Refining the Recipe

Phase 2 of the Alphacrucis NECSTEP* research builds on the ​active ingredients found in Phase 1

*Alphacrucis University College NECSTEP (National Embedded Cross Sector Teacher Education Pilot)

Phase 1: Finding the recipe’s active ingredients

In Phase 1 of the Alphacrucis NECSTEP research we were looking for the core ingredients that prepare teacher readiness and how the teaching school model can heighten this readiness. We are grateful for the 66 Pre-service Teachers, Graduate Teachers, and Mentor Teacher’s stories and insights. This rich data has reinforced the complexity of Teaching School model (school-embedded initial teacher education) but has also provided clarity in relation to the active ingredients we are exploring. 

​Analysis of Phase 1 data shows that Pre-service Teachers and Mentor Teachers believe that the need to support and develop the mindset and professional identity of a teacher, along with individual and collaborative reflection, are as important to readiness as the more traditionally measured classroom practice-related elements. A sneak peak of this analysis shows Sustained Engagement ​plays a central role as a core  active ingredient  for professional readiness. The Alphacrucis NECSTEP research team will be submitting a journal article based on Phase 1 data and the core active ingredients at the end of April 2025.

Phase 2: Refining the recipe with personalisation

Phase 2 of the Alphacrucis NECSTEP research is soon to get underway to refine our teacher-readiness recipe with ‘partner chefs’ at the 2025 AATS Leadership Symposium.  
The aim of the Alphacrucis ​NECSTEP research is to develop a framework to support pre-service teachers towards “readiness” as professional teachers. We are calling this the School-embedded Teacher Education Readiness Support (STERS) Framework.  
​
We don’t like cooking alone though, so we will invite you to join us as we use the results from Phase 1 to co-construct a skeleton STERS Framework. Interested Teaching Schools leaders, principals, and their pre-service teachers plus mentor teachers will then get to truly refine the recipe for their context and circumstance. 

For more information:

Contact 
Ms. Cassandra Pendlebury
Alphacrucis (AC) NECSTEP National Director
[email protected]

​NECSTEP research team
Dr. Rachel Perry (ACU),
Associate Professor Susan Westraad (AC),
Associate Professor Tony Loughland (UNSW),
Ms. Cassandra Pendlebury (AC),
Dr. Vanessa Miller (AC),
Mrs. Emily Shea (AC)