Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) is now possible at any time and from any location owing to the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) online platform that expands access and development opportunities for teachers. “The challenge with face-to-face training is that only a limited number of participants can attend, leading to exclusion. However, through the online platform inclusivity and participation is increased,” explained National Institute for Curriculum and Professional Development (NICPD): Chief Director, Mr Enoch Rabotapi.
“The role of the NICPD is to manage a system of Teacher Professional Development and to ensure that teacher development programmes are delivered, managed and monitored in a coordinated manner. The NICPD also has a responsibility to transform processes for the delivery of TD programmes and ensure that they comply with the principles of new workplace learning (NWL). Though the TPD online platform, the NICPD aims to give authority back to teachers and ensure that they take charge of their own professional development. Furthermore, this will encourage a mind-set shift on the part of the system and educators by ensuring that we move away from manual processes to an online platform in compliance with the requirements of skills for a changing world. Currently, the platform makes use of microlearning programmes offering short programmes spanning a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 45 minutes for teachers to acquire skills and accumulate points. The intention is for the training programmes to be expanded to include full programmes. In addition, the plan is for all training to be registered on the platform, be it online or face-to-face as a holistic CPTD training record,” added Mr Rabotapi.
In addition, a portfolio of every teacher is created and updated on the system. It is also possible for an administrator to obtain teacher training information on the system. Two of the following four fields are required for practicing teachers to log into the system and to register online: PERSAL number, SACE Number, Surname or ID number.
The online platform will assist teachers with access to quality programmes and opportunities for ongoing development, thereby improving prospects for improved classroom practices and learning outcomes. The online platform will also encourage teachers to self-reflect through the online self-reflection portal. The platform will encourage teacher collaboration through the personal development pathways, online chat platforms, as well as the establishment of online Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Data generated through the online platform will enable better planning for full programmes. It will also make it easy for District Teacher Development Centres and Provincial Teacher Development Institutes to work with subject advisors and Teacher Development officials to monitor progress on the implementation of programmes to respond more effectively to teacher needs through the development of relevant programmes that are responsive to teacher needs.
Phase 1 and phase 2 of the platform have been completed and are now live and ready for use. Phase 3 of the project will involve collaboration with SACE, where full programmes will be accommodated. This means that through phase 3, a programme can be delivered through the platform, and teachers will automatically be credited with points upon completion. Phase 3 will also make it possible for certificates to be generated upon completion. Even when a programme is conducted face-to-face, participants will be registered onto the platform. This will enable all training programmes to be registered onto the platform, and through a click of a button, a register of all training programmes conducted in a year can be printed out. This will make reporting easy and seamless. The completion of phase 3 of the platform is dependent on availability of additional funding. The completion of phases 1 and 2 have been made possible through funding from the ETDP SETA.
The establishment of the NICPD was as a result of a recommendation in the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Development in South Africa, 2011 – 2025 (ISPFTED), and was established as a Chief Directorate in the DBE in 2014. The plan remains to have the NICPD established outside the DBE.
Click on the below link to view the video: http://nicpd.online/welcome/demonstration.mp4