Improving subject knowledge and subject pedagogic knowledge in employment based secondary initial teacher training in England

Each year in England about 6,000 trainee teachers qualify by undertaking an employment-based initial teacher training route (EBITT), where training is mainly school based. Government inspectors have found that trainees on this route are weaker in subject knowledge and subject pedagogic knowledge compared to trainees following the more traditional one year training course (PGCE) of which about a third of course time is University based. EBITT providers are currently seeking to improve the subject knowledge aspect of training. To support this work the TDA have published a model for developing trainees' subject knowledge for teaching and suggest that providers review their provision against the model. In addition EBITT providers must also meet a new requirement that the total training time should be a minimum of 60 days. This new requirement presents a challenge to EBITT providers as most of the subject knowledge enhancement will have to be school-based. This paper seeks to find out: - how trainee teachers acquire subject and subject pedagogic knowledge while based in a school and - whether teaching staff in schools have the required subject and subject pedagogic knowledge and skills for this enhanced role. Data have been collected from trainees, school-based mentors, school-based Initial Teacher Training Coordinators and University assessors over a one year period. Data about the way trainees acquire subject knowledge was interpreted against the TDA model. The study finds that: - trainees acquire subject and subject pedagogic knowledge in a variety of highly individualistic ways that suggests that the TDA model only partially explains what is happening in practice and - there is a significant training need to ensure schools are well equipped to deliver high quality subject focussed training.</p

Implementation of a major e-learning strategy in secondary schools in South Yorkshire

The paper reports on the implementation phase of a major E learning project in South Yorkshire, England. A longitudinal case study approach is being used to monitor how secondary schools are using the additional resources that come into schools, which started at different stages in maturity in the use of ICT. These have been mapped against recently established UK maturity models. The main findings are that effective school leadership, understanding of the change management process, and engagement of staff are all very important for success. The project has been very successful in meeting targets for numbers of pupils gaining ICT qualifications – which will impact on their future employment and contribute to the economic regeneration of the region.</p

Geometric and numerical methods in the contrast imaging problem in nuclear magnetic resonance

International audienceIn this article, the contrast imaging problem in nuclear magnetic resonance is modeled as a Mayer problem in optimal control. The optimal solution can be found as an extremal, solution of the Maximum Principle and analyzed with the techniques of geometric control. This leads to a numerical investigation based on so-called indirect methods using the HamPath software. The results are then compared with a direct method implemented within the Bocop toolbox. Finally lmi techniques are used to estimate a global optimum