Innovative web-based solution to simplify Continuous Professional Development for trainees and mentors

09 August 2007 – The Jewish Primary Schools Consortium (JPSC) has deployed Paragon, to further enhance its School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. 

Web-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) tool, Paragon allows trainee teachers to keep track of their training in one easy-to-access area, whilst simultaneously allowing mentors to monitor their progress. 

By creating an e-portfolio of their work Paragon cuts down the amount of paperwork from the training process and means that trainees can access their work at anytime from any location.  Paragon provides trainee teachers with the facility to regularly update evidence of their training online, enabling them to keep up-to-the-minute records of their work.

Developed by CPD and Performance Management specialists Vantage Technologies, Paragon enhances the method in which JPSC trainees record evidence of their training and supports their ITT development and training requirements.  It allows all trainees to easily upload evidence of their training online, allowing mentors to keep an easy track of the evidence for Standards, which need to be accomplished by trainees. 

With all CPD information stored in a single location, trainee development is easier to monitor and manage, as a result, reviews of progress are more effective, training is focused and all evidence of training is more effectively recorded.

All the required information, from written and video-based evidence to notes on the Standards achieved and targets set, is securely accessible over the Internet at any time by both trainees and mentors, and as a result trainee teachers can efficiently keep their mentors up-to-date on their progress.

The JPSC’s active participation in modernising training methods ties in with the government’s push for the wider use of technology within the education sector.

Jeffrey Leader, director of education said: “We chose this tool because of its flexibility and ease of use.  Paragon’s internet-based approach is very effective, and goes a long way in helping to reduce the amount of paperwork required. 

“Paragon not only benefits the trainees, it also gives mentors a clearer picture of trainees’ progress. We are committed to its use and hope to see it utilised extensively within our organisation.”

According to one student:  “The tool was good and clear to use, it was really helpful to have a system accessible online rather than having to deal with lots of paperwork and I have found the e-profile an excellent way of monitoring my progress.”

Paragon is being used by the JPSC, and already the software has proven to be advantageous to both teacher trainees and mentors within the organisation, and is being considered for use within other areas of the organisation in the future.