Cognition

This project works with each school to develop a programme of support based on the teaching and learning needs of the school and of individual teachers. The support includes face-to-face coaching, in- class observation and feedback, and the use of video analysis, workshops and seminars.

The curriculum context and teaching strategies focus on improving learning outcomes for students.

The findings of the Best Evidence Synthesis series guides the direction of the support, and there are strong links to the principles of effective formative assessment practice.

Between 1998 and 2007 Cognition was contracted by the Ministry of Education to provide professional development support to schools through the Assess to Learn contract.

In 2007-2008, Cognition was contracted by the Ministry of Education to provide professional development for school leaders in effective leadership and planning for ICT.

From 1998 – 2008,  English and ESOL Online were developed, firstly by Unitec NZ then  Cognition, for the Ministry of Education, as interactive online communities of practice encouraging contribution, communication and collaboration for teachers of English and  ESOL and mainstream teachers of English language learners.

The INSTEP project seeks to align the principles of effective in-service teacher education, as expressed in the Teacher Professional Learning and Development Best Evidence Synthesis, with the limited research and anecdotal evidence about developing effective online communities of practice.