A group of talented mathematics and physics teachers will develop a course to teach effective facilitation of video-based workshops for teachers
Over the past few years, we have been encouraging the use of classroom-based videos, which allow teachers to observe, reflect, analyze, discuss, and receive feedback on their teaching practice. We have done so in order to help shift the professional development of teachers from concentrating on content and material towards a focus on student thinking and difficulties. Videos are used to nurture the clinical expertise of teachers so they are better able to cater to the individual learning needs of their students.
Nonetheless, as this is still a relatively new expertise in Israel, and its quality is very much dependent on skilled mediation, we identify the need to train instructional coaches who would be able to effectively facilitate video-based workshops for teachers. In order to be successful, these coaches would need to be highly appreciated teachers, who are skilled in identifying different styles of learning and student difficulties.
To address this issue, a group of highly talented mathematics and physics teachers are proposing to develop a course for 40 instructional coaches. Among the project leaders is Dr. Yaron Lehavi, a renowned former physics teacher and a senior teacher educator at the David Yellin College and the Weizmann Institute. Over the past three years Lehavi has served as a member of the Trump Master Teacher Award Selection Committee and participated in many of the foundation’s activities.
In the course, participants will learn to identify different types of teacher-student interactions from which they can learn how to adapt the teaching to the individual learning progress of students, with an emphasis on detecting students at risk of dropping out and helping them in a timely manner. They will do so by filming teachers they coach and then jointly analyzing them, highlighting those classrooms events that provide meaningful opportunities for learning.
The program will be hosted by the Kerem College, a branch of Alliance-KIAH, which will develop four courses, which will train a total of 40 participants over two years. At this stage of planning, two courses will be for teacher-educators who work at the Hebrew University and David Yellin College. Two additional courses will be developed for school team leaders of mathematics and science, to be determined in coordination with the foundation.
* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 113