Parents as Teachers : Demystifying Teacher Education

One of the questions most frequently asked at talks hosted by LBS is,

“Are parents qualified enough to teach?”

Well, it’s time to find out  - Are they willing to learn?

It has been my hope for several years to bring about an Adult Education Program for parents who are used to the idea of academic vigor and research to inform their opinions as well as parents wh0 would like to enjoy a second shot at education by experiencing modules of Teacher Education catered specifically to the needs of Education On The Ground in the 21st Century.

Planning, researching and designing a sound program towards this end is a little challenging – especially without funding and falling outside the domain of both university research and NGO work. However, I have been fortunate enough to discover a Teacher Education program that fits perfectly into the outline I have been drafting. This saves me a LOT of research from those parents who want me to validate my sources!

Structure

The  course will be structured according to standards we are  familiar with from academic institutions of reputable standing. However, no qualifications will be awarded and the awards have no financial benefits except within the Alternative Education Learning Community. Your children and students will be the ones grading you on whether you are able to apply what you have learned.

In line with my learning philosophies the focus will be on Actual Learning and Internalization of Knowledge, Learning to Learn as well as Academic Discipline  instead of perpetuating the myth of Scholastic Ceremonies.

There is no Pass or Fail grade and instead there will be a lot of peer-to-peer collaborations to leverage off each other’s knowledge and understanding.

Foundation

The Teaching Education program has an introductory session, and seven components that are best delivered in six days – three two-day periods with gaps of some three to four weeks between each to allow time for reading and consideration of the issues. The program is structured to stimulate and challenge the participants to think and to re-evaluate their own long-held views about children’s learning and the role of the community in its development.

Diploma level

After obtaining a firm grounding from history to the 21st Century, students will then read and compare the approaches and philosophies of the leading thinkers in Education from the 19th and 20th Century so that they can build upon the experiences and knowledge of many great thinkers who have been rejected by mainstream schooling.

Students will cover educators from Latin America to Europe and Asia and learn about popular methods behind popular movements such as Montessori and Waldorf schools, for example.

Students will also be exposed to curriculum considerations, lesson planning, benchmarking progress, identifying learner needs and pathways for tertiary education.

Advanced Diploma

Moving away from theoretical learning the Advanced Diploma will focus on exposure to a variety of ways people learn. It will feature an experience recording one’s own experience as a learner, examining the role of teaching and learning in practisce as well as make observations of your own children and the children of other parents.

The Advanced Diploma will also require participants to design a course of study of at least 3 months and to substantiate and correlate their design to instruction and learning outcomes as well as to record the process. It will culminate with a presentation.

This part will also include a practicum where participants are placed in actual teaching situations from K t0 12.

Specialty Option

This is an optional component for those who wish to consider Education as an alternative career. They will undergo training under a Master teacher for the subject they choose to specialize in.

Requirements :

The course will be conducted at a level no less than that of an Master’s program from a reputable academy.

The course will be conducted in English until such a time when I am introduced to a collaborator who can conduct in other languages.

Participants are required to have a level of English at the level of Proficiency (Cambridge ESOL CPE) or IELTS 6.5 and above.

Please do not hesitate to consult me for a free interview and assessment.

penangcommunity@gmail.com