Teacher Corps Goes International: The Micronesia/Ponape Experience

This document describes the East Caroline Islands lying in the Ponape District and the development of a Teacher Corps inservice program to aid public school teachers in professional development. Program objectives were to: (1) up-grade basic and professional skills of Micronesian interns; (2) implement a University Without Walls baccalaureate program in the Trust Territory for Micronesians; (3) demonstrate a model for teacher training which could be implemented in other parts of Micronesia; (4) utilize and support the teacher education programs at the Community College of Micronesia; and (5) develop culturally relevant teacher training curriculum materials. The project also sought to combine three elements into its degree process: academic, inservice, and community. The program dealt with instruction in Generic Teaching Skills, Interactional Analysis, English Improvement, Mathematics Improvement, Social Studies Methods, Lesson Planning, Evaluation, and Community Education. This instruction, in conjunction with course work at the Community College of Micronesia, previous course work at other colleges, and documentation of previous work and life experiences, comprise the total degree plan of each intern. Upon completion the intern receives a Bachelor of Science Degree with special emphasis on teacher training. (MJB)