2.1 Competências e aptidões do professor

ATD quart monde is a French NGO involving individuals who experience or have experienced poverty.Among other initiatives, it works with ‘folk universities’ (universités populaires) in France, with the aim to generate and gather expert knowledge from its members - participants on a number of issues, including parenting and perception of school.

This continuous professional development (CPD) programme for maths teachers is the largest ever in one single subject in Swedish schools. The objective is to increase the learners? goal achievements by developing the quality of math teaching. The CPD in math takes place locally and includes everyday practice through collaborative learning among teachers.

It is clear from the Irish experience that educational initiatives based in schools can raise the educational level of the adults involved, and result in a general sense of empowerment in the local community. Parental involvement, especially in areas of socio-economic deprivation, does not just benefit the children and the school - it is a crucial aspect of lifelong learning.? (Parents as Partners in Schooling, OECD 1997)

Interactive Groups is one of the Successful Educational Actions (SEAs) identified in the research project INCLUD-ED. INCLUD-ED analysed educational strategies that contribute to overcoming inequalities and promote social cohesion, and those generating social exclusion, particularly focusing on vulnerable and marginalised groups. Interactive Groups are used to improve the education of children and youth in different contexts. They consist of grouping students in a class into small heterogeneous groups, each of them supported by an adult. Each of these groups is organised around four or five students, in a heterogeneous way regarding ability level, gender, culture, language and ethnicity. This example provides an understanding of IG and the results of their practice.

The aim of the module on ‘Teaching bilingual children’ is to prepare all future teachers in Denmark to teach bilingual children. The module aims to prepare future teachers to identify educational challenges linked to second (state) language in the teaching of subject knowledge and to favour bilingual pupils' linguistic and academic development in linguistically diverse classrooms. The module on ‘General education/KLM' aims to prepare all future teacher in Denmark to be able interpret public school purposes, the development of professional ethics and to handle complex challenges in the teacher work in the context of cultural, value-based and religious diversity. It aims for future teachers "in a nuanced and reflective way, (…) to relate to ethical, political, democratic and religious challenges associated with education, parent involvement and school in a globalised society". Both measures are mandatory at all university colleges providing ITE in Denmark.

Finland has been developing innovative teaching methods and procedures to cater for individual needs through the use of activity based learning, small group teaching, on-the-job learning and different learning environments to reduce dropout.

With the intention of documenting the most innovative learning techniques and of making the methodologies easy to apply in any school, the Spanish psychologist and researcher Alfredo Hernando travelled over a period of nine months through countries in five continents. The book’s aim is to be a practical guide and, as an answer to the common question: “What can I do in my school?”, it proposes 80 specific actions.

The main aim of the network is to prepare student teachers to teach in diverse classrooms. Specifically, the network aims to: - help student teachers develop intercultural sensitivity; - inspire ideas and promote the implementation of intercultural practices in schools; - act as a network for student teachers who are interested in inter-culturality and heterogeneity; - act as a forum for discussion and exchange about challenges and approaches in the teaching in diverse classrooms; - provide student teachers with specific knowledge and practical experiences. The group initiates the exchange of information and experience about teaching in intercultural settings, and organises support measures for refugees. The main target group of the network is student teachers, but practicing teachers and other relevant groups such as university staff are also targeted. The network was initially intended for student teachers with a migrant background, but it soon shifted its focus towards all students.

The Master’s Programme in ‘Educational Treatment of Diversity (ETD) is aimed at Bachelor graduates in pedagogy, and at education practitioners (kindergarten pedagogues and administrators, school administrators, VET administrators, college and university administrators) willing to improve their intercultural competences. The programme aims at creating an interdisciplinary system of knowledge, skills and integrated socio-pedagogical, psychological and special pedagogical competences to mainstream diversity in education. The programme content consists of two main parts: Part A: Compulsory modules (including the research/master’s thesis), including courses on: ‘International and comparative frame of educational treatment of diversity’; ‘Educational treatment of special needs proceeding from cultural diversity’; ‘Management and programmes of educational treatment of diversity’, etc.; Part B: Optional courses, including: ‘Research methodology for educational treatment of diversity’; ‘Work integration and rehabilitation of people with diverse special needs’. The process is organised as e-studies, with weekly in-person or Skype meetings with professors.