Welcome to the Enquiry Based Learning Network page, where you will find resources and further information.
Resources from the May 1st 2012 on Social Renewal and Education (aka Enquiry and Area Based Curriculum) are:
1. POWER POINTS. The PPs that David Leat and Rachel Lofthouse and Keri Facer used at the conference can be donwloaded here:
David Leat presentation: Social Renewal and Education: The Great North Curriculum (Remembering Dorothy Heathcote)
Rachel Lofthouse presentation: The Local Landscape of Enquiry Based Learning
Keri Facer presentation: 'We're all in this together?' Schools, communities and the challenges of the 21st centuryk
Keri has also pointed us in the direction of a talk she did for Learning Without Frontiers which can be downloaded here.
2. RESOURCES. One of the easier things that we can do is to act as a clearing house for resources:
a. Manchester Area Based Curriculum – The RSA have produced a number of reports relating to ABC which can be found here.
b. Noadswood School (secondary) in Portsmouth are notable pioneers in Enquiry Based Learning and Project Based Learning and you can find out more here.
c. Gloucester have produced a good resource on a locally based curriculum for primary schools, see here.
d. Knowledge Building Communities software - Finally there is some interesting software from the US here. This software aims to support Knowledge Building Communities and is suitable for any age. We think it needs trialling in the NE – does this interest you? Let us know.
e. Post its. A summary of the post it notes from the conference can be downloaded here, which make interesting reading.
f. Thinking it Through: Curriculum in the local context. This document provides exemplars of innovative practice in inquiry based learning and using the community and locale for learning. Download here.
3. NEW FOR OCTOBER 2012.Post Graduate Certificate in Innovative Pedagogy and Curriculum
Newcastle University is introducing a new Post-graduate Certificate for teachers and other educators who wish to better understand and develop innovative pedagogy and curriculum in their own practice. The PGCert in Innovative Pedagogy and Curriculum consists of two modules, and can be taken in one academic year, or if preferred spread over two years. The modules are new for 2012/13, but are based on successful modules which have been taught as part of the M.Ed in Practitioner Enquiry. Through the modules teachers gain an opportunity to analyse aspects of the curriculum that they teach, and then develop innovation in their practice using action research as a means to develop and research teaching and learning. This new certificate offers an excellent chance to join a community of practice, extend your practice repertoire for teaching and learning and engage with evidence that supports you in developing you professional understanding. For more information see here.
Scoping Interviews: a summary
Scoping interviews have now taken place with 9 participants and our thanks go to all those who gave up their time: Rebecca Earnshaw: Schools North East; Colin Lofthouse: Throckley Primary School; Kim Cowie: Park View Community School; Adam Goldwater and Vicki Little: Learning Innovations Team, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums; Ian patience: Thinkwell ; Anita Foster: School Grounds and Outdoor Learning Trainer and Facilitator and Annie Cunningham and Susan Gebbels: Dove Marine Laboratory. The interviews demonstrated the range of exciting and stimulating work being undertaken across the region; the many challenges being faced and also provided ideas for what we should be aiming for next. Please click here for a summary of the interviews.
Paul Kenna and Bret Millott, visiting speakers: Taking Self Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) to the next level in Australia:
On Wednesday 26th September two Primary School Principals from Melbourne, Australia, Paul Kenna and Brett Millott gave a fascinating talk at the university. Since early 2010 they have been collaborating with Professor Sugata Mitra to deliver the S.O.L.E. Self Organized Learning Environment strategy in their schools. Paul and Brett have been trialling and refining the SOLE strategies for the past eighteen months working closely with their teachers. They have modelled the strategy with their staff, staying true to its core elements and have refined the strategy to accommodate variation in student capacity across their schools. In particular they have been interested in extending the learning discovered in a SOLE session - what is the next step for teachers and students once content is discovered and shared by students? To access the powerpoints from their talk click here.
David Leat, Ulrike Thomas, Rachel Lofthouse.
For further information, or to add your name to the email list, please contact Ulrike.Thomas@ncl.ac.uk