Caution required over pedagogy guide

Any attempt to use "Quality teaching in NSW public schools" materials for teacher assessment purposes should be reported to Federation, writes JENNIFER LEETE.

In June 2003 the DET distributed the Quality teaching in NSW public schools: Discussion Paper. This non-mandatory document was considered by Annual Conference 2003 to the extent of the following words from its decision on Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting: "The DET's release of the discussion document on pedagogy Quality Teaching in NSW public schools highlights the important role that the DET must play in curriculum development and support for teachers' work. Attempts by DET to impose a pedagogical framework on a dysfunctional model of curriculum development, as is currently the case in NSW, is bound to fail. The NSW Teachers Federation will respond to this discussion document and release its submission to schools." This response is still in train.

This DET discussion paper was produced in collaboration with Dr James Ladnig and Professor Jennifer Gore from Newcastle University and is a further development of the work they did in Queensland as part of their "Productive Pedagogies" research.

The 'second phase' (as the DET calls it) of the NSW project has been the production of a classroom practice guide along with videos, DVDs and other documents.

The classroom practice guide elaborates the 18 elements of a NSW model of pedagogy in terms of a description of each element, a 1-5 coding scale to be used when observing teaching practices, and suggestions about teaching in relation to each element.

These materials are available to schools who request copies. Whilst the DET originally proposed to simply send them out to all schools, Federation did not support that plan as the union was concerned it would create a mistaken impression that use of the materials was mandatory.

A number of members have raised concern about the use of the 1-5 coding system as part of classroom observation activities proposed in the materials. Federation raised these concerns with the DET and this led to the following words appearing in the Classroom Practice Guide: "It is important to reiterate that the purpose of this guide is to support teacher professional learning and practice. The coding process described in this guide should only be used where teachers have agreed to its use in relation to their work. This guide is not intended to be used for the purpose of teacher assessment. Any attempt to use it for this purpose has the potential to undermine its value in supporting teacher professional learning and dialogue."

Federation understands that a number of schools are using the materials arising from grants of up to $15,000 for schools to work with university sector colleagues which have been provided under the Australian Government's Quality Teacher Program.

While Federation would obviously support collegial reflection on classroom practice with appropriate resources and time provided, the union continues to receive inquiries about the potential for the materials to be used for teacher assessment, for example, by way of TARS.

Federation's clear advice is that if there is any attempt to use the materials for teacher assessment purposes, Federation members should immediately discontinue their use and report the matter to Federation.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

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November 2003 contents