Teacher training centre stage at the Asian Development Bank’s International Skills Forum
Innovative models of teacher and trainer training took centre stage during a discussion panel at the 8t.h International Skills Forum on Future of Skills and Jobs in the Age of Digital Disruptions at the Asian Development Bank in Manila today.
ETF Director, Cesare Onestini, shared good practice examples and learning value from the Central Asia School Development Project and demonstration projects in South Eastern Europe and Turkey resulting from ETF analysis, monitoring and support of education and training systems and vocational teacher development. ‘Our work in this area has shown us that some methods work very well, and in particular those that involve hands-on experience or learning from others in similar roles,’ he explained.
Future ETF activities were also in focus in Manila. Two important tools, developed at EU level, will feature in ETF partner country activities – the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) and the Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (EntreComp) to support new learning and teaching methods, assessing schools’ ability to integrate digital learning and design a development plan supporting teachers and trainers through change.
More detailed discussion at the Manila forum on the value of the ETF demonstration project experience (2016-2018) in Montenegro, highlighted the necessity of partnership between national education and business organisations to update teachers' professional knowledge and skills through placements in industry, which have since been scaled up to national level. In addition, great value was gained from the example in Turkey, where a single teacher led a high-quality teaching development programme on digital instructional materials, rolled out at regional level, thanks to the support of the school director, peers and local authority.
Identifying teacher development needs, ensuring institutional support, networking amongst peers and multi-stakeholder engagement within a national policy context are key elements in innovative models addressing challenges facing teachers. Upgrading pedagogical and technical skills reflecting labour market demand and exploiting digital media to ensure learner oriented programmes are crucial.
As well as continued multilevel analysis and assessment via the ETF Torino Process and individual actions, the ETF will support communities of practice and networks and continue to share its experience and knowledge through a new virtual platform, ETF OpenSpace.
Did you like this article? If you would like to be notified when new content like this is published, subscribe to receive our email alerts.