Teacher/Intern Partnerships in Isolated Areas: A Project Overview

Abstract

This paper reports on a collaborative project which aims to improve the preparation of preservice teachers for teaching in rural and remote schools. Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has joined with Education Queensland, Priority Country Area Program (PCAP), the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) and the Board of Teacher Registration (BTR) to trial an internship for 4th year Bachelor of Education students in isolated schools in Queensland. The ultimate goal of the project is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in remote and isolated areas. The project will trial the use of a mentor/intern model of professional development where students and teachers work together over a six week period and share a normal teaching work load. Experienced teachers will be given the opportunity to work closely with student teachers nearing the end of the pre-service program while the student teachers will gain from the experience of teachers familiar with special needs of schools in these communities.

Listening to Country Voices: Preparing Attracting and Retaining Teachers for Rural and Remote Areas

“…It was hoped that a collaborative approach to intemships based in rural and remote areas would encourage participants to be actively engaged in interactions designed facilitate reflective and interactive teaching practices as well as participate effectively within the community. As Yarrow, Ballantyne, Hansford, Herschell and Millwater (1998) point out, the process will involve teachermentors and student~intems working together to develop and improve relationships with students and the wider community.…”