CAL Centre Runs Professional Development Training Sessionon Peer Support

      On Tuesday 10 Oct., CAL center held its regular professional development session conducted by Caroline Lincoln and Greg Sipp from the Academic Quality Manager’s team. Attendees included both bilingual as well as foreign staff where the focus was on ‘peer support’; a method to promote learning and sharing good practices amongst members of the staff.

      The session began with a personal SWOT analysis which encouraged teachers to explore requirements of improving their own classroom practice. This was followed by analyzing the key characteristics of a peer support group including details such as its advantages, key steps and the process by which it can be incorporated within the school environment.

      Staff were also shown a case study and asked to examine the benefits of a peer support system from the point of view of both the observer as well as the teacher being observed. During discussion, teachers shared various points such as the benefits of receiving honest feedback and the concept of a ‘focused’ observation where a specific skill of teaching is targeted. These skills may include opening activities, techniques to encourage differentiated questioning and transitioning between activities during lessons.

      The session concluded with a group discussion and a reflection on the four areas of the SWOT analysis where teachers shared best practices and ways by which they overcome challenging situations within their classrooms. Moving forward, it is recommended that teachers not only focus on peer observations within the department but also make an effort to learn from teachers across other subject areas to foster professional growth.

(Written by Ali Ahsan; Photos by Alan)