Professional development: Empowering educators for success

Good teachers are also good learners. Even the most experienced practitioners in the classroom are continually looking for ways to improve and refine their teaching techniques, so providing effective and valuable professional development is essential. But how can schools give their staff the training they both need and desire?

By Marlborough College Malaysia

The answer lies in schools prioritising professional development for staff and dedicating time where teachers are able to reflect upon their strengths and weaknesses, something that Marlborough College Malaysia embraces whole-heartedly.

Central to the success of the College’s approach to professional development is adopting a positive and proactive approach to learning for both pupils and staff. As well as whole school training days and hosting external conferences, the College has also set up a dedicated Learning and Teaching Committee made up of teachers from within the organisation. This means that professional development is always in focus and is tailored towards the needs of the teachers who work there.

But how does this work on a practical basis?

The Learning and Teaching Committee is open to any staff member who wants to bring their expertise and knowledge to the table. The aim is to share good practice amongst themselves and the rest of the staff body with members of the committee being encouraged to share their ideas regularly. For example, recently the group organised a carousel-style training session in which staff could pick and choose a selection of short workshops based on a range of topics most relevant to them. All of these were delivered by the committee members alongside experienced practitioners. As well as being cost effective, this approach utilises the expertise within the organisation giving staff the opportunity to learn from each other.

In today’s fast-paced environment, the College recognises that educators need ample time for reflection in order to develop in ways best suited to their unique needs and aspirations. Teachers are encouraged to observe other staff members, visit different departments, or dedicate time to reading educational literature. At the heart of this approach lies the support of experienced members of staff who provide coaching and a nurturing environment, empowering all staff members to continually improve and refine their craft.

Of course, in the ever-changing landscape of education, it is important that staff also receive training in new technology. The impact of AI has introduced both opportunities and challenges in the teaching world and schools must be forward thinking in their approach to this. At Marlborough College Malaysia, there is a focus on embracing the benefits of AI while maintaining digital wellbeing for all members of the community. The College has already delivered whole school training in the use of AI and has developed a clear Digital Learning Strategy to make sure that staff feel confident about how to harness the benefits that AI can bring to the classroom. Mr Duncan Ogilive, Director of Digital Learning at the College said,

“To promote individualised and independent learning for our pupils, the upskilling of staff is very important. We have a dedicated AI Committee which is really broad and has influence from a whole host of people. We are making sure that week on week our staff are getting updates, little tips or tricks to create an AI Toolbox which means they have the confidence to go and use these in their teaching.”

As well as refining their technique in the classroom, the majority of teachers also have responsibilities beyond their subject. There are trips to organise, performances to arrange and after-school clubs to run. These ‘extras’ are often what make working in education rewarding but delivering quality experiences for pupils requires good training for staff. As a busy boarding school, Marlborough College Malaysia provides opportunities for teachers to use their interests and hobbies to become highly skilled educators in their specialist areas. The vast array of co-curricular activities on offer at the College means that it invests a great deal of training in its staff to be able to deliver effective outdoor learning, with plans to expand on this in the near future.

The College already offers regular training for its outdoor activities including Forest School, lakes safety training, climbing wall and archery training, as well as First Aid for those who need it. And there are also plans to expand the outdoor learning areas within the grounds to increase its outdoor learning provision. Already, some key members of staff have begun learning bushcraft skills in preparation for the expansion of the Forest School.

Mr Lynden Astil, Director of Co-Curriculum at the College said, “We provide regular training so that we have staff who can run really good quality experiences for our pupils. We recently became members of the ‘The Institute for Outdoor Learning’ in the UK and we have just begun the process of getting key members of our Outdoor Education Team trained up specifically to deliver good quality outdoor learning. That could be anything from taking a chemistry lesson outside instead of in the classroom, or doing something more skills based like delivering a Forest School session. We believe that good quality training for staff leads to good quality learning for our pupils”.

It’s clear that schools who prioritise the professional development of their staff are investing in the future success of the organisation. Along with the training offered by outside organisations, it is also essential to utilise the wealth of experience already present among the staff body. By sharing good practice, every member in the organisation is able to benefit. As well as leading to a highly motivated and competent staff body, this approach also improves the quality of education for pupils allowing the entire school community to thrive and succeed.

About the Company

Described by Singapore’s Tatler as ‘Asia’s only authentic British boarding school’ Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM) offers a co-educational British education in an international setting with over 40 countries represented among the school community. The College has been ranked as one of the top 125 private schools in the world for three consecutive years and delivers a comprehensive and well-rounded education for pupils aged 3-18, conveniently located a short distance from the Singapore border. Visit www.marlboroughcollege.my for more information.