Abstract:Schools have experienced significant change in recent years. One such change is the dramatic increase in the number of children with special learning needs and the movement of these children from sepa...Schools have experienced significant change in recent years. One such change is the dramatic increase in the number of children with special learning needs and the movement of these children from separate classes or schools into 'regular' or inclusive classrooms. This process frustrates many teachers and administrators, as they do not have the knowledge or skills needed to work effectively with these students. In response to this need, universities have offered traditional campus course work, but few working educators choose to enroll. The question must be asked: how can Faculties of Education be more responsive to needs in the workplace? This paper will describe a collaborative research and development project undertaken by four major universities in Alberta. In the initial stages, a comprehensive survey of teacher needs was conducted and the opinions of administrators at the school and district level sampled in order to provide workplace-bound data for both substantive content and workplace delivery options for a graduate program development in special education. The results indicated that teachers perceived themselves as having inadequate access to professional development. Access was particularly difficult for those who wished to remain in their jobs and/or those in rural or isolated communities. Additional data analysis indicated a preference for educational opportunities presented in a flexible format that allows the integration of new learning into ongoing work lives. This data contributed to the design of more accessible professional development options that facilitates the integration of work and learning. Further, the partnership between the universities allows the provision of high quality educational opportunities while maintaining financial viability. The research and development project will be described and issues related to development of cross university collaborative models of workplace focused program delivery discussed.Read More
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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