Motivating Teachers to attempt Innovation: Schools helping teachers develop

Maria-Araxi Sachpazian [BA edu/RSA dip/TELF]

Points for discussion

Why would a school help teachers develop? The teachers are not the property of the school. They might just go one day.... How would the school help teachers develop?

Isnt that frighfully expensive?

What does she mean by motivating teachers to achieve innovation? Cant they do it for themselves?

The financial crisis and the Greek Foreign Language Schools

Recession breeds fear and insecurity Fear and insecurity make businesses stop developing or downsize Competition takes the form of price dropping To make a profit at lowered prices lower pay for employees

The financial crisis and the Greek Foreign Language Schools

Pay is one of the factors that motivates employees It is not replaced by any other form of compensation Frustration

Frustration makes teachers stop developing

Soon schools stop developing or striving for quality

The financial crisis and the Greek Foreign Language Schools

In this light CPD / TQM become a luxury not a necessity

At the same time, our students think education is a luxury

What inspires teachers to try harder?

Vision : School / Themeslves Higher expectations by managers

For the kids

Positive internalisation of the school culture and identity

MBWA : Being led by example, not by empty talk

Avoiding pedagogical solitude : Culture of sharing Sense of family / Sense of whole Autonomy, experimentation, support for failure

What inspires teachers to try harder?

Personal meaning

Support Teacher Growth= Support School Growth

Teachers CPD is the single most contributing factor to the longevity of the school Teaching should not be viewed as a solitary endeavour but as a communal / shared experience Therefore, we should engage in goal setting for our school. (What are the goals of your school ?) Can we set goals for the school without engaging in some personal goal setting?

What is Continuous Professional Development?

An endeavour to continue learning and growing professionally So, at some point, a teachers career can be broken into clearly marked sections. Each section is characterised by different aspirations, responsibilities and means of self-expression. CPD leads teachers in deeper engagement with pedagody and maximises their chances of offering the best possible learning to their students.

Why CPD? Ive been to University!

Problems with teacher education a) Education reflects the society it represents. Society evolves

b) Education cannot cover all the bases & prepare teachers for all eventualities
c) There are no formal structures to ensure that teachers have the chance to relate theory to practice

Making CPD part of the school culture

Do we have a corporate vision for the school? How is it articulated & communicated?

Have teachers been involved in articulating it?

Is this vision reviewed regularly in relation to the reality of the school? Are the means of turning this vision into reality reviewed at regular intervals?

Making CPD part of the school culture

Change the way we rate the success of our school
The example we set for others The teacher initiatives taken The presence of our school on the Internet / in the ELT field The original teaching ideas generated in our schools

Making CPD part of the school culture

Observe Teacher Talk at the school: Where does it happen?

What is it about?
Is there an atmosphere of sharing btw teachers?

Do teachers goal set? Do they discuss their self-improvement?

Are there any teacher driven projects at the school?

How is the staff motivated?

Making CPD part of the school culture

Monitor & Appraise Observe / Give feedback (Who? How often?)

Engage teachers in peer observation

Carry out internal research

Offer in-service training

Making CPD part of the school culture

Train Using online means / webinars

Attend different sessions at a conference

Read articles and present them

Prepare a joint professional presentation at a conference

Making CPD part of the school culture

Run meaningful meetings Agree on meeting dates and times. State ending time too.

Create an agenda
Staff should be encouraged to add points

Make a point of having a practical and a professional section

Praising is public. Scolding is private

Make teachers think as managers: problem-solving

No vision, No strategy, can be achieved

Without able, empowered EMPLOYEES

Thank you!
sachpazian@input.edu.gr