The document discusses a model called "Towards Contemporary Practice" that is designed to encourage teacher professional engagement through developing teachers' "Practical Theories". The model is a 7-step process where teachers 1) develop their own teaching theory, 2) identify an area to improve student engagement, 3) measure current student engagement, 4) research and implement a pedagogical change, 5) measure the impact of the change, 6) evaluate and reflect, and 7) share results. The goal of the model is to promote teacher growth and improved student outcomes through self-reflection and collaboration between teachers.

1. Towards Contemporary Practice:A model to encourage professional engagement through the development of Teacher Practical Theories – Oh the places You’ll Go!By Abi Woldhuis

2. Introduction“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go” (p. 2, Seuss, 1990)

3. What is a teacher’s Practical Theory?“a hierarchically structured set of beliefs about the proper ends and means of teaching, the characteristics of students, the modes of learning, and the ways in which all of these interact to govern the teacher’s behaviour at any given moment” (p.80, Gage 1977)“..a person’s private, integrated but ever-changing system of knowledge, experience and values which is relevant to teaching practice at any particular time” (p.9, Handal and Lauvas 1987)

4. Teacher’s Practical Theory

5. Pedagogical Shift – An agent for Professional Engagementreviewdialoguequalityimprovementrapid changeexcellenceachievablereflectionengagement

6. Pedagogical Shift – An agent for Professional Engagement(p. 11, Seuss, 1990)

7. The Towards contemporary practice Model – The path forward…“Growth of the school based professional community is marked by conversations that hold practice, pedagogy, and student learning under scrutiny…Rich and recurring discourse promotes high standards of practice, and both generate and reinforce core beliefs, norms and values of the community. In other words, talk is the bridge between educational values and improved practice in schools.” (p. 182, Horn & Little, 2010)

8. The Towards contemporary practice Model –Its Genesis…Evolved through professional dialogue involving the author of this paper with educational leadersSource of professional development Monitored through teacher leaders Constructivist approach - learner as an active participant - unique repertoire of experiences and beliefs - constructs new meaning and knowledge - learner as having innate curiosities - emphasis on higher-order thinking and problem solving skills - teachers determine specific learning outcomes - cooperation and collaboration.

9. The Towards contemporary practice Model –Its Genesis…Aspects of Action Research - experimenting with teaching and learning strategies - questions that arise out of everyday practice and the consequent effort to reflect and develop on those questions - adapt practice, test, experiment with new ideas - higher excellence - collaborationLearning Threes - breadth of ideas and accountability - intimacy and confidentiality

10. The Towards contemporary practice Model Step 1: Develop the theory Develop your own theory Complete the Teaching Perspectives Profile Questionnaire (Pratt and Collins) http://www.teachingperspectives.com/ Discuss your Teachers Practical theory in your learning three.Step 2: Identify a practice to shift Identify an area of your teaching where student engagement needs improvingStep 3: Measure the current circumstances Use a tool that measures the engagement of students in your lessons “Class Behavioural Checklist” is a simple tool that can be used as a basic measure of student engagement. From: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/54389861/Class-Behavioral-Checklist- measuring-student-engagement

11. Measuring student engagement checklist example

12. The Towards contemporary practice Model Step 4: Research, decide and implement a change in pedagogy - Learning threes - discuss the options - Decide on the pedagogic tool(s) that you will employ in your chosen program to improve engagement. - Plan for and implement the program.Step 5: Measure the change - using the same tool as used in Step 3.Step 6: Evaluate and Reflect Step 7: Share the findings - brief statement (approx. 200 words and no more than 300 words) - share your statement with your learning three - publish

13. Term 4 – trial of model…moodle

14. ConclusionIn the language of Dr Seuss, you know who you are going to affect but with brains in your head and feet in your shoes, where you go does not need to be a lonely and isolated place but rather one where professional engagement is encouraged, achievable and beneficial for the teacher but more so for the students in our care.Where will you go?

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