10 years of eTwinning: UK National Conference 2015 https://t.co/pp7Ge8uw4s #eTuk15

— eTwinning UK (@eTwinningUK) June 8, 2015

Mentoring Schools Using a Transformative Change Model Through eTwinning – Lesley Atkins and Kate Walker - Sunday 7 June

By Andrée Jordan

Ever wanted to change something, and tried to do it on your own? Many International Coordinators like myself have been there – feeling it’s all down to me and I’m the only one in the school who understands the benefits of International Education and of eTwinning. We may know that international collaboration leads to improvement of:– motivation, learning, inspiration, but it’s so hard to prove, and people need proof. How many times I have wanted to be able to bring someone in to help my own school to change for the better through the use of International Education. How much easier it would be with a Mentor to help.

Well, this workshop gave some evidence of the proof of the above statements and some of the “how to do it” too, using mentoring.

The study involved Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools in Scotland, each one wanting to improve their whole school by using International Education to address their post Ofsted issues.

The study was scaffolded (useful term – built together/supported by?) by three multi-agency partners: Glasgow City Council, Education Scotland, and The British Council.

A British council Ambassador helped the Senior Leaders and teachers in each school to identify their issues and create a 5 year plan for change, using International Education as the driver. They then used individual teacher reflections, British Council Ambassador reports and formal HMI evaluations to assess the success of the action.

Findings were perhaps predictable:

• International Education is a transformative action within the curriculum.
• Staff were positive about working with ambassadors.
• Gave school teams the confidence to plan for the future.
• Pedagogical skills overall improved. Class practitioners developed leadership and further teaching skills through the CPD opportunities.
• The use of ICT in the schools was enhanced.
• There was positive curriculum change through pupil voice.
• Schools developed a deeper ownership of Global Citizenship.
• Parental partnership has become embedded in international work.

So, the proof is there. Using eTwinning is very beneficial.

The challenges remain the same – how to persuade School Leaders that this is the way forwards. Perhaps studies like this one can give use the persuasive statistics needed to encourage others to  make the change and get collaborating around the world!

‘Board with Computing?’ Creativity in the Computing System – Paddy Carroll (Shaw Wood Academy)

By Steven Hales

Paddy shared a range of websites, apps, games and toys which he uses in his classes at Shaw Wood Academy (Primary), Doncaster. Workshop participants listened whilst Paddy enthusiastically described these resources, but were even more eager to get their hands on and try them out!

The resources he mentioned included –

• Scratch
• Code Kingdoms
• Machineers
• Robot Turtles
• Kloo – both English and French version
• Bloxels
• Code Money Island
• Minecraft
• Wonderbook

Many of the resources linked to iPads, of which the floor turtles, the Drone and the Art App proved particularly interesting.

It was interesting that a number of the games that were linked to the Computing curriculum, although devices were not needed as they were about sequencing and making things happen.

The resources promoted much discussion and fun, as well as prompting delegates to make suggestions of their own. One of the best suggestions was about www.code.org

The workshop’s challenge was to consider ways in which these resources could be used with eTwinning projects. Paddy and Shaw Wood Academy have been extremely fortunate in being able to buy these resources. Partner schools may not be so fortunate and there could be issues with compatibility. Challenges are there to be overcome and those creative, innovative teachers, like Paddy, will find ways through facilitating excellent learning opportunities for all their pupils.

The power of motivation - Action Jackson

By Suzi Bewell

I AM AMAZING!

How Action Jackson changed my life at #eTuk15

The eTwinning conference has long been my annual CPD highlight but this year really did go beyond all my expectations.  I agreed to blog about Action Jackson’s session for several reasons.

1. My other half is a life coach, emotional intelligence and NLP expert so I am well versed in this kind of stuff;
2. Action Jackson is a cool name and one I sensed strongly that I would not forget in a hurry;
3. I liked the positive sound of his session and, fast approaching the end of a very long year in University, I felt the need for an injection of the ‘good stuff’!

I tweeted Action Jackson the week before the conference to tell him I was very excited to meet him in person and he replied!  An air of anticipation and expectation had definitely been created.

The session itself was, hand on heart, the best CPD I have had in my entire teaching career…by a long shot.

Below are the highlights:

Highlight #1

Action asked delegates (some of who were clearly a little bit ‘weirded out’) to write down 15 reasons why they are amazing.  Well versed in this kind of parlance thanks to my husband, Dr Bewell, I had no problems with this.

Action then asked us to repeat the activity for someone we knew (for this I chose my husband, who is a good egg and a huge inspiration to me, generally).

My list:

1 creative 2 fun 3 clever 4 funny 5 quirky

6 maverick 7 joyful 8 spiritual 9 a great mum 10 a loving wife

11 a superb teacher 12 a loyal friend 13 a talented linguist 14 pretty 15 inspirational

 

My list for Michael:

1 clever 2 fit 3 funny 4 special 5 a fab hubby

6 a brill dad 7 hard working 8 loving 9 a good friend 10 silly

11 cool 12 awesome 13 fun 14 lively 15 kooky

 

Reflection #1

What surprised me hugely was how many of the attendees really struggled to get beyond 3 or 4 for themselves but how they all were frantically writing stuff down about others. Interesting, indeed.

An important lesson learned: Why, as teachers do we seriously value others (generally our students and often our teaching peers) but rarely give ourselves the credit we so often deserve? 

Action set out to challenge this!  In honesty, I don’t believe all of those 15 things of myself all of the time, but I know that I have the capacity to be all those things some of the time.  I realised that I perhaps value myself and my skill set more than most.  This was a revelation.

Highlight #2

Action Jackson is a lover of cheesecake.  And of funky music it would seem.  He played some cool tunes and made us ‘get our groove on’ and really pushed some delegates to get outside their comfort zone. 

Reflection #2

It felt a bit silly…but at the same time, it felt GOOD.  I pondered after the session on this question: How are we supposed to grow and develop as teachers / individuals if we are not prepared to push ourselves to do something out of the ordinary every now and then?

Highlight #3

I won an ‘I am amazing!’ t-shirt for completing the ’15 reasons why I am Amazing!’ activity in record time!  I also got a badge, which I gave to my amazing friend Laura, who is indeed amazing even if she doesn’t see it herself!

Reflection#3

The t-shirt felt like a reminder of something I sometimes forget – I am amazing…not at everything or indeed all of the time, but enough.  I am good and I am enough.  Myself and one or two other delegates (you know who you are) got quite emotional in the final plenary task…

Prologue …

I am about to set up my own business and  I have a renewed confidence and a lust for life again.  ACTION JACKSON – YOU are amazing.  Thank you.  You just helped to change the course of my life.