Teacher-training proves successful
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 02, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The new ’teaching with no limits’ teacher-training program has concluded its 10-month research period and the teaching committee of 12 has established a structured training course under three different titles. The project aims to train 100,000 teachers in the next five years
A teacher-training program launched last June has wrapped up an initial 10-month research period in which 1,227 educators from Istanbul, Bursa, Bolu, Çankırı and Karabük learned about new teaching methods.
With education one of the most pressing topics on Turkey’s agenda, the "Teaching With No Limits" project was organized by the Ministry of Education, the Teachers' Academy Foundation and Garanti Bank with the aim of educating 100,000 teachers over the next five years.
Organizers say updated teaching methods are necessary to prepare children academically and socially for the dynamic world of the 21st century. "Our mission is to train teaching staff in such a way that they can educate and prepare children in the most efficient manner for the generations ahead," a statement by the Teachers' Academy Foundation read.
Since the project protocol was signed in June, with Garanti Bank investing 15 million Turkish Liras, a committee comprised of 12 qualified teachers with at least eight years’ experience each, have been working on a pilot education program in order to test various teaching methods and approaches. At the conclusion of the trial period, they divided the teaching program into three sections: communication, classroom management and assessment and evaluation.
"It is important to establish such education models and create focuses within the curriculum, as such structure will contribute to the development of the overall education model of our country," Teachers' Academy general manager Kayhan Karli said at a press conference at Garanti Bank headquarters on Thursday.
Educational model
Also speaking at the press conference, National Education Minister Huseyin Çelik said the most important goal of the project is to create an education model that suits the times and can be renewed and developed regularly. Comparing a teacher to an orchestra conductor, Çelik said: "When an orchestra first starts rehearsing, the sound produced is often distorted and out of tune. The conductor works with his musicians over a period of time until they all reach a certain level where they can produce a sound that is tuneful and in unison."
As part of the effort to keep up with the new generation, the project has created an electronic portal for teachers that keeps educators updated on international teaching methods and allows them to interact with colleagues in live discussion sessions where they talk about educational topics and the methods that will be taught through the program. In addition, the Teachers' Academy Foundation has launched a state-of-the-art project center where educators can attend seminars, tutorials and discussion groups throughout the course. The center will also serve as a social meeting point where project participants can gather outside of the tutorials.
Ibrahim Betil, a member of the Teachers' Academy Foundation, thanked the Ministry of Education, saying, "The Foundation has never seen as much support as it has [now] from the Ministry of Education. The coordination between the organizers has been spectacular and the center was up and running in no time."
Following the success of the pilot project, the committee aims to educate 5,000 teachers in 2009, and reach its goal of 100,000 over the next five years.
With education one of the most pressing topics on Turkey’s agenda, the "Teaching With No Limits" project was organized by the Ministry of Education, the Teachers' Academy Foundation and Garanti Bank with the aim of educating 100,000 teachers over the next five years.
Organizers say updated teaching methods are necessary to prepare children academically and socially for the dynamic world of the 21st century. "Our mission is to train teaching staff in such a way that they can educate and prepare children in the most efficient manner for the generations ahead," a statement by the Teachers' Academy Foundation read.
Since the project protocol was signed in June, with Garanti Bank investing 15 million Turkish Liras, a committee comprised of 12 qualified teachers with at least eight years’ experience each, have been working on a pilot education program in order to test various teaching methods and approaches. At the conclusion of the trial period, they divided the teaching program into three sections: communication, classroom management and assessment and evaluation.
"It is important to establish such education models and create focuses within the curriculum, as such structure will contribute to the development of the overall education model of our country," Teachers' Academy general manager Kayhan Karli said at a press conference at Garanti Bank headquarters on Thursday.
Educational model
Also speaking at the press conference, National Education Minister Huseyin Çelik said the most important goal of the project is to create an education model that suits the times and can be renewed and developed regularly. Comparing a teacher to an orchestra conductor, Çelik said: "When an orchestra first starts rehearsing, the sound produced is often distorted and out of tune. The conductor works with his musicians over a period of time until they all reach a certain level where they can produce a sound that is tuneful and in unison."
As part of the effort to keep up with the new generation, the project has created an electronic portal for teachers that keeps educators updated on international teaching methods and allows them to interact with colleagues in live discussion sessions where they talk about educational topics and the methods that will be taught through the program. In addition, the Teachers' Academy Foundation has launched a state-of-the-art project center where educators can attend seminars, tutorials and discussion groups throughout the course. The center will also serve as a social meeting point where project participants can gather outside of the tutorials.
Ibrahim Betil, a member of the Teachers' Academy Foundation, thanked the Ministry of Education, saying, "The Foundation has never seen as much support as it has [now] from the Ministry of Education. The coordination between the organizers has been spectacular and the center was up and running in no time."
Following the success of the pilot project, the committee aims to educate 5,000 teachers in 2009, and reach its goal of 100,000 over the next five years.