Quality by Design: Research-based enhancement of swimming and water safety teacher training

This presentation reports on a collaborative research project between Edith Cowan University and AUSTSWIM, a national and international provider of training and accreditation for swimming and water safety teaching. The... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation reports on a collaborative research project between Edith Cowan University and AUSTSWIM, a national and international provider of training and accreditation for swimming and water safety teaching. The research focuses on AUSTSWIM’s presenter training, assessment and appraisal. This reflects that presenters are teacher educators for the aquatic industry. AUSTSWIM has over 200 accredited presenters who are licensed to run AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety courses. Empirically the project responds to the challenges of maintaining quality teaching standards in a growing and competitive industry context. Methodologically it reflects a shared commitment to empowering practitioners and supporting professional learning through research. The project is employing a design-based research approach with the intent of promoting practitioner ownership and professional learning across all stages. Design-based research involves work with practitioners to define a pedagogical problem and progressively develop, test and refine solutions in authentic, real life local contexts. In this project, issues of quality in relation to AUSTSWIM’s current training, assessment and appraisal are the focus of attention in firstly, defining the ‘pedagogical problem’ and subsequently, developing, testing and refine contextually appropriate, authentic ‘solutions’.

This presentation details the research design and methods, reports findings from the first two stages of a four-phase project utilising multiple methods, and concludes by reflecting on the learnings from the project to date and discussing next steps in the research. Phase 1 focuses on the strengths and limitations of (i) AUSTSWIM's current presenter training (online and practically based) and assessment; and (ii) AUSTSWIM's current systems and processes to support ongoing appraisal and professional learning, and assure sustained quality across the presenter network - from the perspective of presenters and other stakeholders. Phase 2 involves the presenters and stakeholders exploring targeted changes to training, assessment, appraisal and professional learning to enhance system-wide quality of teaching.