Power in Staff Development Through Research on Training

Download or read book Power in Staff Development Through Research on Training written by Bruce R. Joyce and published by . This book was released on 1983 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mastering alternative models of teaching helps build competence and effectiveness in the repertoire of classroom teachers. However, because the attainment of new skills does not by itself ensure transfer to classroom use, teacher training programs should incorporate study of the transfer process itself, reinforced by team effort. Accordingly, strategies are suggested for a collaborative approach to teacher development, involving continuous training and study of both the academic substance and the craft of teaching. Chapter 1 of this inquiry concerns the need to integrate research and practice in learning to teach. Chapter 2 distinguishes between "horizontal transfer" (a direct shift of skill from training to actual use) and "vertical transfer" (the adaptation of skills to fit conditions of the workplace). Chapter 3 concerns attacking the transfer problem by controlling the context of the workplace. Chapter 4 concerns ways of making training more effective: forecasting the transfer problem, overlearning skills, peer coaching, and "executive control." The latter, a key concept, refers to developing a functional and adaptive understanding of a given model. Chapter 5, "Parallels with Athletic Training," is an interview with Coach Rich Brooks of the University of Oregon, focusing on acquisition and incorporation of new skills. Chapter 6 reviews basic principles for increasing learning aptitude and stresses the importance for teachers of continual growth. An appendix reviews the essential literature on teacher training. (TE)