Professional Development Schools (PDSS) as a Teacher Training Reform in Two Arab Teacher Training Colleges in Israel

Abstract

This research article is a review of the educational reform "professional
development schools" (PDSs) and its implementation in two Teacher Training
colleges in Israel where Arab students qualify to become teachers. The research
instrument is primarily document analysis of evaluation reports published by the
two colleges as well as other publications worldwide. Both researchers are
experienced pedagogical advisers within PDS reform and the traditional
practicum as well. The review starts with describing how the PDS started and
spread in the US, then it describes its implementation in Israel in general and in
two teacher training colleges where Arab students learn, in particular. This
article describes the PDS reform in two Israeli-Arab teacher training institutes:
The Academic Institute for Arab Teacher Training in Beit Berl College and The
Teacher Education Department in Kaye College for Elementary Schools in the
Bedouin Sector. This article presents planning stages and the beginnings of the
PDSs in the two Arab teacher training institutes, the implementation process and
evaluation of goals achievement. Recommendations on how to improve this
teacher education reform implementation in both schools and teacher training
colleges are an integral part of this review article.
Keywords: Professional Development Schools (PDSs), Teacher Training, IsraeliArab, Teacher Training Colleges.