Target Audience Possible Constituents
- Classroom based staff.
- ICT coordinators.
- Class teachers who have a remit or future remit in ICT support outwith their own school.
- Staff currently providing input to the NOF training programme with a likely future role at EA level.
- School librarians.
Centrally based staff
- Teaching staff providing cluster/neighbourhood support in ICT.
- Advisers.
- Quality assurance officers.
- Development officers.
- Heads of service/Assistant directors.
- TEI staff.
- HMIE.
Senior management in schools Headteachers, Depute Heads
Following the selection of participants, the
Masterclass community comprised the following:
- 330 classroom teachers
- 120 senior managers from schools
- 120 local authority officers
- 30 staff from the teacher education institutes.
Setting the scene Masterclass itself was launched at SETT 2002 - and the Masterclassers had the opportunity to hear from inspirational speakers such as Alan November and Stephen Heppell. SETT was an ideal event for the launch - many of the participants stayed overnight and were able to meet (and socialise with!) colleagues from other parts of the country. Feedback was very positive and it was obvious during the conference that the new 'learning community' was off to a flying start!
After SETT, final preparations were under way for a series of four-day residential courses which took place at Stirling Management Centre. There were around 60 participants for each course - typically from six or seven authorities and from all categories. The idea was to make sure that participants were exposed to ideas and developments outwith their own geographical area and from different sectors of the educational community.
Getting down to work Stirling Management Centre was transformed for each of these courses into an ICT-rich environment. We set up two rooms with wireless networks and a range of digital video technologies. Another room was cabled for use during the Think.com workshops, when each participant used their Masterclass laptop. Other rooms had laptops, projectors and technologies such as interactive whiteboards. One of the most attractive features of the venue was the broadband access to the internet available throughout - including the bedrooms and bar! Many Masterclassers happily surfed the night away.
Each of the four days of the residential course addressed a specific theme:
- Establishing the Vision
- Developing ICT in Learning and Teaching
- Managing ICT
- Implementing the Vision.
During the four days, participants were exposed to a wide range of seminars and workshops on topics such as digital video, e-learning, using Think.com, ICT and learning styles, using MIICE (Measuring the Impact of ICT on Children's Education) and developing ICT across the curriculum. Some workshops and seminars were led by the participants at the training course and this was universally welcomed. One of the most encouraging aspects of this was the revelation of the wealth of good practice in ICT which exists right across the country.
Creativity in action A major part of the residential experience was working on a collaborative task - each group of participants was asked to produce a resource which will be available to all to use. These resources range from presentations which could be used by Masterclassers for staff development with colleagues, websites created to address issues of internet literacy, presentations on ICT for parents, advice for senior managers in school on leading and managing ICT, CPD strategies for embedding ICT in the curriculum and many other topics.
There's a huge collection of these resources. Initially, it was proposed that they would be available to download from the online environment - Think.com. However, as the weeks have progressed, it's clear that we need to investigate other ways of making these resources available. Many of the resources contain very large digital video files (created as a result of the input during the digital video workshops!). A number of these resources will be further developed and all will be made available across the country.
Reaction to the residential days has been very good. Most participants found the course to be intensive - but very stimulating.
'Thoroughly enjoyed this challenging course. A great starting point - no doubts about providing inspiration! The opportunity to share and debate issues moved many of us forward in our thinking. The 'community' feeling was strong and I have no doubts that it will further develop.'
'I enjoyed the mix - we could talk to all sorts of people about all sorts of areas, fellow teachers, management and High Heid Yins. All were helpful - many were inspirational, some just let you moan then told you how to sort it.'
An important part of the residential course was the opportunity for participants from each local authority to work together with their Masterclass coordinator. This provided a focus for developing next steps in planning future local developments for the Masterclass community.
Locally, Masterclass groups have been getting together to impact on and influence local ICT developments. Each authority was recently given a Masterclass grant from SEED, and a variety of additional resources were purchased for use by participants. These include a range of devices such as digital cameras, projectors and whiteboards. Some authorities have also organised away days for Masterclassers to discuss future plans.
All Masterclass participants have an account on Think.com and we now intend to further develop the use of this online community. A number of authorities have their own sub-communities within Think and all participants have access to the Talking Shop area which is shared with the Heads Together community.
A version of Masterclass for Directors of Education and for staff from HMIE was also organised and took place at the end of March.
