Learning and Teaching
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Visit our LTI
Launch page
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Projects: Learning Through Innovation
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- only currently available to project schools
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South Gloucestershire have put in a successful
bid for funding to the DfES in order to carry out a project which
integrates learning and teaching styles with the innovative use of ICT
in order to raise standards across the curriculum.
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All head teachers were sent a briefing sheet and
memo
about the project which
can be accessed here. Head teachers were invited to a consultation meeting to discuss the
project proposal. Two meetings were held and were attended by approximately
50
people. Click here to view the PowerPoint
presentation that was presented to head teachers at the consultation
meeting.
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Schools were asked to formally
apply to participate in the project. From the applications 10 primary
schools, 3 secondary schools and 1 special school were invited to
participate as full pilot schools and 11 primary schools and 2 secondary
schools were able to be involved as partner
/ buddy schools.
Click here to see a copy of the application
letter and form.
All of these schools sent
staff members on a 5 day intensive training course from April 28 - May 2
at the University of the West of England (UWE). Click here for
a list of participating
schools.
Feedback from the training described it as
"inspirational". It is hoped that further
training opportunities can be organised both for project
schools and all other South Gloucestershire Schools.
Materials from the training are being made available to
project schools to support them in disseminating the project
concepts with the rest of their staff.
Unfortunately because of intellectual copyright this part of
the website is only currently available to project schools.
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Overview of the 5-day training
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The training drew together the
expertise of a number of national speakers and covered a whole
range of learning and ICT related activities and how these can
be embedded within the curriculum. Some of the topics
covered were the use of digital images, video and interactive
whiteboards to promote accelerative learning across the
curriculum.
The first day was led by Chris Dickinson and focused on
'Building the Learning Community' and set the tone for a
highly supportive working environment, in which teachers felt
able to try out and share new experiences, and the second day
focused on 'Accelerated Learning in Practice' and was led by
Mark Lovatt of Cramlington Community High School. One
delegate commented that it was a "Brilliant idea to
concentrate the first two days on the learning process and to
phase the ICT bit in!" The ideas introduced by
Mark were found to be "inspirational but
practical!" and provide lots of ideas on "how
to transform learning in the classroom".
John Davitt led a session entitled 'ICT Meets Accelerated
Learning' which colleagues found very useful as it "prompted
a rethink of how to use the technology simply but
creatively" and provided "simple
techniques" and "effective ways of using
'snippets' of ICT to inject into lessons".
Oliver Caviglioli's session on Understanding the concept of
mind mapping enabled colleagues to "see how relevant
and important mind mapping is for allowing children to
structure and organise their own thoughts and ideas and
express their understanding". (inspirational and
motivating)
Ben Walsh led a newsroom simulation activity which encompassed
"what can be done with video - from 100% ignorance to
70% capability in 1.5 hrs" and was found to be "an
extraordinary learning experience".
Colleagues were also given time in supportive school
partnership groups to plan how the training would be
disseminated. South Gloucestershire head teachers and
teachers responded with enthusiasm and energy to the demands
and stimulus from the week. By the end of the weeks
training ICT use was embedded within group working practices
and delegates were working supportively to share their
experiences and expertise with ICT.
One teacher commented that "All South Gloucestershire
teachers should be able to experience" the training
and found "The quality, pace and variety of input was
exemplary and the tasks engaging as well as challenging".
Another participant noted that the experience was "Quite
extraordinary - young teachers deeply moved and inspired to
people with the learning agenda also motivated. The ICT
element was also superb. John Davitt set the whole
context by allowing different levels of engagement. I
feel totally inspired and skilled up with ICT skills I have
waited 2 years to acquire."
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