Tensions in teacher choice and professional development

In a recent qualitative coaching study of a single district, Evthokia Stephanie Saclarides and Sarah Theule Lubienski observed tensions within a coaching structure in which teachers had to be the ones to initiate professional development with a coach. Specifically, the Teacher’s Choice structure heightened coaches’ difficulties gaining access to teachers’ classrooms, which led the coaches to position themselves as trustworthy peers and avoid difficult conversations. The authors recommend that districts adopt a blended approach where teachers set their own learning agendas but coaches can also initiate professional development with teachers.

Educational broadcasting - just for kids?

<span>This paper examines and compares the appropriateness of broadcasting and narrowcasting to delivering educational programs for adult learners. It describes some recent developments in Australia and gives a number of examples of how specific groups of students can be targeted by narrowcasting.</span><p>It examines the ability of television to be used in a live, interactive capacity using as a major example North Island College and the Knowledge Network in British Columbia, Canada and discusses the recent report of The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training, An Apple for the Teacher? Choice and technology in learning and comments upon a number of recommendations that the Committee made about education and television.</p>