KWETB Learning and Teaching Week November 2015
September 2015 23
As a learning community, we have a collective responsibility to improve the collaborative culture within KWETB and in turn within our individual schools. All schools across KWETB are engaged in a process of self-improvement and self-evaluation in accordance with the vision of the organisation which espouses:
"Nurturing a learning community, enriching educational experience, empowering the pursuit of excellence, whilst leading a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Irish Education System."
Over the last two years KWETB has supported the establishment of a number of teacher network groups across the organisation including the Learning and Teaching, Instructional Leadership Network. These networks facilitate teachers from across our schools in coming together at intervals throughout the academic year to explore new ideas, methods and approaches, working towards improvement across a wide range of areas.
The primary brief of the Learning and Teaching Network is to explore the means to build learning power across our schools. This manifests itself in searching for ways to teach more effectively and to look for what promotes exceptional student learning in our schools.
Initially, the group was formed by teachers who had participated in the Instructional Leadership initiative; a practice based model of continuous professional development, supported by the ETBI (IVEA) since 2007 and led by Canadian educationalist, Professor Barrie Bennett. The group has since expanded to include other teachers and school leaders who bring their experience and enthusiasm for innovation to the group.
This collective learning experience for teachers within the network facilitates them in using research based evidence to support some of the new teaching methodologies used in other countries, including New Zealand and the Nordic countries. It provides a practical workshop approach to developing teaching methodologies and places a particular emphasis on how we can engage our students in more meaningful learning. It enhances the professional learning community in that all members of the network develop a trust in their colleagues leading to open and honest dialogue. The team has developed a number of learning and teaching modules for use as whole staff facilitation sessions in our schools.
Plans for the academic year 2015 -2016 include the introduction of a KWETB Learning and Teaching Week from 9-13 November 2015 with its theme, ‘Exploring Lesson Design’. The rationale for a themed approach across all 22 second level schools is to support a structure which will allow for consistency of approach in learning and teaching.
It is envisaged that a subcommittee in each school will plan for Learning and Teaching Week 2015-2016. The Learning and Teaching Network will support schools in the run up to the designated week in November 2015. Schools will be offered a specific direction to follow and resources to use should they wish to enhance their own programmes.
The Principals’ Network meetings in September and October 2015 will provide a forum for senior managers to support the initiative and to share their ideas and plans for the week.
Following the event each school will be invited to give a summation of the planning and execution of the week and an evaluation of the work achieved. This in turn will help to inform the KWETB Learning and Teaching Programme into the future.