A typical week?

The weekly programme? On Monday and Wednesday I have two classes. One is on Educational Psychology and goes from 1115 am to 1230pm. The format is always based around discussion - students are always required to read relevant texts and be prepared to contribute to the group. We sit in a circle and away we go. The facilitator has an indepth knowledge of psychology and  is experienced in posing questions to keep us going. My fellow class mates are mainly looking at counselling as a career. They are a clever, articulate and insightful group. I spend the afternoon on these days 330 to 5pm with teacher trainees. They are completing a course to get them ready for teaching next year. This is much like our own COE trainees.

Tuesday is research and preparation day. Thursday I visit a High School for the day. We are up at 630am and at school by 730am. School starts at 8am and finishes at 255pm. I have a host teacher whose classroom I visit and observe. I also get the chance to take in other classes operating around me in other classrooms. Break times are limited and some - around lunchtime are staggered to allow all students to have a lunch at the canteen (please see picture below). I observed students run a start up for a community programme called 'Build On'. Here students raise funds to help build a dwelling or other for a country in need. Last years country was Haiti.

On Friday between 930am and 1230pm we have an international education class run by CDIER where all Fulbright Teachers attend. We discuss issues pertinent to education internationally and in the US. Guest speakers join us and last Friday we addressed such issues as racial and gender discrimination. On Saturday we are in our 'Instructional Strategies for Thinking, Collaboration and Motivation' as described below. The IU has excellent eatery options where food is cooked in front of you based on different choices: very healthy and popular!

Professor Curt Bonk in full flight: Saturday Morning at IU.