http://lsl.eun.org

Outcomes and RecommendationsLSL Observation and Documentation of Practice:

How connected is your school?Diana Bannister

dianabannister@wlv.ac.uk@DianaBannister

University of Wolverhampton30th September 2014

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Aims of Session

To share the outcomes and recommendations from the Living Schools Lab project.

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Introduction

Co-ordinated by European Schoolnet (EUN)

15 partners, network of schools and teachers across 12 countries

Supported by the European Commission’s FP7

A two-year Project: October 2012 to September 2014

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Living Schools Lab project• Creating a network of primary and secondary schools to showcase and demonstrate innovative use of ICT;• Gathering evidence of innovative practice in classrooms across Europe;• Providing new professional development opportunities for teachers;• Mainstreaming innovative practice via pan-European and regional collaboration;• Building a network of schools for validation pilots and a turnkey validation service.

Infrastructure

Leadership

National and International Initiatives

Training and Professional

Development

Integration of ICT across

the curriculum

Student Involvement

Evaluation and

Research

Partnerships

Networks

http://lsl.eun.org

‘There are many more mountains to be moved and first footprints to make.’

TromsØ, Norway LSL - Diana Bannister October 2013

12 countries24 Advanced Schools with lead teachers

60 Advanced PractitionersOver 50 Lesson Observations

National Focus Groupshttp://lsl.eun.org/observation-visitsLSL Network of over 500 teachers

45655km travelled

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Key Questions…

1. When did you last observe a lesson in your school?

2. When did you visit another school to see what they are doing?

3. When did you collaborate with another professional to investigate practice?

4. What evidence can you provide to show that your school is “inter-connected”?

5. When did you change something in your practice as a result of evidence you collated?

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Recommendations:

• Regional Hubs and Networks of Schools to share practice and work collaboratively

• Fund ambassador schools/teachers to undertake investigations

Schools benefit from both pedagogical and technical guidance provided at national level.

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Schools benefit from meeting regularly with policy and funding authorities to exchange information and identify key actions for improving teaching and learning with future funding.

Recommendations:

• Establish a separate funding line specifically for ICT to include the cost to replace, refurbish and/or refresh existing equipment.

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The school vision includes a clear statement of the whole school change envisaged, with examples showing the role of technology.

Recommendations:

• Develop Future Classroom Scenarios as part of the whole school planning process with a learning and teaching strategy that embeds the use of technologies across the curriculum for all students.

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Next technology rather than whole school change?

Are the decisions about the technologies being used connected to the changes in pedagogical practice and the student outcomes?

How can schools find funding to refresh, replace and refurbish ICT equipment? It is not necessarily identified within the funding line/stream.

‘The person who decides the changes is not

responsible for implementing them.’

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Connected schools identify a teaching and learning team with responsibility and time to lead, implement and monitor innovative practice.

Schools value having an entitlement to a set annual number of hours for ICT training and professional development.

Recommendations:

• Establish and Learning teams in schools• Distinguish between technical and pedagogical support• Establish a European benchmark with a standardised

entitlement to training• Develop opportunities to observe practice and encourage

team teaching

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Involving students in whole school development provides valuable feedback about the use of technology.

Recommendations:

• Establish a group of student digital leaders who can provide support to other students and staff

• Invite students to develop a school showcase promoting student’s work

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Schools would benefit from having a minimum specification of equipment and robust wireless access for all classrooms.

Recommendations:• Provide national advice on ICT equipment and services

provision• Provide a minimum specification of technology for

teaching and learning spaces• Provide high capacity Wi-Fi that supports the use of

individual devices in every classroom and learning space

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“Learning Spaces need to change…

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When you walk into your teaching space, do you know

the technologies that you and your students will have

access to?

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And the curriculum does too. Students need more time for thinking, planning and discussion.

They need time to develop their own ideas and make their own decisions.”Diana Bannister LSL 2014

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All physical and virtual spaces are used to support teaching and learning.

Recommendations:• Audit and monitor when and how technology

is being used in school• Consider the distribution of technologies

throughout the school• Establish an example Future Classroom

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Emerging technologies such as cloud computing improves access to learning materials, digital resources and digital portfolios, facilitating sharing of resources between teachers.

Recommendations:• Schools need to consider how learning materials,

communication and feedback are supported beyond the traditional lesson time.

• Map the use of ICT to competencies within different subjects.

• Schools should establish clear e-safety guidance.

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Developing partnerships and networks encourages a culture of collaboration within the school to help support change.

• Partnerships with parents and the community• Partnerships with other schools• Partnerships with local businesses• Partnerships with commercial suppliers

Recommendations:• Use the LSL Framework for Mainstreaming Change to

assess the degree of the school’s connectedness• Develop a school level investigation to support the

development of partnerships and networks into the school development plan.

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STEPS plans, ‘Showcase, Demonstrate, Validate’, and regional hubs, encourage schools to share practice and monitor school development plan progress.

Working with peer schools inspires and stimulates ideas for innovation and creates opportunities for teachers and students to work together across different schools.

Recommendations:

• Encourage schools to collaborate and share practice

• Use the STEPs plan framework• Review funding opportunities• Engage with a University partner to

support the documenting of evidence of change

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Changing the Professional DialogueSTEPS

Across the Network

In the Regional Hub

Whole School FocusSharing

Teach/Technology

Evidence

Planning

Support

Development Focus Across In-School Team

In one classroom

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Students

Partnerships and

Networks

VisionStaffing and Professional Development

AccessCurriculum

and Resources

National Policy

Learning Spaces

LSL Methodology:Showcase

DemonstrateValidate

Funding

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

Reactive SchoolsShowcase the use of new technologies, but the

implementation of new technologies is not directly connected to whole school

developments in learning and teaching.

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

Responsive SchoolsRespond to top down changes, and see

opportunities for enthusiasts to engage in projects that may support staff interests or

benefit students within the school.

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

Connected Schools (Investigative)Connected Schools have a strategic approach to the

implementation of technology; there is a shared understanding that technology will be used to explore

whole school developments.

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

Interconnected Schools (Collaborative)

Staff at all levels know the key themes for innovation and development within the school. There is a team of teachers in the school which is engaged in external

activities outside the school. Technology plays a significant role in pedagogical change.

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Framework for Mainstreaming Change

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What can you do?a) Look at the profile descriptors b) OBSERVE classroom practice c) Know your school SHOWCASEd) Know what you can DEMONSTRATEe) Lead an innovation team meetingf) Define a whole school focusg) Join a Regional Hubh) Lead a Regional Hubi) Connect and Collaborate with othersj) Make a STEPS plank) Explore the Best Practice Actions

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Key Questions For Schools1. When did you last observe a lesson in your school?

2. When did you visit another school to see what they are doing?

3. When did you collaborate with another professional to investigate practice?

4. What evidence can you provide to show that your school is “inter-connected”?

5. When did you change something in your practice as a result of evidence you collated?

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Interconnected Schools…

Infrastructure

Leadership

National and International

Initiatives

Training and Professional

Development

Integration of ICT across

the curriculum

Student Involvement

Evaluation and

Research

Whole School Focus

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Development and Research in your school – Investigate…Investigate…Investigate…

1) Who is involved in research and development in your school?

2) What types of evidence do you gather and how?3) How do you share your findings or your ideas?4) How do you collaborate with others?5) What kinds of publication do you read or contribute

to?6) What types of accreditation are available to you?7) What support do you or other teachers need?8) What is the current focus of your investigations?

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A CPD Course: Collaborative Schools Development

10 investigations Investigation leader and investigation practitioner Core and optional investigation modules Options for delivery: 1 year extended programme,

two day courses, online materials Accreditation options Erasmus+ funding/School self-funding/Other? Localisation/Translation

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Questions

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What’s next?

Best Practice Videos Observation Blog Link Observation Visits Full Report Country Case studies Validation Manual More resources at the Future Classroom Lab Look for funding opportunities – Erasmus+ Keep in touch…

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Publications – and lots more resources lsl.eun.org

Final LSL Report and Case StudiesAvailable soon to

download

LSL CPD Trainer’s Guide

Available soon to download

Thank youweb :http://lsl.eun.org

email lsl-info@eun.orgDianaBannister@wlv.ac.uk

@DianaBannister#lsl_eu

The work presented in this presentation is partially supported by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme – project Living Schools Lab (Grant agreement Nº 317587). The content of this presentation is the sole responsibility of the consortium members and it does not represent the opinion of the European Commission and the Commission is not responsible for any use that might be made of information contained herein.