Education in the 21st Century
Titan Partnership held a Conference on Education in the 21st Century on 10th October 2008.
This year the conference took place at
Aston Business School Conference Centre (Aston University).
Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum QCA, provided the keynote speech.
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Mick Waters PresentationMick Waters PresentationThe following workshops were delivered:
Extended Services - Lyn Reynolds
Schools increasingly are recognising that they cannot consider a child's educations requirements without due regard to the impact of the broader range of issues, such as physical, social and emotional well-being. Put simply, this acknowledges that how a child performs in the classroom depends on more that what happen in the classroom....As schools and partner organisations measure, monitor and review their strengths and weaknesses, they will identify gaps in existing provision, or areas where attainment could be improved” DCFS
This will be an inter-active workshop to show how Extended Services can harness all of the resources in a locality to help children and young people to reach their full potential.
Extended Schools Trust and Foundation Schools and the opportunities they offer - Mary Neate
The workshop will cover the following:
- an overview of Trust and Foundation Schools, the aims, and the process of implementation
- how Trust Status can contribute to raising standards
- the vision and focus of the Trust and how it will make a difference
- the choice and contribution of external partners and the role they will play
- opportunities for questions
Trust SchoolsSymbolic Maths - Richard Dunne
This session will be of interest to everyone with an interest in the aims and methods of teaching mathematics. The mathematics presented will be relevant to teaching in all phases of schooling.
The session will illustrate in detail a unique and important mathematics programme. Focused on progression towards abstract and symbolic mathematics, it is based on just Twelve Big Ideas for a consistent foundation for subsequent learning. The reason for doing this goes beyond any aspiration for higher results in mathematics.
The 21st Century is bringing and will bring extraordinary advances in technology as well as in forms of social organisation. Schools are persuaded, or required, to respond to these changes by incorporating any number of ‘modern’ features into their work. The siren voice of ‘relevance’ and ‘functional maths’ is routinely recruited. Little attention is given to the role of mathematics as a ready-made response to ‘modernity’. Its importance is disguised by the manner in which it is routinely taught as well as the established reasons (‘relevance’ and ‘functional maths’) used to justify its place in the curriculum. Mathematics is more important than this.
Mathematics has a unique role in making cognitive development possible – starting the process that is required and developed in all other school subjects. It is the key to development of higher order mental processes - the distinguishing feature of being human.
Symbolic MathsSchools and Community Cohesion - Karen Jerwood
The workshop will explore the strategic issues for schools regarding community cohesion and the Duty to promote Community Cohesion in practice. The focus of the workshop will be looking at good practice examples within the framework of the Duty and the key strategic issues. The workshop will also look at working effectively with partners, including through extended provision
VLEs - Ray Surridge
The workshop will explore how the North West Birmingham Collegiate has fostered the development of virtual learning in six local secondary schools.
The workshop will cover:
The application of VLEs in schools
An evaluation of North West Collegiate Virtual Learning Project
Issues arising from the project
The impact and implications for schools, teachers and students
This will be followed by discussion of the issues arising from the workshop.
Lost in transition - Sean O'Toole
Providing guidance on easing transition between KS1 and KS2, and KS2 and KS3. (A separate session on transition between Foundation Stage and Year 1 is also available)
This workshop will include examples of bridging projects, recent good practice and success stories and a brainstorming session for delegates (aiming to take away three practical tasks)
Safeguarding - Alyson Sayers
The way in which to handle disclosure of abuse is often a cause of anxiety for professionals working with children. Understanding one’s role and responsibility for initiating procedures for safeguarding children is most important.
The aims and learning outcomes of this workshop are:
1. To enable participants to be conversant with methods of handling disclosure and recording of information.
2. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon their own personal attitudes and values and considered the impact of these upon ways of managing disclosure.
3. Participants will have an understanding of their role and responsibility to the child/young person in initiating interagency procedures for safeguarding children.
The leadership of Personalised Learning - Peter Kent
The workshop will explore the new framework being developed by the National College for School Leadership to support the development of personalised learning. As part of the session we will:
1. Look at the key components of personalised learning
2. Discuss how to lead personalised learning within schools
3. Explore a range of activities and materials designed to support the development of personalisation.
Using assessment data to raise standards - John Hill
Using data for setting targets, tracking progress and measuring the impact. The focus of these workshops is on how schools can use data to help raise
standards. Reference will also be made to the latest LA and national
data for 2008.
Primary - From Foundation to the end of Key Stage 2
Secondary - From KS3 to post-16
21st Century Technology for a 21st Century Classroom - Russell Prue
Russell will be featuring in his workshop amongst other products his latest invention designed to motivate reluctant writers. The cre8txt keyboard is based on the key layout of a mobile phone and so embraces the text skills that young people have developed themselves. Russell will also be showing how he as used SecondLife to setup an office and training room that can serve customers 24 hours a day and how colleagues may like to experiment with this virtual world.
Russell’s presentation “21st Century Technology for a 21st Century Classroom” will appeal to all colleagues. Taking a brief look at the challenges that China and other key G8 countries will bring to the world’s job market, Russell will take a refreshing look at how we could use new social networking technologies in our learning and teaching spaces. Russell will propose new learning strategies and then demonstrate live how colleagues may like to use them. This session is all about making ICT more learner centric, engaging learners on their terms using their technology, Sony PSPs and multi-player quiz environments will be demonstrated. Please bring your mobile phone with you to participate fully in Russell’s session.
Countering the KS3 dip - Pam Morris
Pam will share some examples of year 9 programmes that:
• build from the new secondary curriculum
• have a focus on skills development
• include learner choice
• look forward to key stage 4.
There will be an opportunity to discuss the issues involved in decisions about operating a condensed key stage 3, what that might mean, and how it could work in a situation where students are progressing to a Diploma delivered within a consortium.
Pastoral Leadership - Paul Wolstenholme
This workshop will focus on the role of pastoral leadership in developing Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLT’s) which are a key feature of the New Secondary Curriculum. It is suitable for staff at all levels who have a pastoral role in schools including teachers who are also form tutors. The intended outcomes are for the participants to:
- gain a greater understanding of the New Secondary
Curriculum PLT’s;
- consider how PLT’s are currently provided for their schools;
- identify ways in which PLT’s can be further developed through pastoral programmes including the SEAL programme.
Raising Attainment in Mathematics - Gillian Gibbs
This workshop will outline a project looking at Raising Attainment in Mathematics in Aston Schools. We will discuss strategies used to improve the standard of teaching and learning in primary schools and how they have impacted on pupils. The use of ICT in raising standards will also be examined. The project has been extended to include secondary schools in Aston with the aim of aim of aiding the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 and so I will include details of the ways in which successful interventions used in Key Stage 2 can be implemented at Key Stage 3.
The impact of youth street culture - Wesley King
The workshop will take a subjective veiw on youth culture, giving attendees an opportunity to discover and discuss the issues that currently concern professionals and parents. Practitioners will be able to compare youth culture, society and its relation to the advent of affiliated lifestyles. This will include antecedents and the behaviour of young people that perpetuates a culture and lifestyle.
Details to follow on the following workshopsTeaching Literacy in the 21st Century
Integrated Children's Services
14-19 Curriculum
Teaching the Diplomas
Programme for the Day.
Please download an application form
here.
Please contact the Titan Partnership office if you would like further information.
