ABSTRACT

Written for staff in schools and colleges, this book offers the challenge and support necessary to understand, analyze and adopt coaching, mentoring and peer-networking mechanisms as an essential part of the development of professional learning within an organisation. Drawing on the new national strategy for professional development, it emphasises the importance of learning with and from other colleagues, helping your organisation to become a professional learning community and supporting the drive to raise standards and attainment.

Organised into nine distinct but interrelated chapters, this is an invaluable sourcebook of practical information for in-service training. It contains a range of stimulating activities which engage the reader and encourages reflection on:

* the nature and importance of professional development in schools and colleges
* the potential benefits and difficulties associated with coaching, mentoring and peer-networking
* factors essential to the successful establishment and management of coaching and mentoring programmes
* team leadership and leadership coaching
* the role of the coach, mentor and networker with respect to the creation of professional learning communities.

 

chapter 1|21 pages

Effective professional development

The internal and external environment

chapter 2|16 pages

Coaching, mentoring and peer-networking

Changing practice and raising standards

chapter 3|12 pages

Developing coaching, mentoring and peer-networking in your own organisation

Needs analysis to best practices

chapter 4|12 pages

Adult learning and reflective practice

What is professional learning?

chapter 5|10 pages

The key role of the team leader

Developing skills and managing the process

chapter 6|15 pages

Leadership coaching

Developing the profession by collaboration

chapter 7|14 pages

Raising performance and embedding change

Modelling the standards and assessing impact

chapter 8|12 pages

Overcoming barriers

Leadership and management issues in coaching, mentoring and peer-networking

chapter 9|13 pages

Towards a professional learning community

A new strategy for professional development