eCite Digital Repository
Preparing pre-service teachers for Flexible Learning Programs: A pilot study
Citation
Thomas, J and Coleman, B and Herrlander Birgerson, EL, Preparing pre-service teachers for Flexible Learning Programs: A pilot study, Proceedings of the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, 1-5 December 2019, Brisbane, Queensland (2019) [Conference Extract]
 | Open XML Document (AARE Abstract) Pending copyright assessment - Request a copy 13Kb |  | PDF Pending copyright assessment - Request a copy 5Mb |
Official URL: https://www.aareconference.com.au/
Abstract
There are more than 900 Flexible Learning Programs (FLPs) in Australia and over 70,000 young
people are engaged with alternative education providers (te Riele, 2014). FLPs provide inclusive
educational pathways for young people who have experienced failure and/or exclusion from
mainstream schooling with a focus on relational pedagogy and trauma-informed teaching
practice. Currently, there is no official training pathway or qualification required of teachers for
working in FLP settings. This causes a significant program for both new teachers who wish to
work in this area and for employers who have no way of knowing whether a new teacher has the
appropriate skills or knowledge to teach in this alternative context. To address this problem, we
piloted a program designed to prepare Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students for teaching in an
FLP setting in Tasmania. In this presentation, we discuss the aims and design of the program.
Drawing on our qualitative evaluation of the program (via semi-structured interviews with the
FLP leadership and relevant teaching staff and the two participating ITE students), we explore
the outcomes of the program and its success in shaping ITE students’ perceptions of FLPs and
alternative education and for developing their theoretical knowledge and practical competencies
for teaching in FLP settings.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Conference Extract |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | teacher education, flexible learning programs, alternative education, professional experience |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Education systems |
| Research Field: | Teacher education and professional development of educators |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Schools and learning environments |
| Objective Field: | Policies and development |
| UTAS Author: | Thomas, J (Dr Jeffrey Thomas) |
| UTAS Author: | Coleman, B (Dr Bianca Coleman) |
| UTAS Author: | Herrlander Birgerson, EL (Miss Ebba Herrlander Birgerson) |
| ID Code: | 136261 |
| Year Published: | 2019 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2019-12-11 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-12-11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page