|
Effective Strategies for Alternative Education Programs Aronson (1995) identifies from a number of studies the characteristics of successful alternative education programs. The most easily recognisable aspects these programs included such features as there culture or climate, organisational structure, curriculum and instruction, and their links to other programs and services. The creative design of programs to meet the specific needs of students and community necessitates that the way programs look may vary, however, these general features exist across the range of successful programs. The outline developed by Aronson was identified from a variety of studies (Butchart 1986; Jacobs 1994; Kadel 1994; Kershaw & Blank 1993; Morley 1991; Raywid 1994; Rogers 1991). Successful Features of Alternative Education Programs Culture and Climate - Students and teachers have the choice to participate in the program or school.
- Focus on whole student and their academic, emotional/social and behavioural development.
- Warm, caring relationships between members of the school community
- Teachers act not only as teachers but as counselors, advisors and mentors.
- High but flexible expectations for students
Organisational Structure
- Small size - both schools and classes are small to foster a sense of community, and to enable personal interaction between teachers/students.
- Relative autonomy. Most successful alternative education programs have some degree of freedom from standard district and mainstream school operating procedures. Teachers and often students participate in the management and decision making.
- Comprehensive program including experiential education and vocational components to provide links between the school and the student's future life.
- Counseling programs are integrated into the curriculum of the school
- safe environment. Clear behaviour expectations and disciple administered with fairness and consistency.
- Separation from the traditional school. Programs achieve separation either by establishing themselves in a distinct area of the traditional school or by moving to a different location entirely.
Curriculum and Instruction
- Successful programs give teachers flexibility in designing strategies and methods that will work with their students. Specific strategies include individual learning, cooperative ;learning, competency based learning, team teaching, peer tutoring, tutoring, teaching to multiple intelligences and an absence of tracking. curriculum varies from a focus on basic skills to whose working on personal development and behaviour.
Tags:
|
