Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2005

I^ LEADERSHIP

a I . ei Ia Ivein tea h . reducation . . . . . .

There has been a good deal in the media of late highlighting the concerns of the Federal Minister for Education, Dr Brendan Nelson, in relation to the nature and quality of pre-service teacher education in tertiary institutions.

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Most of these issues are not new and currently, forward-thinking educational institutions in a number of areas of the Western world, are in the process of forging collaborative partnerships between schools and universities as a means of improving and developing the outcomes of pre-service teacher education. At the forefront of this movement in Australia, is the provision of the current Brisbane Girls Grammar School Design 20042008, to found a Centre for Professional Practice in collaboration with the Queensland Universi of echnology, for the further development of exemplary teaching. Following some eighteen months of research, planning and negotiation, on 10 March, the Principal, Ms Am anda Bell, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Education, QUT, Professor Vi MCLean, officially signed the Centre into existence together with its open-ended vision for the further development of pre-service teacher education and the ongoing professional development of existing School staff. Both institutions regard this Centre as a unique departure from the u e t model for preparing teachers for their professional lives. modification in response to future negotiations and periodic reviews by the partner institutions. The conceptual basis for the Centre is a pmxis model of continuous input, pro^Ce and reflection leading to enhanced teaching practice and improved student learning. The project is planned to be developmental and open to ongoing exploration, and

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Mr A1an Dale, Dr Kay Kimbei, Ms Am anda Bell and Prof Vi MCLean

The operational functioning of the Centre will comprise three main elements: improving the mentoring process by streamlining and further developing the existing process of mentoring of pre service teachers within the School; the developing of the concept of mentoring as an avenue for ongoing Professional Development of current teaching staff; and the establishment of a dedicated space as a pre-service and professional development centre Earlier this month, fifteen of our academic staff became the Inaugural Learning innovation Group who will be involved in a series of workshops conducted by Mr Tony Burton, qUT. Staff participants will have the option not only of completing the seminar programme but also, if they choose, negotiating the acquisition of credit points towards a higher degree at QUT. This initial

On 10 March, the Principal, Ms

Am anda Bell, together with the

Dean of the Faculty of Education,

QUT, Professor Vi MCLean, officially

signed the Centre into existence.

cohort is seen as modelling the philosophy of the school, as a community of lifelong learners It is envisaged that similar partnerships with other tertiary institutions Fom which the School draws its pre-service teachers, will be established in the future

Mr A Dale and Dr K Kimber

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