Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) are joining forces to develop a suite of new Territory-tailored teacher education courses.
The new teaching courses will be the focus of a teacher education summit next week. This is the first phase of a strong CDU/NT DEET partnership aiming to better prepare current and future teachers to deal with the complexities of the modern classroom and include a love of lifelong learning.
CDU’s head of education, Professor David Lynch, said the new programs would be custom-built to suit the needs of Territory teachers.
“We aim through this partnership to develop courses that will prepare our teachers to deal with the challenges and opportunities of teaching in the Territory. The courses will make study convenient, relevant and more effective, and they will embrace advances in the science of learning,” he said.
“I believe the measure for success of this partnership will be the positive difference it makes to all Territory children in the classroom,” said Professor Lynch.
DEET’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive for Education Services, Mr Ken Davies, believes the courses will position the Territory as a world-class innovator in teaching and teacher education.
“This initiative is a major part of the Northern Territory Government’s recent strategy to improve student learning outcomes across the Territory.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to create teachers who develop a strong NT focus and who graduate with an internationally-recognised qualification,” said Mr Davies.
The new suite of Territory-tailored teacher courses will be delivered at CDU for the 2007 academic year.
The summit (13-16 March) is the first step in a community consultation process, giving teachers, principals, students, teacher educators and community members an opportunity to contribute to the project. It will include a series of keynote addresses by experts in teacher education, learning and effective classroom practice.
For more information about the summit, contact Stephen Mullins (DEET), 0401 119 215 or Jennifer Cahill (CDU), 08 8946 6625 or 0417 830 529.