English group takes tours to gather ideas on learning approaches
Central Michigan University chartered schools received a visit from a British research group this week to show the best that charters have to offer in Michigan.
Representatives from Devon Education Services, a British government agency in London, traveled to charter schools that offer different approaches to learning this week.
One school they visited was the Saginaw Chippewa Academy. The academy combines students into multi-aged classrooms with Native American and Montessori-based philosophies of education.
"From the charter school's perspective, it is a great honor to have charter schools internationally recognized as leaders in education," said Academy Specialist Tom Kreiner.
Teacher education and professional development professor Thomas Kromer coordinated the fourth tour in five years with the British government, sending different delegations from around the island nation.
Kromer has done a lot of international work for the Education Department, traveling with students to places like Ghana to learn about different education systems.
The group acts as an advisory support system for schools in England. The adviser for the group, Geoff Tew, provides development advice for teachers and staff.
The tour was funded by the British Council through Teachers International Professional Development, an organization that looks for new ideas and educational strategies. They are focused on improving teacher development, he said.
"There are a lot of parallels in our systems. We're at a similar level of development," Tew said.
Tew said that educational organizations at the district level in Britain is similar to the United States. He wants British schools to have the freedom to innovate and focus on different styles of learning.
The week-long tour gave the British educators the opportunity to talk to administrators at the school, but also observe different techniques in the classroom, Tew said.
"It's extremely enriching for teachers from both countries to be involved in this kind of activity," he said.
Tew hopes the lines of communication will remain open between Devon and CMU after the tour is over.
"When you answer questions, you have to think through what you are doing, and you understand the process better yourself," Kromer said.
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