teachers’ Convention24–25 Palliser District Teachers’
Convention South Western Alberta Teachers’
Convention Southeastern Alberta Teachers’
Convention
March
3–4 Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention
10–11 Central East Alberta Teachers’ Convention
Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention
17–19 First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Council Annual Conference
29–April 5 Edmonton Catholic/Edmonton Public Spring Break
April
14–16 Career and Technology Studies Council Annual Conference
15 PD Facilitators’ Meeting Convention Association Spring
Meeting15 (eve)–16 Spring Professional Development
Area Conference (PDAC)15–17 Middle Years Council Annual
Conference22–24 Easter Weekend29–May 1 End of Easter Week
3
ThistimelyresearchdocumentwasreleasedattheFallProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC),andisnowavailableinprintandonline.Administeredtothe
chairsofATAlocalPDcommittees,withresponsesrepresenting89percentoflocals,thePDsurveyprovidesperspectivesonabroadrangeofPDissuesacrosstheprovince.Thesurveyinstrumentsincludeanonlineportionwithvariousnumericalanddescriptiveresponseoptions,andacharttocollectinformationaboutPDresourcesatlocalandjurisdictionallevels.PDleadersinATAsubgroupsareencouragedtoconsiderthePDsurveydatawhenplanningevents,collaboratingwithothersandadvocatingforteachers’PDneeds.Considerhostingadialoguewithyourjurisdictionalstafforschoolboardtrusteestoadvocateforpowerfulplanningprocesses,orusetheinformationasastartingpointtoassesstheeffectivenessofyourcollaborationwithotherlocals,specialistcouncils,regionalPDconsortiaandconventionorganizations.
ThesurveyresponsesindicateconsiderableconcernaboutthetimeandresourcesavailabletosupportparticipationinPD,andaboutteachers’abilitytodirecttheirownprofessionalgrowth.Surveyparticipantscelebratedthebenefitsof
professionallearningcommunities,aswellastherangeandbreadthofPDstructuresavailabletothem.FurtherinvestigationisneededonhowtobestmeetthePDneedsofsubstituteteachersandthosenewtotheprovinceorcountry,andhowtofurthersupportthementorshipofbeginningteachers.ThefullreportexplorestheseandotherPDissuesindepth.
ThereportalsofeaturesanexecutivesummaryandalistofresourcesavailabletomembersthroughtheATAlibrarydatabase.AcompanionPowerPointpresentationhasbeencreatedforATAPDleaderstousewhensharingthisinformationinagroupsetting.Foraccesstothispresentation,contactyourregionalstaffofficerorvisitthePDcollaborativewebsite.
MemberscanorderprintcopiesofthispublicationatnocostfromBarnettHousebycontactingDistribution(780-447-9400,ext321,inEdmonton;1-800-232-7208elsewhereinAlberta).Nonmemberscanordercopiesforanominalcost.TheelectronicdocumentcanbefoundontheATAwebsite(http://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Research-Updates/PD-86-18%20Professional%20Learning%20for%20Informed%20Transformation.pdf).
Commentsandsuggestionsarewelcome.E-mailGayleneSchreiberatgaylene.schreiber@ata.ab.ca.
Professional Learning for Informed Transformation: The 2010 Professional Development Survey
Gaylene Schreiber, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development
Reminders:
Please be advised that the date of the Spring Professional Development Area Conference (PDAC) has been changed to April 15 (evening) and April 16. The date for the PD Facilitators’ Meeting and the Convention Association Spring Meeting has changed accordingly to April 15.
4
Feature Workshop
Collaborative LearningJoni Turville, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development
Inordertolearn,studentsneedtodomorethan
justlisten.Collaborative learningcanbethoughtofasanumbrellatermforavarietyofapproachesinvolvingworkingingroupstomutuallysearchforunderstanding,solutionsormeanings,ortocreateaproduct.Theunderlyingpremiseisthatknowledgeisconstructed,discoveredandtransformedbythelearner,andexperiencescanbepurposefullydesignedbyteacherstofacilitatethisprocess.
ThenewATACollaborative Learningworkshopexplorestheconceptofcollaborativelearning,withanemphasisonpracticalstrategiesthatcanbeusedintheclassroom.Essentialelementssuchaspositiveinterdependence,interaction,accountability,andinterpersonalandgroupworkskillsandprocessesareexplored.Theroleofcollaborationindigitalspacesisalsodiscussed.
Considerbookingthisnewinteractiveworkshopforyourschool,districtorotherPDevent.Thecostisonly$100(plusGST).Forfurtherinformationortobookaworkshop,pleasecontactProfessionalDevelopmentatBarnettHousebyphone(780-447-9485inEdmonton;1-800-232-7208,ext485,elsewhereinAlberta)orbye-mail([email protected]).
Links
Learning Forward (formerly National Staff Development Council)www.learningforward.org/index.cfm
American Educational Research Associationwww.aera.net
Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortiawww.arpdc.ab.ca
A Guide to Support Implementation: Essential Conditionswww.essentialconditions.ca
Alberta Education’s Excellence in Teaching Awardshttp://education.alberta.ca/teachers/excellence.aspx
Curriculum Coordinator Cornerhttp://education.alberta.ca/apps/cccorner/
Guide to Education 2010–2011http://education.alberta.ca/admin/resources/guidetoed.aspx
5
ATAPDleadersaretheunsungheroeswhoaftertheirregularteachingdayarehardatworkrunningPDmeetings,writingproposals,organizingPDevents,seekingoutappropriate
venues,coauthoringarticles,dealingwithvenuelogistics,balancingimpossiblebudgetsortravellingtoeventsonblusterywinterSaturdays.ThelistofresponsibilitiesforaPDleaderisendless.Ifyouareoneoftheseamazingpeople,thisbookisforyou.
InThe Leader Who Had No Title,RobinSharma,abest-sellingauthor(The Monk Who Sold His FerrariandThe Greatness Guide)andleadershipguruontheFortune500circuit,sharesafewofhissecretsintheformofamodernfable,onethatmade
mewanttoreadfurther.Sharma’sfableopenswithGandhi’swords:“Inagentleway,youcanshaketheworld.”Sharmaalsosuggeststhat
Regardlessofwhatyoudowithinyourorganizationandthecurrentcircumstancesofyourlife,thesinglemostimportantfactisthatyouhavethepowertoshowleadership.Whereveryouareinyourcareer,orlife,youshouldalwaysplaytoyourpeakabilities.
Nomatterwhatleadershippositionweholdoraspireto,Sharmasharesstrategiestohelpusclaimourpowerashewalksusthroughaseriesofleadershipconversationswithothers,includingahousekeeperandagardener.
ThemainprinciplesespousedbySharmaare:
• Youneednotitletobealeader.• Turbulenttimesbuildgreatleaders.• Thedeeperyourrelationship,the
strongeryourleadership.• Tobeagreatleader,firstbecomea
greatperson.
TheheroofthefableisBlakeDavis,abookstorestockingclerk.Therearemanylessonstobelearnedfromhimandforus,includingthefollowing:
• howtoworkandinfluencepeopleregardlessofyourposition
• amethodtoreorganizeandseizeopportunitiesintimesofdeepchange
• astrategytobuildagreatteam• hard-hittingtacticstobecomementally
strongandphysicallytoughenoughtoleadinyourfield
• real-worldwaystodefeatstress,buildanunbeatablemindset,unleashenergyandbalanceyourpersonallife
InoureverydaystrugglestogiveflighttoourPDvisionanddreams,torekindleourpassionandtomaintainthedeterminationneededtoseeprojectsthroughtocompletion,Sharmashowsusthatwhenweawakentheinnerleaderwithinus,wewillleavethingsbetterthanwefoundthem.
The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in LifebyRobinSharmaFreePress,2010204pages
Françoise Ruban, Executive Staff Officer, Professional Development
6
In Your Neighbourhood
Joni Turville
AsIsatinthetinyplanegazingatthebreathtakingsunriseovertheregionnorthofFortMcMurray,Iwasstruckbythevastnessofthelandbelowmeandthedistancethat
laybetweentheplaneandtheremotecommunityofFortChipewyan.ThephysicaldistanceseemedtomeanappropriatemetaphorasIreflectedontheworkshopIwasabouttodowithstaffatthelocalschool.On-sitePDcanbehardtocomebyinremotecommunities,andthecostofattendingworkshopsofferedinlargercommunitiescanbeprohibitive,soIhopedtoprovideausefulinteractivelearningexperienceforthemainlybeginningteachersatthisschool.
ThefriendlyspecialeducationcoordinatorandItookabrieftourofthetownsitebeforeIorganizedmymaterialsfortheworkshop.FortChipewyanistheoldestcommunityinAlberta,butitremainstiny,consistingofapproximately1,000people(includingthoselivingontwoCreereservations).Ontheshoresofbeautiful
Professional Development in the North (or What I Learned in Fort Chipewyan)
LakeAthabasca,thesceneryisspectacular.Attheedgeofthetownlimits,theentrancetotheiceroadtoFortMcMurraylooms.Whenitopens,typicallyinDecember,itisanextremelybusyroute,withmanypeoplemakingthefour-and-a-half-hourtrektoFortMcMurray.TheroadisusedforhaulinggoodsandsuppliesthataremoreexpensivethaninAlberta’smaincitiesbecauseofadditionaltransportationcosts.Iwasinformedthattheothertransportationalternativeisabargethatrunsupanddowntheriveronatripthattakesbetweentwoandsevendays,dependingonhowmuchbackhoeingtheyneedtodoifthewaterlevelsarelow,andonhowmuchfishingisdonealongtheway.
Aswetouredthearea,Iwasastonishedtodiscoverthatinthelocalstoreafour-litrejugofmilkcostsapproximately$14.00,anEnglishcucumberis$7.89andapoundofbaconis$14.00.Whiletheywereappreciativeofmyworkshopsupplies,theteachersIspentmydaywithexplainedthatthebestgifttobringtoFortChipistoiletpaper.Atmorethan$1.00perroll,itisoftensomethingthatpeoplebringbackfromlargercentresforoneanother.Ihadnoideajusthowmuchmoreteachersinruralnorthernareasmustpaytowardbasiclivingexpenses.Schoolexpensesarealsoconsiderablyhigher,withupto40per cent
Heavy machinery is needed to maintain transportation options.
A northern Alberta sunrise in November
7
manyofthesameissuesasotherteachersaroundtheprovince—increasinglydiversestudentneeds,limitedsupportservicesandresources,communityissues,andcurriculumoutcomesthataredifficulttomeetgiventhecomplexclassroomrealities.TeachersinFortChipewyanaremuchliketheirsoutherncolleagues:warm,funny,friendlyandfocusedonhelpingstudentssucceed.InFortChip,asinmanyschools,teachersworktogetherandsticktogether,helpingoneanotherouttostretchmeagreresources.
AsIjourneyedhome,Ireflectedonmybrieftimeinthecommunityandmarvelledattheenthusiastic,caringandcompassionateteachersIhadmet.Thenexttimesomeonemakesassumptionsbasedonteachers’experiencesinurbanorsouthernrealities,IwillthinkaboutmydayinAlberta’sremotenorth,andadmirethepeoplewhochoosetolive,workandthrivethere.
The fireplace in the school entrance both warms the feet and provides a sense of community.
greatercostsassociatedwithbasicteachingresources,suchasaphotocopierandpaper.
Duringtheworkshop,IdiscoveredthatteachersinFortChipewyanaredealingwith
8
Fine Arts CouncilGayla Worden, President, Fine Arts Council
TheFineArtsCouncil(FAC)oftheAlbertaTeachers’AssociationhasbeeninexistencesinceApril1963.TheFACembracesthedisciplinesofmusic,art,drama
anddancewithoutobscuringeachone’suniqueness.Ifyoubelievethattheartsarebasictolifeandfundamentaltothedevelopmentofthehumanspirit,thattheyofferuniquewaysforchildrentolearnthroughtheirsenses,thattheyhelpdevelopcritical-andcreative-thinkingskillsinchildren,thattheyenablestudentstomakeinformedchoicesanddecisions,andthattheyenhanceone’sculturalandindividualidentity,thenyoushouldbecomeamemberofthisspecialistcouncil.
TheFACservesasacommunicationlinkbetweenfineartsteachersandtheircolleagues.Itsupportsteachersthroughinserviceandmentorship;liaiseswiththeGovernmentofAlbertaanditsagencies;influenceslocal,regionalandprovincialpolicymakers;contributestocurriculumdevelopment;providesfocusforcommoninterestgroups;andaffiliateswithotherspecialistcouncilsandsupportorganizationsatthelocal,regionalandprovinciallevels.OurmembersalsopresentattheBeginningTeachers’ConferencesinbothEdmontonandCalgary.Oursessionsarewellattended,asteacherslooktousforthesupportthatmanydistrictsnolongeroffertheirfineartsteachers.
TheFAChasestablishedstrongnetworkswithmanyofourpartnersineducation.
WeworkwiththeregionalPDconsortiatoprovidePDforteachers.Weliaisewithotherspecialistcouncilstoshareideasand,inthefuture,mayworktogethertopresentjointconferences.WehavealsopartneredwiththeAlbertaBandAssociationandareinvestigatingwayswecanworktogethertokeeptheessenceofthefineartsaliveinAlbertaschools.Wecontinuetobeactiveinadvocatingfortheartsasthegovernmentlookstoupdatefineartscurricula.
BenefitsofFACmembershipincludediscountedratesforthecouncil’sannualconference,regionalinservices,MADDDashworkshopsandasubscriptiontothejournalA Fine FACTA.Recently,wehavehadtwosuccessfulconferences—2009inKananaskisand2010inCalgary—andplantohostthe2011conferenceinCalgaryonOctober27–29.WatchforpreliminaryinformationaboutthisconferenceontheFACwebsite(http://fac.teachers.ab.ca).
TheFAC’smembershipnumbershaveincreased,andteachersareremindedthattheymustrenewtheirmembershipeverySeptember.TalktoyourfineartscolleaguesandencouragethemtogettheirfreeannualmembershiponlinethroughTNET(www.teachers.ab.ca).
Aswemoveintothe21stcentury,wemustcontinuetobuildourmembershipbase,exploreallavenuestoofferPDforourmembers,advocateforthevalueofourartsprograms,buildleadershipcapacityandsupportnewteachersinthefinearts.Ifyouhaveapassionforthearts,weaskyoutobecomemoreinvolvedinyourcouncil.Thiscanbeassimpleastalkingtootherteachersaboutourcouncil,talkingtotheFACexecutiveaboutyourideasorrunningforanexecutiveposition.Manyhandsmakelightwork,andyourpassioncanmakeadifference!
Specialist Council Profile
9
TheATAispleasedtowelcomeanewprogramtoourbuilding.ComingtousunderagreementwithAlbertaEducation,threenewstaffmembersareheretoansweryourquestionsaboutteacherandstudentexchanges.
Introducing Sara Coumantarakis
IamdelightedtobebackattheATAafteralongabsence.Previously,IwasatBarnettHousewiththeAlbertaGlobalEducationProjectandthenwithSafeandCaringSchools.InowreturnasthecoordinatoroftheTeacherExchangeProgram,whichhastraditionallybeenhousedwithAlbertaEducation.
IholdaBA(English)andanMEd(interculturalandinternationaleducation)fromtheUniversityofAlberta.MyfirstteachingpositionwaswithEdmontonPublicSchools,soI’malwayshappy
Look Who’s Talking
International Teacher Exchange and Student Exchange Services
toreceiveexchangeapplicationsfromcolleaguesthere.IhavealsoworkedwithLearningNetwork,theprofessionaldevelopmentconsortiumfornortheastAlberta.
IfyouareinterestedinteachinginAustralia,theUK,Switzerland,DenmarkorGermany,orinanotherCanadianprovince,pleasecontactmeat780-447-9400(ext628)[email protected],visitwww.educationexchangealberta.ca.
Introducing Lisa Lozanski
Pleasedtomeetyou!IamthenewestadditiontotheEducationExchangeteam.IhavehadthepleasureofworkingwithProfessionalDevelopmentstaffandspecialistcouncilspriortomyarrivalinOctober.Lastyear,Iassistedindevelopingtheworkshop“BeyondGoodIntentions:
PartneringwithSchoolsinDevelopingCountries,”andfrom2006to2008,IwastheglobaleducationadvisorfortheATA’sGlobal,EnvironmentalandOutdoorEducationCouncil.
MyinterestinallthingsinternationalbeganatayoungageandwasfuelledbymystudiesattheUniversityofCalgary,whereIcompleteddegreesininternationalrelationsanddevelopmentstudies.IcomplementedmyeducationwithpositionswiththeCanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency,IndianandNorthernAffairsCanada,andtheCanadaWestFoundation.
(left to right) Lisa Lozanski, Sara Coumantarakis, Katherine McGeean
10
Mostrecently,IworkedinAlbertaEducation’sInternationalEducationBranch,whereIdevelopedresourcessuchasA Guide to International School PartnershipsandThe Handbook for International Education Administrators.IwaspleasedtoberecognizedbytheAlbertaCouncilforGlobalCooperationasoneofAlberta’stopglobalyouthleadersof2010.
Ifyouneedmoreinformationonourexchangeprogramsorifyousharemypassionforglobalprojects,I’dlovetotalkwithyou.Youcanreachmeat780-447-9400(ext627)[email protected].
Introducing Katherine McGeean
IampleasedtobepartoftheEducationExchangeProgramteam.HavingworkedwiththeStudentExchangeProgramsince2008,Ihaveenjoyedworkingwithteachers,studentsandparentsfromacrosstheprovince.Currently,IamcoordinatingtheAlberta–Spain,Alberta–Mexico,Alberta–Germany(Hesse)andAlberta–Quebecstudentexchangeprograms.Thisyearweareworkingwith77studentsand48teachersat36schoolsinoursixprograms.
IreceivedmyBAfromtheUniversityofAlberta,andin2004,IcompletedmyMAindisputeresolutionattheUniversityofVictoria.IwashonouredtobeawardedaCIDAInnovativeResearchScholarshiptopursuemythesisworkinpostconflictsituationsinCentralAmericawiththeRedCross.
Ihavebeenworkingintheinterculturalfieldandwithinternationalexchangesinoneformoranotherforover20years.IhavehadtheprivilegeoffacilitatingtheinterculturallearningofyoungadultsandtrainingstaffwithCanadaWorldYouthandCanadianCrossroadsInternationalinseveralcountriesinCentralAmericaandAsia.Morerecently,IhavebeendelightedtointernforseveralsummersattheSummerInstituteforInterculturalCommunicationinPortland,Oregon(www.intercultural.org).Attendingtheinstitutehasallowedmetoenrichandindulgeinmypassionforinterculturalcommunicationandlearning.
AsaqualifiedadministratorfortheInterculturalDevelopmentInventory(whichisadaptedfromBennett’sDevelopmentalModelofInterculturalSensitivityandwhichcanprovideameasureofinterculturalcompetence),Ihavealsobeenlookingathowwedeveloptheinterculturalcompetenceofstudentsparticipatingintheexchange—boththroughourpredeparturetrainingandtheInterculturalStudies35course,whichisbeingpilotedwithsomestudentsfromourprogram.
Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationonthestudentexchangeprogram,thesummerinstituteortheinventory,pleasegivemeacallat780-447-9400(ext629),ore-mailmeatkatherine.mcgeean@ata.ab.ca.Moreinformationonthestudentexchangeprogramcanbefoundatwww.educationexchangealberta.ca.
11
À votre écoute!Rapport de Françoise Ruban
2010s’estécouléeàunevitesseinfernalepourmoietpourbeaucoupdenosmembresquienseignentenfrançais.Justeavantl’arrivéedelanouvelleannéeetdefutursdéfisàrelever,lemoisdedécembreestpropiceàlaréflexion.C’estpourquoijevoudraispartageravecvousicilesproposquej’aitenusilyaquelquesjoursdevantcertainsd’entrevous.
Eneffet,le3décembre,j’aieuleplaisirdesouhaiterlabienvenue,aunomdel’ATA,auxparticipantsducolloque « Lefrançais en salle de classe : Ça bouge! », uncolloquepourlesenseignantsetconseillersdes
programmesd’immersionfrançaiseorganiséparEdmontonRegionalLearningConsortiumetMetroEdmontonRegionalFrenchImmersionProgramming(MERFIP).Cettejournéepédagogiqueapermisauxparticipantsdecollaborer,d’approfondirleursconnaissancesetderéfléchirsurdiversthèmestelsquelapédagogied’apprentissaged’unelangueseconde,lesnouvellestechnologiespourmotiverlesélèves,l’évaluationetl’améliorationdescompétenceslangagièresdesenseignants,lanouvelleorthographeetl’apprentissageparlarésolutiondeproblèmes.
Voicidonc,aprèsmesvœux,mondiscoursd’accueil,empreintdenostalgie,d’optimismeetdesagesse.Jel’adressemaintenantàvoustous,enseignantscourageuxetdévouésquejerespecteinfiniment,carc’estvousquiouvrez,chaquejour,lesportesdusavoiretdel’aveniràvosélèves.
Passezdebonnesvacancesdefind’annéeetreposez-vousbien.Tousmesvœuxlesplussincèresderéussite,santéetbonheuren2011!
« Delapartdelaprésidente,MmeCarolHenderson,etdetousmescollèguesàl’AlbertaTeachers’Association,jevoussouhaitelabienvenueàcecolloque.Celamefaitchaudaucœurdevoirautantd’enseignantsd’immersionfrançaiseréunisicipourseperfectionner,seressourcer,nouerourenouerdesamitiésdanslebutde“réseauter”pourmieuxenseigner.Eneffet,vousêtesdeplusenplusnombreuxàenseignerenfrançaisenAlbertaetl’avenirdel’immersionestenpleinessor.Voussavez,toutcelaacommencéiln’yapassilongtemps…
Enfaitsi,ilyalongtemps,trèslongtempsmême…Jemesouviensdujouroù,toutejeuneetnouvellementarrivéeduManitoba,j’aifrappéàlaporteduCalgaryBoardofEducationquirecrutaitpoursespremièresécolesd’immersionfrançaise.J’étaisenseignantedébutante,spécialiséeenanthropologieetfrançaislanguepremière.Etbienjemeretrouvais,peudetempsaprès,devantles21petitsvisagesd’uneclassed’immersionde1reannéeàl’ÉcoleWestgate.Oui,cefutunvraibaind’immersion,unbainnonseulementlinguistiqueetculturel,maisaussipédagogiquepuisquejem’étaispréparéeàenseignerlefrançaispremièrelangueausecondaire.
Cependant,jesuisvitetombéeamoureusedecespetitsboutsdechouxquim’arrivaienttouslesjours,lesourireauxlèvres,l’aircoquin,lesyeuxpétillantsetavidesd’apprendre!Ilsfaisaientdeseffortsprodigieuxpours’exprimerdanscettenouvellelangue!Ilsn’avaientaucuneréticence,aucunecrainte!Jeressentaisl’espoirnaitreenmoi,l’espoirnonseulementdelesvoirdevenirunjourparfaitementbilingue,maisaussil’espoirdevoirceprogrammeuniqueetprometteurgrandirenAlberta.Jel’avoue,jesuisundes“dinosaures”del’immersionenAlberta!J’ai
12
enseignéunpeupartoutdanslaprovincependant30bellesannées,deLethbridgeàEdmontonetmêmesurlabasemilitairecanadiennedeLharenAllemagne.
J’aibeaucoupappris.J’aidécouvertque“çabougeait”,eneffet,danslesprogrammesd’immersionfrançaise,etqueçadonnaitenviedes’ydonneràfond,etmêmed’allerau-delàdel’apprentissaged’unelangueetdel’appréciationd’uneculture!Enseignerenimmersionc’estunepassionetilfautl’assouvir!Eneffet,lesenseignantsquitravaillentenimmersionsontdifférentsdesautresenseignants!Etpourquoineseraient-ilspasfiersdeleursdifférences?Leurapprochepédagogiqueesteneffetdifférente,leurlangued’enseignementestdifférenteetleurcheminementprofessionnelestdifférent!
C’estdoncàeuxd’informerleurentourage,leurcommunauté,lesparents,leurscollèguesetmembresdeladirectionoudupersonnelscolairedecesdifférences.Etc’estàvous,enseignantsd’immersion,d’exigerdesservicesdifférentspourmieuxenseigner.C’estàvousdesoutenirlesorganismesquisontlàpourvousaider :l’ACPI(l’Associationcanadiennedesenseignantsenimmersion),MERFIP,CPF(CanadianParentsforFrench),leCampusSaint-Jean,lesConsortiumsprovinciauxdeperfectionnementprofessionnel,l’ATAetleConseilfrançais,entreautres!Vousêteslesleadersdel’immersionfrançaise.C’estàvousd’assurersonavenir!
L’AlbertaTeachers’Associationoffredenombreuxservicesàsesquelque43 000 membres,dontlesenseignantsenimmersionfrançaisedisséminésdansplusde200écoles,deMedicineHatàGrandeCache.Depuis2008,annéedemonentréeenfonctionàl’Associationausecteurduperfectionnementprofessionnel,jesuis,entreautres,responsabledetroisdossiersimportants :celuidumentorat,del’aideinternationaleetdesservicesenfrançais.
L’ATAoffredesateliersdeperfectionnementprofessionnelenfrançaisetnosdeuxtraductrices,MesdamesVioletteBigeatetRégineToalfontdeleurmieuxpourtraduireautantdedocumentsquepossible.Touslessecteursdel’ATA,Direction,Serviceséconomiques,Perfectionnementprofessionnel,TQSetServicesauxmembresoffrentdesservicesenfrançais.Mêmeàlabibliothèquedel’ATA,MadameConchitaRico,techniciennetrilingue,seferaunplaisirdevousservirenfrançais,etplusvousréclamerezdeguides,livresouvidéosenfrançais,etplusnouspourronsenacheterd’autres.Alors,n’hésitezpas :c’estsimple,gratuit,etvouspouvezvousrenseigneretpassercommandeenligne!Etfinalement,nousavonsleConseilfrançais,l’undes21Conseilsdespécialistesdel’ATA,porte-paroledetouslesenseignantsenprogrammesd’immersionouécolesfrancophonesenAlberta.
N’hésitezdoncpasànouscontacter,carnoussommeslàpourvous,etnoussommesàvotreécoute! »
orthographe
nouvelle
