International Study Visit to New York City. Enhancing Pupil Attainment through Education Technology. Guidance for Applicants

Transcription

1 International Study Visit to New York City Enhancing Pupil Attainment through Education Technology Friday 23 rd October Friday 30 th October 2015 Guidance for Applicants

2 International Study Visits International Study Visits (ISV) are an important part of British Council Northern Ireland s International Education Programme. International Study Visits aim to inspire new approaches to teaching across the curriculum. They are available to schools in Northern Ireland to learn from colleagues and peers in another country and to develop new insights, understanding and ideas. The International Education Programme is funded by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. In four visits were conducted to different countries, each with a different theme. These included, Canada An Investigation into New Approaches to Teaching Across the Curriculum India An Investigation into Teaching Approaches to Numeracy USA Washington DC Narrowing the Attainment Gap: School & Teacher Leadership USA New Orleans School Leadership for Aspiring Head Teachers A total of 25 teachers from Northern Ireland participated in an International Study Visit in Appreciative Inquiry Participants on ISVs are encouraged to adopt the Appreciative Inquiry learning model. Appreciative Inquiry encourages individuals to identify processes, methods or techniques which are working well, to objectively assess why they are working well and then focus on replicating and enhancing these processes. Participants should approach their visit with an open mind. There are many reasons why approaches to teaching differ around the world, some of which are larger systemic issues beyond the control of an individual teacher. The expectation of participants should not always be that they will experience best practice, rather, the focus of any ISV should be the opportunity to identify school processes, or teaching methods, which are working well in the international context of the visit and then to reflect on how these could be adopted successfully within a Northern Ireland context. Page 2 of 7

3 Feedback from Past Participants Feedback from these visits has been extremely positive, here are the benefits that some of the previous participants have gained. As a Literacy Co-Ordinator the visit to Toronto was beneficial to my own professional development and I have gained ideas which I will be using in my own classroom context. I have brought all my findings back to my own school. We have discussed them at length at staff meetings and the best practice which I observed on my visit will be administered throughout the school As education is now becoming more global it was a great experience to see firsthand how children are being taught in a different country. - Participant on Canada ISV The teaching colleagues I met in the US were highly motivated and clearly dedicated to raising pupil achievement in their school settings. The International Study Visit has helped me to develop knowledge and understanding of the inter-relationship between schools and the families and wider communities that they serve. I am acutely aware of the potential for mutual development and the essential role of parenting and community engagement in narrowing the achievement gap. - Participant on USA Washington DC ISV Participation on the International Study Visit has had a lasting effect on my teaching. Making mathematics worthwhile is very important and the benefits of a good mathematics education have to be explained clearly to children. Following my return I am currently working with two of the schools that I visited. These projects have both an academic and cultural awareness focus. I have encouraged other members of staff in my school to contribute to the projects and continue to liaise with the staff in the partner schools in India. - Participant on India ISV Page 3 of 7

4 ISV Programme The first visit of the year will be aimed at post-primary teachers and will take place from Friday 23rd October 2015 Friday 30 th October Participants will travel to New York City, home to the largest public school system in the United States of America, to investigate the use of innovative education technologies (EdTech) to enhance pupil attainment. Further International Study Visits are due to take place in February 2016, one with a focus on Careers Guidance and another to investigate the Impact of Community Engagement on Educational Attainment. More details on these trips will follow in October November Page 4 of 7

5 Enhancing Pupil Attainment through Innovative Education Technology New York City, USA Friday 23 rd Friday 30 th October 2015 The trip will include, Visits to a range of schools (inner city/suburban, public/private etc) to observe different approaches to technology adoption. Meetings with local government officials and others working in the education sector in NYC. A chance to engage with professional networks of teachers with a specific focus on EdTech. Attendance at a two day Google Apps For Education Conference, delivered by EdTech Team Inc. - British Council will provide funding for: Return economy flight from Dublin to New York 6 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast included Attendance at the Google Apps For Education Conference Local transportation during scheduled itinerary Participants are responsible for the following costs: All meals, except breakfast ESTA US Visa Waiver Program Approx. $14 Travel Insurance Sightseeing activities or local transportation during free time in itinerary. Return travel to Dublin airport Please note that any costs associated with substitute-teaching cover will not be provided by British Council. Page 5 of 7

6 Step-by-Step Online Application Process International Education Programme Applicants must first create a British Council Schools Online account prior to completing the online application form. This will enable applicants to save their application progress and return to the form before submitting. Please note Schools Online account must be created using a C2KNI or school address. British Council Schools Online: Once a Schools Online account has been created the online application form can be accessed here: Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 4 th September Application Outcomes will be released on Thursday 10 th September Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be, A post-primary level teacher. Have permanent or fixed term employment status within a school in Northern Ireland. Those on fixed term status must be contracted to remain in post in their current school until the end of the school year. Applicants must also be in one of the following roles, A member of school management or leadership team. ICT teacher. E-Learning Coordinator or equivalent. A teacher with evidence of extra-curricular integration of ICT into school life. Applicants must not have participated in any other Department of Education NI funded British Council study visit in the last five years Please note: Applicants must hold a passport which is valid until at least 1 st May 2016 Permission to participate, if successful, must be obtained in advance of application from Head teacher. Participants must be available to attend a mandatory Pre Departure Briefing on Tuesday 29 th September 2015, 4pm 6pm, in the British Council office in Belfast. Page 6 of 7

7 Programme Schedule Successful participants will receive a full and detailed overview of the trip itinerary prior to departure. An overview of the itinerary for applicants is provided below. Friday 23 rd October: Participants will depart from Dublin Airport Saturday 24 th October: Google Apps for Education Conference Sunday 25 th October: Google Apps for Education Conference Monday 26 th October: Meetings/School Visits Tuesday 27 th October: Meetings/School Visits Wednesday 28 th October: Meetings/Schools Visits Thursday 29 th October: Morning Meetings. Depart New York on evening flight Friday 30 th October: Participants arrive in Dublin Airport Impact and Reporting All participants must submit an Impact Report by Monday 30 th November A template will be provided by British Council. All participants are required to attend a Debrief Meeting in Belfast on Wednesday 23 rd March This meeting will be attended by participants of all International Study Visits. We would also request that participants would offer to present at one British Council Professional Development workshop to promote this experience to other teachers in Northern Ireland. Contact If you have any queries relating to International Study Visits, or the International Education Programme, please contact Patrick Black at British Council Northern Ireland iepni@britishcouncil.org Phone Page 7 of 7