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AST Accreditation - developing a learn to learn school

The program has been designed to run over a 12 month period, allowing time for adoption of tools and techniques into daily practice before moving onto the next phase of activity.

There will be a need for a small amount of design time, in order to bring together the elements of the programme, and tailor to a certain degree to the needs of the teaching team engaged. The modules outlined below are therefore to be treated as a guide to what is possible, and will be confirmed as part of the programme or not, through discussion with teacher delegate team.

We anticipate a total of 5 days of design required over the course of the project. This program is based upon the engagement of 12 schools and their 12 delegate advanced skills teachers.

Phase One

Self.........

• Module 1  – The LearnFast System™ - a comprehensive, process-driven framework for Accelerated Learning in the classroom.
• Module 2 – Memory , visual thinking tools & Speed Reading
• Module 3 – De Bono’s 6 thinking Hats & De Bono’s CORT Program
• Module 4 – Computerised Visual Thinking Tools & Interactive White Board Technology

As each of the modules are delivered and then implemented by the team into their own classroom delivery, a simple set of measurements and evaluations of the material should be adopted by the teacher. These should be shared back with the group at the start of the next session, and a portfolio of anecdotal evidence built up over the course of the term.  To facilitate this process, the LearnFast System™ comes complete with a set of Units and Elements of Competence, giving each teacher clear direction as to the best-practice evidence to supply.

As the body of evidence grows, so will the buy in from peers’ within the schools, setting up an environment where leading edge teachers can easily share the materials they are being exposed to over the course of the program.

It is our belief that a member of the Senior Management Team should be present at all three days, so as to provide the leadership needed to support the project as whole.

Phase Two

 Train the Trainer

The Train the trainer program would be designed to give the greatest chance of success in the role out of the materials by the core team. Our focus would be split between Coaching strategies and the material itself, and all core team members would be furnished with the support materials to bring the training to life.

• Day 1 – Coaching & Communication – including the impact of Psychological Types on learning and development

• Day 2 – The MESSAGE Model

• Day 3 – Memory, visual thinking tools & Speed Reading

• Day 4 – De Bono’s 6 Hats and CORT 1 & 4

Over each of these 4 days, we would role play the coaching between the team, and look to create teams of two within local areas to support each other in the role out of the development. As confidence in the material grows the need for buddying will diminish however it can make a huge difference in the early stages of any development delivery.

Phase Three

In-School delivery - Inset or Twilight

Inset

Depending upon the school, the role out of the material can be through the use of inset days over the school year, and we would recommend that this is delivered initially in teams of two, one from within the school, and one from a neighbouring school. The goal would be to develop a whole school culture around these materials, and for this to fit within professional development plans being designed by the SMT as a whole.

Twilight

In the event that inset days were not available due to prior commitments, the training could be delivered as twighlight sessions at the end of the school day. Whilst this would probably have to be voluntary, it would provide opportunity for the school to begin to engage with the material ahead of any planned insets.

Delivery

The delivery would be led by Lex McKee – our head of coaching - and supported by officers of the learning partnership, and De Bono organisations where appropriate. The Learning Partnership is a founding member of the round table, and will draw on such resources, as deemed relevant, from the other roundtable members.

It should be organised at a location roughly central to all participating schools, and held at regular intervals throughout the year.

An email forum will be created for the team to share the successes and development needs of the materials, and this will then steer the delivery team in its planning of the feedback session at the start of each new module.

By the end of the year all leading edge teachers will be accredited to deliver the training within their own school. If further commercial activity is requested by any of the accredited teachers, this will take place under a licensing agreement with the learning partnership, under normal education or corporate licensing rates. This commercial activity would only be permitted once the role out within the school is complete.