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A formative evaluation of selected aspects of the resource teacher program in the Australian Capital Territory

This study describes an evaluation of some aspects of the
Australian Capital Territory Resource Teacher Program
during 1985. The Resource Teacher Program was an
Australian Capital Territory Schools Authority initiative
whereby an additional specially trained teacher was
allocated to a school to assist with fulfilling particular
needs which the school had identified.
The study used two techniques to collect information,
questionnaire and interview. The questionnaire data was
analysed and provided response frequencies of all 263
respondents in relation to students, teachers, parents and
schools in each of the sixteen schools in the Program.
Interviews were also conducted to allow for those involved
in the Resource Teacher Program to make a direct
contribution to the study's information base.
Aspects of two theoretical education evaluation approaches
were used as the basis of the study's theoretical
framework. The TenBrink model was used, working from
required judgements through to recommendations. Aspects of
Stake's approach to educational evaluational were also used
to enable identification of issues and to facilitate input
of the Resource Teacher Program's participants.
It was shown that students who had been involved in the
Resource Teacher Program benefitted in the areas of
academic progress, behaviour modification programs,
previously unmet needs and gifted and talented programs.
Teacher benefits were in the areas of in-school curriculum
and advisory support. Parents who had been involved in the
Program had benefitted by developing an increased
understanding of current educational practice and how to
help their children. Schools had benefitted through better
use of school counsellors, increased parent participation
and improved teaching resources.
The identification of issues which required consideration
in order to enhance the Program's effectiveness were of
major importance in this study. These included the Resource
Teachers' role definition, Resource Teacher stress, school
commitment to the Resource Teacher Program, evaluation of
the Program, the training program, the notion of secondary
school resource teachers and the Australian Capital
Territory's Schools Authority's commitment to the Resource
Teacher Program.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219064
Date January 1988
CreatorsJones, Peter J., n/a
PublisherUniversity of Canberra. Education
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Rights), Copyright Peter J. Jones

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