We are all researchers?

WMC Network Conference

Friday, 8th June 2007

Jeff Serf

Bringing it together

What are five schools doing about Global Learning?

Alice’s Global Learning

• ‘“When I use a word,” said Humpty Dumpty, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less”’

(Carroll, 1998:190)

• A snapshot of what experiences teachers in primary schools feel they are/should be providing for their children to prepare them for a rapidly changing world … and why

How do teachers and school managers perceive:

1. the key ideas and/or principles at the core of global learning in primary schools?

2. how primary schools are engaging with these key ideas and/or principles?

3. the role and value of an entitlement to global learning for primary-aged learners?

The Five Schools

• Geographical location - significant impact on the pupils and their socio-economic and ethnic-cultural backgrounds

• History of working with/not working with TIDE~

• International Schools Award

Methodology

• Part 1 – meet with headteacher to discuss project & core document

• Part 2 – meet with sample of school’s staff who …

- discuss & record ideas about the core ideas & principles

- discuss & record ideas about school’s possible priorities

- give indication of importance of GL

References

• Berry, A. (2004) self-study in teaching about teaching. In Loughran, et al. (Eds) International handbook of teaching and teacher educator practices. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Klouwere Academic, pp1295-1294.

• Carroll, L. (1998) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Murray, L. & Lawrence, B. (2000) Practitioner-Based Enquiry: Principals for Postgraduate Research. London: Falmer Press.

• Gall, M., Gall, J. & Borg, W. (2003) Educational Research: An Introduction. (7th edition). Boston, USA: Allyn and Bacon.

What next?

• Feedback to schools

• Workshop with Ben

• Contribute to TIDE~’s Primary Handbook

• Keep thinking about the bigger picture (by trying to get my head around smaller ones?)