Cognition

INSTEP consolidation

The INSTEP project seeks to align the principles of effective in-service teacher education, as expressed in the Teacher Professional Learning and Development Best Evidence Synthesis, with the limited research and anecdotal evidence about developing effective online communities of practice.

This will result in publication of evidence-based protocols, accompanied by indicators and exemplars of effective practice in online facilitation, to inform the future development of online communities in New Zealand and elsewhere. It will also provide Cognition with an opportunity to draw on its experience with online communities of practice through an in-depth exploration of what works and what doesn’t in those communities.

Tracy Bowker leads a project team comprising the current online community moderators from Arts Online, the NCEA English Forum and the Principals’ Electronic Network. Dr Phil Coogan is project director, and the work of the team is supported by the in-house expertise of Chris Jager, Maria Lute and Mary Sinclair.

This project allows Cognition to not only enhance the work of our current online communities, but to make a significant contribution to the emerging research about this increasingly important aspect of teacher development. 

Teaching for success

This project works with each school to develop a programme of support based on the teaching and learning needs of the school and of individual teachers. The support includes face-to-face coaching, in- class observation and feedback, and the use of video analysis, workshops and seminars. 

The curriculum context and teaching strategies focus on improving learning outcomes for students. 

The findings of the Best Evidence Synthesis series guides the direction of the support, and there are strong links to the principles of effective formative assessment practice.

Board Training and Support 2008-2009

Cognition has been contracted by the Ministry of Education to deliver free board support in Auckland, Northland and Franklin. The BTAS team of highly respected educators is available to support principals and board of trustees.

Following our successful new trustee seminars, Cogniton is offering boards of trustees a series of free workshops and one-on-one support to build on current good practice. To date, Cognition has supported 60 percent of the 637 boards in its region; more than 95 percent of the participants reported that the service they received was very good or excellent.

Workshop timetable - terms 2/3 - 2008

As part of the board support, Cognition offers:

1. A range of workshops/seminars with skilled facilitators in your area, covering: the new curriculum, self review, finances, property, creating a positive environment, principal appraisal, strategic planning, and understanding data and cluster initiatives.
2. A seminar series in your area that you may like to host.
3. Resources to support boards in their governance role.
4. Workshops with your board or cluster at a date, time and venue to suit you.
5. Ongoing support, mentoring and guidance from our highly regarded coaches.

Seminar series

The current seminar series format, delivered by four presenters, is:
Keynote:

1. What’s on the horizon for trustees - the new curriculum 
(Participants choose one workshop from Part A and another from Part B) 

Part A
2. Finances 
3. Property 
4. Principal appraisal 
5. Creating a positive environment/relationships

Part B
6. Self review 
7. Strategic planning 
8. Cluster initiatives, such as transitioning                     
9. Understanding data 

The deadline for registration is at least 10 days before the workshop.

Cognition also welcomes the opportunity to deliver any additional workshop/one-on-one support at a date and time that better suits a client's needs.

To talk to a Cognition representative about the workshops, contact:

Katrina Young, phone (09) 638 4833 or email Katrina
Jim Peters or Bill Gavin, phone (09) 638 4831