Building Norms for Professional Growth in Beginning Teachers: A Learning Consortium Initiative

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the goals of Junior/Intermediate Option 2, a preservice and induction program initiated by the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto, and the Learning Consortium (a schoolboard/university partnership), is to explore the formation of peer groups and improve the significance of peer relationships among preservice and induction teachers. The authors report on the specific cooperative learning structure of Base Support Groups used to foster a sense of community in the Junior/Intermediate preservice program (J/I Option 2). The data suggest that the use of the Base Support Group (a valuable cooperative learning strategy in teacher education) is an important component of the process of fostering collegiality and collaboration. The base support group is not only valuable in the preservice program but also is effective as a mechanism for ongoing support in the induction phase. In this study, base support groups are instrumental in facilitating understanding in preservice course work; enhancin...