Creating Tomorrow
Newsletter June 2016
This month our newsletter contains a model of what happens when groups take decisions and how, as a facilitator, you can aid the process. I have included a BBC radio programme link which I recently listened to, it was fascinating and challenging. I always enjoy hearing about what people are doing with the our change process and this month had news from the Catholic Education Office Sydney who have been training more facilitators.From the participants feedback it sounds as though the master facilitators did a great job.
If you have been forwarded this by a colleague click the 'Follow Pat Collarbone ' button to your right. As always we welcome your feedback.
Pat Collarbone
Technology in education
BBC Radio 4 recently explored the use of technology in education with Professor Sugata Mitra who has installed an internet-connected PC in a slum in India and watched how curiosity leads children to learn. It was a fascinating and challenging discussion - 'It asked the question 'Is the model of our whole education hopelessly out of date?'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b079mwsxCatholic Education Office Sydney - Train the trainer
Brett Salakas
“The workshop itself was a model of great practice. Never before have I been involved in a Professional Development course where there was so much 'learning by doing' and 'instant feedback'. Very effective!”
Teacher, St Kevin's Primary School, Eastwood
Catherine Molloy
“I have been really impressed by the whole Change 2 process and its' possibilities as a means to support people to own change in their context. Real and deep learning occurred from each vantage point, not just in the facilitator's space, and the processes built in for collaborative feedback and reflection nuanced this understanding.
Leader of Learning: Curriculum & Professional Learning (Secondary)
Anna Masters
“I experienced an intensely rich three days learning how to support change agents in their context to succeed and thus transform their schools. It was exhausting and exhilarating. At one point it was said that Change 2 is like riding a rapid - an apt simile. We survived the journey and learnt to trust the process.”
Leader - Professional Growth and Culture Sydney Catholic Schools
Decision making model
Professor Louise Stoll - 10 tips for successful school-led research projects
I was reminded of these ten tips from Louise Stoll in a recent newsletter from the National College. Of course they are equally applicable when you are planning school led change.
- Be clear about the difference you want to make
- Involve others and distribute leadership
- Talk about learning to build trusting relationships
- Embrace and persist with challenge
- Collaborate with peers
- Be flexible and adaptable
- Emphasise development over judgement
- Take the time you need
- Draw on external expertise – don’t go it alone
- Work towards cultural change