Peer Coaching Program: Coming to India Soon…
Posted on: March 29, 2011
Great news for Indian Educators…The much awaited Peer Coaching Program is coming to India soon.
The Peer Coaching Program, supported by Microsoft Corporation is a proven methodology for training teacher leaders to serve as peer coaches for their colleagues. Many educators will attest to the transformative power of peer coaching and its ability to alter practices and beliefs. Peer Coaching is a practical way to deliver the ongoing, consistent support essential to assist teachers to improve their craft and increase student achievement. Peer coaches help other colleagues in their schools integrate technology into classroom learning activities and improve lesson design by incorporating engaging strategies such as project-based learning.
In 2004 Microsoft licensed the curriculum making it the first of their Partners in Learning Leadership programs. Since its inception, Peer Coaching has been introduced in more than 47 countries and various states in the US. Each has aligned the Peer Coaching Program with country or district initiatives and has successfully replicated the program repeatedly.
Why Schools should use Peer Coaching?
When teachers are asked who they would look up to for guidance and training on how to use technology in their classrooms, a vast majority said that they would look to another teacher in their school as they trust their peers. It is widely believed that while more teachers are proficient in technology skills today than they were some years ago, only about 15-20% are effectively integrating those skills in their teaching. This should not be too surprising. Around the world, typical professional development methods used to help teachers develop technology skills have had little long term impact on classroom practices due to the lack of support after the initial training.
The goal of Peer Coaching is to help schools bring about a systemic change and create capacity to provide professional development to teachers. This can be achieved by promoting the participation of school administrators as well as coaches and providing them with an ongoing online community to continue learning long after the initial training.
Benefits of Peer Coaching Program:
• Enhances each school’s capacity to offer sustained, high quality assistance to its teachers
• Provides coaches with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to enhance student learning
• By providing task-embedded, on-going professional support, peer coaches can help build new strategies and skills by:
o Encouraging reflection and analysis of teaching practice
o Fostering collaboration among teachers throughout the school
o Utilizing the school’s teacher leaders
o Providing on-going, cost-effective staff development
o Providing opportunities for professional growth for their colleagues whatever their experience with integrating technology
• Provides best resources to state for their own training programs
• Helps in education system capacity building
For more information on Peer Coaching Program in India keep visiting this space…
May 16, 2011 at 11:29 pm
We have completed computer literacy programme in our state and now with the development of various technology resources the time has come when we should look forward for peer coaching. I heartily welcome this programme and hope that with this we would surely be able to bridge the digital divide.