LOOP: 3rd PRESS REALEASE IS OUT!
LOOP Project Announces Successful Completion of Field Trials on Teacher Induction and Mentor’s Capacity Programs and invites you to the Final Conference.
One month ahead of the official closing of the LOOP project, we are thrilled to unveil the outcomes of the field trials focusing on teacher induction and mentor’s capacity programs. The trials were conducted in selected schools across Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, Croatia, and Italy during the first half of 2023. Leading up to the field trials, a series of events involving a total of 1072 teachers were organized, including the Train the Mentors training course, My Induction Programme workshop, and Info Sessions for Mentors and New Teachers. This resulted in the active participation of 1017 teachers in the field trials.
The key findings from the national events have been synthesized in a comparative report, offering insights into the preparation and execution phases in each partner country. This report will soon be available on the project’s website. The field trials aimed to validate seven hypotheses central to the LOOP project, utilizing tools such as surveys, focus groups, and online interviews.
Key Findings:
- The first hypothesis, examining the impact of formal training for mentors, showcased the value of such programs in the training of experienced teachers. However, flexibility and contextual adaptation were identified as essential in program implementation.
- The second hypothesis, exploring the motivation and commitment of experienced teachers and school leaders acting as mentors, was validated in all countries except Spain, where the desire to become a mentor decreased after the intervention.
- The third hypothesis, focusing on the support of peer-developed teacher’s induction programs, highlighted the general positive impact of mentoring activities on new teachers. However, variations exist, with some countries expressing the need for additional support measures.
- The fourth hypothesis referring to the contribution of formal induction programmes to the social and cultural inclusion and development of new teachers emphasized the need for nuanced approaches in designing induction programs to address the unique needs of new teachers in various contexts.
- The fifth hypothesis, examining the interest and success of participants in structured mentoring programs, underscored their benefits but emphasized the importance of tailoring designs to each national context.
- The sixth hypothesis examined if the training of mentors facilitates the implementation of teachers’ induction programmes and the results affirmed the importance of mentor training in teacher induction programs, advocating for structured, formal training with consideration for variations in implementation across countries.
- The seventh hypothesis indicated that while the lack of resources and guidance is acknowledged, it is not the sole reason for the non-implementation of induction programs in many countries.
The comprehensive conclusions from the field trials will be a central focus of the LOOP final conference, organized and hosted by the University of Lisbon, Portugal, on the 20th of February 2024.
🔔 Save the Date: LOOP Final Conference 🔔
We cordially invite you to register and attend the conference online by visiting this link. The conference will feature sessions and round table discussions, providing a platform for participants to discuss national education administration authorities‘ perspectives on teacher induction processes and share insights from other European countries. A dedicated session towards the end will focus on policy recommendations and initiatives to strengthen teacher induction programs at national levels.
For more information about the event and participant speakers, please visit LOOP Conference.
About LOOP Project
The LOOP project aims to enhance teacher induction programs through mentorship initiatives across Europe, fostering professional development and support for educators. For inquiries or additional information, please contact us through our website (https://empowering-teachers.eu/) and our social media: