About AQs/ABQs*
Additional Qualifications (AQs) and Additional Basic Qualifications (ABQs) are an element of professional development for certified teachers designed to enable individuals to enhance professional practice. These courses are developed by teachers for teachers and reflect the experience and pedagogy of the teaching profession in Ontario. ABQs/AQs are offered for certified members of the Ontario College of Teachers.
What are Additional Basic Qualifications?
Additional Basic Qualifications courses allow teachers to add another division or general studies subject area to what they are already qualified to teach. ABQ courses can prepare teachers to teach students at the primary, junior, intermediate or senior level. They can also provide English or French-speaking teachers with the skills to work in the other language. They also support a teacher's professional practice by extending skills and knowledge in design, delivery and assessment in the division or subject.
What are Additional Qualifications?
Additional Qualifications courses allow teachers to expand their knowledge and skills within the divisions and subjects in which they are already qualified or to acquire knowledge in new subject areas. AQs allow teachers to focus on leadership and curriculum development; they extend teachers' knowledge and skills in the design and delivery of specific programs and they also support professional practice by preparing teachers to assume specific roles such as coordinator or consultant for a particular course or program.
Inquiry
The teacher inquiry is 60 hours of logged independent work that involves developing a question of inquiry, doing an analysis on the review of literature related to the question, talking to an educator about their experience with the subject of the inquiry, developing a plan for investigating the question and completing a structured reflection based on a personal gap analysis. All of this is presented in a written report.
*Adapted from information provided on The Ontario College of Teachers website.
