Module

Content

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Module 1: Introduction and Overview ​(30 min)

Participants are welcomed to the course and 'meet' the presenter/facilitator. The course requirements are explained. Participants introduce themselves via an introductory post.

Module 2: Teacher Development (1 Hour)

What is engaged learning? What are the common (lack of) engagement issues teachers face today? What qualities are required for a teacher to change? Participants reflect upon and respond to these and other questions regarding the task of cultivating engaged learners. 

Module 3: Student Centred Learning (1.5 hours)

Participants share their favourite engagement/management strategies. Participants then critically watch/read and reflect upon two videos and an article regarding the value of well-run student-centred tasks and share the aspects from these they would like to implement.

Module 4: Praising to Manage (1.5 hours)

This session is about more than the 'Praise is good' mantra. This is about turning around an off-task class with a strategy we refer to as 'Praising to manage'. Participants critically view 3 videos in sequence including the associated notes, reflecting on each. A summary post is required at the end regarding the applicability of the strategy to their specific needs. 

Module 5: Student discipline meetings (1 hour)

This session is all about turning around individual poor behaviour. One of the simplest, most effective strategies to achieve this is the 'Minute after class' strategy. But it needs to be executed well. Teachers are guided through a video and two article which show the merits of using an intelligent approach which enables the student to volunteer for change and uses an "I'm on your side and am here to help you change" rather than a "You did the wrong thing and this is your punishment" approach. 
Participants reflect on the example dialogue provided as well as other useful tips to help facilitate behaviour turnarounds. 

Module 6: Good structure, good questions, engaged learners! (1.25 hours)

Commonly, the difference between a great lesson and a poor lesson simply comes down to Lesson Structure - starters, transitions, the level of explicitness re instructions and endings. (And no, we did not 'get' this at uni - all teachers need to revisit these ideas!) Participants explore two readings, reflect upon their findings and share their intentions for implementation. In addition to honing their lesson structure participants reflect on a video and a reading regarding the use of quality questioning techniques, again sharing their views and plans for implementation.

Module 7: Rapport, control and being transparent (1 hour)

The task of assuming authentic control with students is a big topic and this session explores it in depth. Participants critically view and read five readings and two videos which explore the characteristics of authentic control and tips on how to achieve it. Related to this theme are the aspects of rapport and being transparent with students. Participants share their reflections and intentions for change via four posts.

Module 8: Spoon feeding, choice & your students' shoes  (1 hour)

Three separate 'mini-topics'. 1) Becoming a 'spoon-feeder' of your students is almost inevitable in today's education world of standards and pressure for results. However, 'Spoon Feeding' is always a losing game in the long-term. 2) Offering choice to students is a proven and simple way to increase engagement in students. 3) What's it like being a student in your classes? Would you feel talked down to? Would you feel exhausted through being (physically) inactivity? In this session, participants read three articles and view two videos, reflect on these three key ideas and share their thoughts and plans for implementation.

Paired Module 9A: Turning around an off-task class (Total time for modules 2 hours)

As the title implies, this module is all about student management. Participants critically view 4 excellent videos, each featuring a 'turn around' example where strategies were implemented which significantly turned around a previously disruptive and challenging class. Participants share a reflective comment on each video and comment on aspects they are inspired to implement. 

Paired Module 9B: Quality teaching and engagement         (2 hours)

This session features 4 excellent video examples of quality teaching in action, with exceptional dialogue between each teacher and the observing consultant. A reflective post for each video is required. 

Module 10: Strategy Implementations and Reports (2 hours)

Participants submit their three implementation reports during this session. In addition, they each submit a document outlining specific changes in their teaching practice they are looking to accomplish over the next two years.

Module 11: Completing the course ​(15 minutes)

The final wash-up, including some extra resources, a list of ‘must-watch’ (motivational) videos and a short survey. The end!

Total Time: 15hrs

Duration of course: 4 months