This study focuses on the contribution of induction programmes to the teaching potential of beginner teachers at primary schools in the Ilembe District. Based on convenience in terms of accessibility and purposeful sampling, four primary schools were selected with eight novice teachers (two from each selected school) and four members of the school management team (one from each selected school) acting as participants. Using individual interviewing, beginner teachers and members of school management teams narrated their perceptions on the value of induction programmes for beginner teachers in order to improve beginner teachers’ teaching competency. Findings revealed that none of the sampled schools had a formalised induction programme offered to beginner teachers. Beginner teachers felt overwhelmed and challenged with real classroom situations whereas members of the school management teams acknowledged the need for beginner teachers to be capacitated with hands-on knowledge and skills to teach effectively within the specific classroom context. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational management and Leadership)

This case study explores the experiences of eight newly appointed teachers at a school for intellectually disabled learners. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to interpret interview data. The literature study investigates the phenomenon of staff turnover and includes key literature themes such as adult learning theories of Senge and Vygotski, the life cycle of a teacher, the special school context and problems and needs experienced by beginning teachers. The key findings of the research were that beginning special education teachers experienced various problems and needs but that, with well planned structured support, these problems could successfully be overcome. The researcher has developed a set of guidelines, which could be used in developing a staff induction programme, aimed at raising the effectiveness of newly appointed teachers at a school for intellectually disabled learners. This research once again emphasizes the need for a well planned, structured induction programme. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Cette recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre de travaux en ergonomie cognitive et s’intéresse à l’entrée dans le métier d’enseignants néo-titulaires du second degré en contexte d’éducation prioritaire. En mobilisant la théorie sémio-logique du cours d’action (Theureau, 2004), elle s’attache à décrire la dynamique de construction de leur activité professionnelle à travers une variété de contextes (en classe et hors classe). L’étude a été menée durant une année scolaire en collaboration avec cinq enseignants néo-titulaires de quatre disciplines scolaires exerçant au sein d’un collège d’éducation prioritaire de l’académie de Créteil. Plusieurs catégories de données ont été recueillies en fonction des contextes: a) des données d'enregistrements audio et vidéo de leur activité en classe, b) des données d'autoconfrontation sur la base de ces enregistrements, c) des données relatives à l'écriture d'un journal de bord, d) des données d'entretiens de remise en situation sur la base de ces traces écrites. L’analyse des contenus de signification mobilisés par les enseignants a permis d’accéder à la compréhension de leur activité située et de repérer quelques traits de leurs « mondes propres » évoluant au cours du temps (révélant leurs préoccupations, leurs attentes, leurs connaissances, leurs émotions). Les résultats révèlent comment l’activité professionnelle des enseignants se construit de manière fluctuante selon des phases alternatives de confort / inconfort, de stabilité et d’instabilité, d’économie de soi et de recherche d’une plus grande efficience dans l’exercice de leur métier. Les changements de relation dynamique avec leurs propres situations scolaires se traduisent par la construction d’équilibres provisoires et transitoires et par des conversions importantes dans leurs façons de percevoir et d’appréhender les évènements face à divers contextes professionnels. Les modélisations synthétiques des trajectoires professionnelles des enseignants montrent ainsi de nombreuses oscillations dans le processus d’acculturation professionnelle. / This study is concerned with the field of cognitive ergonomics and looks at teacher career initiation in the context of priority education: activities, experiences and career trajectories. Drawing on the semio-logical framework for the analysis of course of experience (Theureau, 2004), this study seeks to describe the dynamics of professional engagement in a variety of contexts (in an out of the classroom).The study was carried out over one school year with five beginner teachers from four subject areas in a priority education secondary school in the Créteil local authority. Different types of data were collected and analyzed: a) audio and video recordings of classroom activity, b) self-confrontation data pertaining to these recordings, c) data from reflective logs, d) data from interviews re-assessing situations pertaining to the information from logs. The analysis of key content mobilized by the teachers led to an understanding of their situated activity and enabled the identification of features relating to their “own worlds” progressing over time (concerning their concerns, their expectations, their knowledge, their emotions). Results show how the professional activity of the teachers is built up in various stages according to alternate phases of ease / difficulty, stability and instability, self-preservation and a quest for greater efficiency in their professional activities. Dynamic changes in the relations with their own classroom situations are reflected in the construction of temporary and transitory moments of stability and in marked changes in their ways of perceiving and apprehending events in different professional contexts. Synthetic modeling of the teachers’ career trajectories shows a number of fluctuations in the process of professional acculturation.

This case study explores the experiences of eight newly appointed teachers at a school for intellectually disabled learners. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to interpret interview data. The literature study investigates the phenomenon of staff turnover and includes key literature themes such as adult learning theories of Senge and Vygotski, the life cycle of a teacher, the special school context and problems and needs experienced by beginning teachers. The key findings of the research were that beginning special education teachers experienced various problems and needs but that, with well planned structured support, these problems could successfully be overcome. The researcher has developed a set of guidelines, which could be used in developing a staff induction programme, aimed at raising the effectiveness of newly appointed teachers at a school for intellectually disabled learners. This research once again emphasizes the need for a well planned, structured induction programme. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)