project summary
qinghai province science teacher training program

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | accomplishments to date

project goals & context

Trace Foundation is committed to improving the quality of education within Tibetan areas in China. Tibetan-speaking teachers, however, are primarily trained for Tibetan language and literature subjects. Recognizing the limits this places on the further development of mother-tongue education in other subjects, Trace started in 2007 the Qinghai Science Teacher Training Program (QSTTP), a three-year initiative designed to improve the quality of Tibetan-medium education in the five subject areas of math, physics, chemistry, biology, and geography.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | accomplishments to date

project description

Focusing on the needs of local communities in Tsolho, Malho, and Tsoshar Prefectures, Trace Foundation’s QSTTP aims to produce a replicable model of high-quality instruction, with documented results in the traditionally poorly performing area of natural science education. The project was further designed to collaborate with the ongoing Tsolho Junior Middle School Project (JMSP) to conserve resources and develop synergy. In partnership with 20 project schools and county- and prefecture-level education bureaus, the project will focus on raising the quality of instruction through:

Improved teacher training in subject matter and teaching methodologies;
Improved quality of and access to Tibetan-medium study and teaching materials;
Creating well-managed schools;
Increased teacher motivation;
Project documentation and dissemination.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | accomplishments to date

planned activities

Teacher training:

37 teachers to train other teachers at all 21 project schools: After receiving training in student-centered teaching methodology, teachers will return to their schools and instruct others based on what they have learned.
3 subject-area training sessions to be held: Teachers will receive additional annual training in their subject areas in the winters of 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Tibetan-medium teaching materials:

5 New Tibetan-language teaching materials to be printed: 2 teacher reference books and 3 auxiliary study books selected during the first project workshop will be printed with support from the Foundation.
Teaching materials to be made available online: Tibetan-medium teaching materials will be hosted on a website developed by Trace Foundation, and devoted to mother-tongue education.

Teacher motivation:

10 scholarships to be awarded: The best performing teacher trainers will be granted a scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree.

Project documentation and dissemination:

Project implementation to be recorded: All phases of project implementation will be recorded through photographs, videos, voice recording, as well as physical objects.
Final workshop to be conducted: Taking the results of the project as a foundation, a final workshop will be conducted in collaboration with the TJMSP to determine a replicable training model for use in future projects. The final evaluation report to be signed by both Trace Foundation and the Provincial Education Bureau.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | accomplishments to date

accomplishments to date

Teacher training:

Preliminary workshop held to identify needs: Conducted a joint workshop with Tsolho Prefecture Junior Middle School Project with 41 administrators from all 21 project schools to identify auxiliary teaching material needs and a training model for projects.
21 teachers and administrators trained in internet communication: A 3-day internet training designed to ease communication between Trace staff and project schools was held.
37 education professionals trained in student-centered teaching methodology: A 1-week training lead by international expert Tom Lyons was held for teachers, administrators, and government officials from project areas.
Teacher Training Coordination Unit established: Outstanding teachers from project schools were selected to aid in the cascading teacher training program.

Tibetan-medium teaching materials:

Tibetan Mother Tongue Education website initiated: A website was designed to aid in the dissemination of replicable and successful models of Tibetan-medium education.

documentation and dissemination:

Baseline survey performed: A survey was conducted to enable staff to measure project outputs at its conclusion.

project goals & context | project description | planned activities | accomplishments to date

project: quick facts

duration:
August 2007 – August 2010

budget: $887,125 USD

location: Qinghai Province,
Tsolho (Hainan) Prefecture,
Malho (Huangnan) Prefecture,
Tsohar (Haidong) Prefecture

QSTTP project partners:

• Qinghai Provincial Education Bureau
• Chentsa County Nationalities Middle School No. 2, Malho Prefecture
• Chentsa County Nationalities Middle School, Malho Prefecture
• Tonggen Center Boarding School, Guide County, Tsolho Prefecture
• Duodun Junior Middle School, Tsekhok County, Malho Prefecture
• Gendun Chöphel Private School, Repgong (Tongren) County, Malho Prefecture
• Guide County Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Hökha Township Nationalities Middle School, Xinghai County, Tsolho/Hainan Prefecture
• Hening Xiu Junior Middle School, Tsekhok County, Malho Prefecture
• Hor Junior Middle School, Tsekhok County, Malho Prefecture
• Hexiu Yifu, Tongte County, Tsolho Prefecture
• Kungho County Huanhu Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho/Hainan Prefecture
• Kungho County Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Mepa Nationalities Middle School, Repgong County, Malho Prefecture
• Repgong County Nationalities Boarding School, Malho Prefecture
• Repgong County Nationalities Middle School, Malho Prefecture
• Tsekhok County Nationalities Middle School, Malho Prefecture
• Tungte County Khagang Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho/Hainan Prefecture
• Tungte County Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Xinghai County Nationalities Middle School, Tsolho Prefecture
• Yifu Nationalities Middle School, Repgong County, Malho Prefecture

project summary qinghai province science teacher training program

project goals & context

project description

planned activities

accomplishments to date

project: quick facts

project summary
qinghai province science teacher training program