TROPICii session 1

At Lefkas

Originally uploaded by st0nemas0nry

TROPICii is an integration of two programs: Teachers Reflecting On Practices In Context (TROPIC) and Instructional Intelligence (II). Together, they will form a suite of strategies and tools to help teachers plan and manage delivery and assessment in Vocational Education and Training (VET).

TROPIC team members Martha Goldman, Phil Harrison, Meredith Jackson, Lisa Erbacher, Terrie Paterson, Vicki Crooks, Robert McIntosh and Simon Brown are being trained in Instructional Intelligence in order to apply it to TROPIC.

Martha Goldman adapted the work of Christine Richmond and Mark Davidson to build TROPIC for VET delivery. It is a teacher-led network using specific techniques to mentor teachers by observing training delivery and reflecting on it.

Vivienne Scott is a Professional Development trainer at Central TAFE in Western Australia. Vivienne will be visiting Queensland three times in March, April and June to deliver Instructional Intelligence units in a compressed format over nine days. Instructional Intelligence is a program developed by Barrie Bennett and Carol Rolheiser, using a wide range of strategies to help teachers bring teaching theory to life in practical programs.

The first session (March 2-4) introduced participants to Cooperative Learning, Tribes Learning Communities and directed reflection. Vivienne modelled Social Learning activities for the class, and participants developed a lesson plan which they progressively updated as Vivienne led the way through a variety of new concepts.

The TROPICii team will meet online before the next face-to-face session in April, discussing applications of Instructional Intelligence in each member’s context.

TROPIC workshop

 

TROPIC workshop

Originally uploaded by st0nemas0nry

Peter arranged for Martha Goldman and the TROPIC team to run a workshop for 11 VET teachers in Brisbane 25-26 February. Five teachers were from trade areas, four of whom are employed by SkillsTech Australia.

TROPIC is Teachers Reflecting On Practices In Context.

The TROPIC program develops 10 teaching microskills through a series of peer observations, followed by teacher reflection on their classroom practices, hence the acronym.

The Brisbane workshop consisted of a series of instructional sessions, followed by role plays in teaching, observing and debriefing activities.

Now it up to us teachers to put what we learned into practice, observing and mentoring our colleagues, guided by Martha’s team.

Web resources relevant to the TROPIC program are saved in stonemasonry’s del.icio.us social bookmarking application.