Abstract. In Australia, there is currently no official training pathway or qualification required for working in Flexible Learning Programs (FLPs). This causes a problem for both new teachers wishing 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 designed and implemented a program during which Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students were given the opportunity to experience teaching in a FLP. Here we report on the experiences and perceptions of the preparation program from the perspectives of the key stakeholders, including the ITE students, FLP staff, and the young people attending the FLP. All stakeholders perceived the project to be a success in enabling the ITE students to gain valuable theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the FLP context.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	flexible learning, initial teacher education, alternative education
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:	Schools and learning environments not elsewhere classified
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:	149987
Year Published:	2022
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2022-05-06
Last Modified:	2022-09-20
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