LEAF-go-VSO
PIE
|
PIE |
|
PIE A programmatic approach to teacher training in rural China ¡¡ What is PIE? PIE stands for Pre-service teacher training - In-service teacher training - student teaching practice Exchange. This is a teacher training programme developed in Simao Teachers' College (STC), based on cooperation between STC, County Education Bureau (CEB), and Junior Middle Schools (JMSs). It evolved primarily from the desire to meet the teacher training and teaching practice needs of pre- and in-service teachers in Simao Prefecture. ¡¡ The background story In 2005 Hou Wanxia and Lesley began co-teaching the Grade 2 Methods course to undergraduate students in STC English Department. This led to the preparation of new materials, a new timetable and practical assessment procedures. Shortly after this Lesley observed that many Grade 3 students returning from their pre-service teaching practice (first month of Term 2) were disillusioned about the state of Middle School teaching, the methods used by some in-service teachers and the lack of opportunity they had to practise their teaching skills in an authentic environment. Many students were asked to merely observe their guidance teacher for 3 weeks and did virtually no real teaching. In 2006 this PRESETT course was swimming against a current of negativism, fear and uncertainty from within, the demands of China¡¯s educational reform. In response to this, several steps were taken. Firstly, Lesley began a Peer Teaching programme for Grade 2 and 3 students to increase their teaching practice and promote the use of communicative methods in language teaching. Secondly, the English Department supported staff workshops to encourage the professional development of STC teachers, providing role models for the undergraduates in the use of student-centred methods. Middle School teachers were also invited to attend some workshops. Thirdly, Chen Yong (the current Dean of English) and Lesley sought ways to develop supported and useful teaching practice placements outside STC. The key objective was to provide opportunities to improve teaching and learning for Middle School teachers and pupils through training, practice and support of undergraduates and practising teachers.
Baking the first PIE At a Simao Education Bureau training conference in November 2005 Lesley met a Jinggu Middle School teacher, Bai Lihong. The two discussed teaching and both agreed to work together in the future. In May 2006, with Bai Lihong now working in the Jinggu Education Bureau, STC received a detailed request for training - primarily to assist teachers in understanding and delivering the New Curriculum with the new English language text book, Go For It. More PIEs in the oven Following the success of Jinggu-PIE and later Mojiang-PIE, the College has replicated this training model in three other departments: Chinese, Maths and Computer Science. In August 2008 a total of 160 teachers arrived from 3 Counties (Jiang Cheng, Jinggu, Zhenyuan) to begin their one-month intensive teacher training. The corresponding number of students left for their teaching practice placements. Lesley was been invited to cooperate with teachers and trainers from the other three departments to develop training skills and opportunities for the programme. At the same time she focused energy on developing the English Department's PIE Team, training trainers to take over a substantial part of the Methods training and organisation of PIE. This is hoped to guarantee the successful running of PIE when she leaves the College. With PIE now firmly established as a College training programme and the positive feedback from County Education Bureaus and middle schools, it looks like PIE is here to stay. VSO has already adopted the PIE model in one other placement, in Guangxi Province, and is hoping to replicate it in other placements around China. Lesley is compiling a handbook/manual with supplementary materials to assist in the expansion of the programme. This also involves various second Study Visits (the first was in March 2008) to enable other volunteers and partners to see PIE in action. If you would like any further information a full report (along with DVD) of Mojiang-PIE 2008 is available on request.
|
