invitation to join the leading edge learning project 2014-15 a unique opportunity to set up a school...

INVITATIONto join the

Leading Edge Learning Project 2014-15A unique opportunity to set up a school funded, external tutor supported,

classroom/practitioner based, action research project around an area of learning and teaching which you want to change, with the intended outcome of improving student

learning.

More Information: https://creative-educate.wikispaces.com/International+School+of+Paris

Personal growth, professional development, and the learning community at the International School of Paris

When: Monday, December 1st Time: 17:00 – 18:30Venue: Beethoven Gym Light refreshments will be providedRSVP: Head of School, Simon Murray at [email protected]

International School of Paris – Where the world goes to school | www.isparis.edu

https://creative-educate.wikispaces.com/



mailto:[email protected]

What’s it all about?

It’s about your professional practice and the firm belief that providing opportunities for you to continue learning and developing your practice will

improve the school, the system and most importantly, it will have a positive impact on ISP students’ learning and wellbeing.






A recent discussion paper commissioned by the National Association of Headteachers in the UK (September 2014) defined continuing professional development as:

Professional learning that has a positive impact on student outcomes and allows teachers to thrive, while at the same time supporting the needs of their institution and the wider system.

(Leadership Focus, Issue 66 Nov/Dec 2014, p.10)

http://www.bluewaveswift.co.uk/Content/files/CPD-whitepaper.pdfhttp://www.teacherdevelopmenttrust.org/evidence/

http://goodcpdguide.com/ http://www.innovatemyschool.com/industry-expert-articles/item/745-spending-money-on-cpd?-dont-let-it-go-to-waste.html






The same NAHT article identified key characteristics of effective CPD:

It prioritises valued outcomes for learnersIt is a collaborative processIt allows participants to exercise a degree of choice in its formulationIt draws down the appropriate amount of specialist expertiseIt is sustained over a long period (usually at least 10 weeks and/or 30 hours over a year)It includes opportunities to practice and apply learningIt draws on evidence of changes in practiceIt is structured learning and this assists and connects with ongoing self-development(Leadership Focus, NAHT, Issue 66 Nov/Dec 2014, p.10)






Leading Edge Learning Project

At the macro, big picture level, it’s about investigating the impact structured, professional development has on the school as a learning

community in order to change and improve learning outcomes for students.

At the micro, classroom level, it’s about teachers investigating aspects of their practice – what they want to change, improve or put under the

microscope to see what, how, why…it works and to share their findings.





The Leading Edge Learning Project

Leading Edge: pushing the boundaries, risk taking, creative, imaginative, innovative, distinctive, taking it further, working out of the comfort zone into the deep learning zone, changes something

Learning: teacher learning/student learning/school learning/wider system learning, changes something

Project: action research approach, planned, stated intentions, defined parameters, projected outcomes, collaborative, degree of choice, time defined, resourced, supported, practised and applied,

evaluated, changes something







Checkland & Holwell, 1998

Research approach



PROCESS – WHAT DOES A PROJECT LOOK LIKE?

We are framing this within an action research approach.This means you start with a burning question, an itch, an irritation, something you want to change – there are examples, articles and questions on the website.Think, reflect (discuss with others) on how important it is to you to change your practice/those of others you work withConsider what you would like the situation to look like in 6-12 months time – do some wishful thinking, be careful - it’s very powerful!Consider what you need to help you make the changes – people, resources, time, willingness…Consider what might stop or block you

Your tutors’ role is to support your thinking around: framing a good investigation, baselining/identifying starting points, advising on ethical conduct, advising on relevant research, providing opportunities for reflection with others, analysing, synthesising and presenting your findings.





PROCESSOutcomes and Dissemination

All project groups will provide a ‘tribune’ article reporting on their project;

All project groups will give a short presentation of their findings at an ISP staff professional practice conference; Most will provide a more in-depth seminar of their project at an ISP staff professional practice conference;

Some will submit their findings for presentation at an IB or other professional practice conference;

Some will prepare research style articles for submission to relevant professional practice or educational research publications.





PROCESS - PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

You should complete this after discussions with colleagues

Support and funding is available for 9 projects in total so forming teams might be a helpful strategy; this does not exclude individual proposals

Refer to the guidance notes

Read some of the articles on action research on the website

Give an overview of your project idea in a succinct manner

Consider carefully what the costs might be – be realistic, get advice from admin colleagues if unsure about some areas, e.g. cover teacher costs





PROCESS - Timescale – key dates to be aligned to school diary and confirmed

- December 2014 – Briefing meeting for all interested teaching staff at ISP. Introduced by Simon Murray and the ISP Principals. Meet the supervising tutors: Phil Whitehead, Erica Holley, Robin McClelland. Outline of the Project; Q and A.- Interested? Talk with other colleagues who might also be interested. Talk with members of your teaching and learning teams, within and across departments; discuss with your Principal. - Complete a PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM by the published school deadline and hand in to your Principal.- Notification of bid success or deferral (January 2015). - January 2015 Receive a joining pack from ISP/supervising tutors.

- January/early February 2015 – Learning Project commences. Face to Face 1 – tutorials and seminars. Meet your Leading Edge Learner colleagues and the supervising tutors. - 1st Skype conference with tutor (1 hour max); 1 hour equivalent email follow up from tutor- March/April 2015 – Face to Face 2 as above; - May/June - Skype conference 2. and email follow up- June-September - analysis of project outcomes- September 2015 Face to Face 3; synthesis & preparation of report, exhibition, presentation/ publication;

- Skype 3. + email support from tutor- October/November 2015 DISSEMINATION – ideally a Leading Edge Learner Conference for all ISP staff- December 2015 – second cycle, ongoing monitoring of outcomes, recruit & support new Leading Edge cohort





PROCESSFace to Face supervising tutor meetings - 3 in total over the project duration

Scenario: Tutors arrive in Paris Thursday evening/Friday morning; Friday lunchtime - briefing with Head and Principals; Friday afternoon - tutorials with project groups/individuals; each tutor will supervise 3 projects – logistics to consider here – tutorials may involve a range of agreed activities to gather info and support teachers e.g. meeting project group, classroom observations, shadowing, discussions with students…Friday twilight (after school) – seminars; a structured session when tutors meet with the whole project group to share activities, ideas, present papers for discussion, provide a reflective space. Post session aperitifs (optional!)Saturday morning (e.g. 09.30-12.30) – seminars and tutorials; input on action research approaches and process from tutors, whole group discussions, readings, further opportunities for individual/group tutorials, action planning; session finishes with light lunch (on the school)





Q and A

Please spend a few minutes talking to colleagues and then we will open the floor to questions and discussion





invitation to join the leading edge learning project 2014-15 a unique opportunity to set up a school...

Documents

head of school

school funded

professional learning

learning outcomes

learning community

structured learning

student learning

area of learning