Specialist education recruiter, Select Education plc, is launching a new support service for supply teachers in partnership with MirandaNet, based at the Institute of Education.
Under the project, Select Education and MirandaNet will work together to build an online community of supply teachers who will provide e-mentoring support to other supply teachers. The group will be built from a pilot group of teachers who will develop their e-mentoring skills through a Community Leaders e-teaching course run by MirandaNet through the Institute of Education, which is based in London. On successful completion of the course, the teachers will be qualified as Select Fellows in e-moderation. As well as providing on-line support to colleagues, the community will contribute towards building an on-line knowledge base about supply teachersí needs and views.
John Dunn, Marketing and Projects Director of Select Education commented, ëThe initial development stages of the project have gone very well. The teachers selected to act as e-mentors for the first phase have demonstrated that they are excellent communicators and empathetic thinkers and they will be funded by Select Education to take part in training run by MirandaNet during the summer term. This training will equip them to e-facilitate debates on professional issues, develop web-based support materials and work together to produce a web journal. It is accredited to count towards an MA qualification, so there is real value for the teachers who are involved in the initial community.í
The project will go live from September 2004, when Select Education teachers will be able to contact the e-mentors with their issues or problems, and receive support. Christina Preston, Chief Executive of MirandaNet welcomed the initiative, ëSelect Education has been invaluable in enabling us to research the needs of supply teachers, and the project will be of enormous value in ensuring that they receive additional back-up to help them to do their jobs effectively, and in providing professional development opportunities for supply teachers.í
Select Education hopes to extend the project to teaching assistants and lecturers in further education once the pilot stage is completed. John Dunn observed, ëResearch amongst our education workforce shows that there are times when they would value a few words of advice or support from a fellow supply teacher. This initiative responds to that need, and we would like to see it extended across the entire Select Education workforce.í
Select Education launches on-line support service for teachers
Select Education plc, is launching a new support service for supply teachers in partnership with MirandaNet