'Levelling Up' - My Own Agenda

If You Can Keep Your Head... A Summary:

The nine weeks from the end of August through to October half-term were tough for teachers! We experienced a very different enrolment process followed by the first full block of face-to-face teaching in... well I can't even remember how long it has been!

And let's not forget the students; plunged deeply back in to the rigour of a full half term, the first in Further Education for many! 

We safely navigated through the waters to the break, and overcame the challenges. I stuck to 'the plan' and the voyage continues!


'Levelling Up' - My Own Agenda

I am now in my 16th academic year of teaching; I would say that for four or five years somewhere in the middle of that time I had coasted... I paid lip service to internal CPD and took the odd idea here and there from guest speakers or other practitioners. 
I wasn't "bad". I have always been comfortable and confident standing in front of students guiding them through a concept or topic, and I developed a couple of go-to skills  to help students perform well and achieve what they wanted to achieve. I think I was doing just enough...
Somewhere in the last five or six years I became very aware that I needed to be better. The landscape of FE was changing, most of my A Level teaching was being replaced by BTEC teaching at Level 2 and 3, and students' needs were shifting. My "skills" were being stretched.

We are undoubtedly at another turning point in post-compulsory education, as 'academic', 'technical" and 'applied general' curriculum offers currently sit in a melting pot. Add to this implications of the current EIF and "deep dives", and the impact of the pandemic and resulting 'learning gaps'. 

The need to react, reflect and adapt is as real for me now as it was when I first made the decision to take a much more considered approach to my practice. I feel like I am on a new path!

What Am I Doing?

I have only really just got started... 

Changes to what I do in the classroom are slowly gaining a presence, and I feel like I am in the very early stages of what I want to achieve. There is lots on my reading list, and plenty of techniques and approaches I am yet to apply.

There are two main factors that have shaped the changes to my practice so far:

Exploring #edutwitter and Noticing Noteworthy Practitioners

My first step was to join the #edutwitter community. I think initially I was looking for affirmation that the feelings and opinions I had about my own practice were shared, and that others were similarly looking to improve and develop further regardless of years in service. 

This community participation grew quickly in to opportunities for collaboration, and it has provided quick and fruitful access to the works of other practitioners and experts who see the value to our profession of sharing their ideas, resources and support.

What I quickly began to do was use the platform as an entry point for developing what I saw as the areas I want to focus on as a teacher; I was directed to blogs and books, I tapped in to theories and approaches, and I trialled techniques and strategies.

Influences:

Among the many gems I have connected with on Twitter are some stand-out influences. I could list names here of people who have had a significant impact on the direction of my practice; from those who consistently show support with kind words and comments, through to those who actively guide and advise.  

(I am sure that those people who spring to mind, if reading, will recognise my 'nod' to their contribution in the 'Impacts' below...)

In addition to the edutwitter connections, I have made a small dent in an ever-growing extensive reading list. In my teaching there are notable hints from some fantastic sources. The six displayed below I would strongly recommend!

Impacts:

I have written about three things I would say have laid the foundations for the changes I have made so far:

Clear Standards and Strong Starts - Students are engaged as soon as they enter the classroom, and standards expected are reinforced visibly. Reducing lag time between students entering the room and activities taking place has conditioned students to demonstrate positive habits and has promoted a greater flow of learning during the lesson.

HOW? - I use a standardised visual prompt at the beginning of each lesson to reinforce how I would like students to start the learning process as soon as they enter the classroom. This includes a starter activity; mostly in the form of a retrieval activity, or an opportunity to let students apply some knowledge from the previous lesson. 

A Culture of Deeper Learning - Students are beginning to understand that they will be challenged during teaching and learning sessions. Not just in terms of lesson outcomes, but also regarding their level of literacy, the depth in which they are expected to respond verbally, and in terms of linking concepts together from different lessons and learning aims. 

HOW? - Classroom activities focus around writing with impact. To achieve this I use a lot of scenario based activities where possible to allow students to see the real life application of their work, giving greater meaning to what and how they are writing.
When using questioning in class I will ask students to 'say it better' or ask them how they would say it more professionally. I will also use peers to quality check verbal responses. 

A Focus on Improving Lesson Quality - I get that this sounds extremely obvious; why wouldn't a teacher focus on this? Here I am specifically attributing developments in my everyday teaching and learning approach to further reading and not least to exchanges on Twitter. Whether through a shared resource, a conversation about a particular technique, or a simple 'like' or comment to give feedback on something I have tried with a group, I believe the quality of the teaching tools I have used so far this term has benefited from the support received from the 'edutwitter' community.

HOW? - There are a number of things I am trying to do to make lessons more impactful. Some examples:

* Greater consideration of how information is displayed visually to students
(dual-coding and awareness of the redundancy effect)

* More opportunities for in-class formative feedback (peer feedback circles and group work focus questions)

* More effective questioning (not just more questions, but more planning behind the questions that are asked, how they are asked, and how I can control the enthusiasm of those regularly putting their hands up, and motivate those who regularly put their heads down)

* Improved practical experience for students (this relates specifically for the coaching development units I am currently delivering; students have been given roles within a 'Coaching Academy' that they will build and operate).

The changes are not exclusive to just this list; as my further reading continues and my notepad gets fuller, new trial and error will take place!

What Next?

I have developed a little bit of an amateur appreciation of cognitive science! I am planning to look closer in to cognitive load theory (among others) and it's impact for students at different levels of expertise. 
I'm also keen to apply some 'modelling' techniques to some future topics, particularly now I have FINALLY discovered how to split my visual display into two sections! Small wins...

I suppose this section of my post could be labelled 'What's New?'. I have just been appointed as Advanced Practitioner for the sixth form college where I work and I am relishing the challenge! 

Reflecting on my blog posts so far I would say critically that they are quite general. The focus of what I write is quite broad, and could centre in on a more specific theme to make my blog appear a little less 'samey'.

I think the work I do as part of my new role with a new team will provide inspiration for future blog posts. I am planning on using this platform to record and reflect on how I have provided support as an Advanced Practitioner, zooming in on the coaching I do, how I have done it and the impact that it has had. So watch this space for my next blog, and my first theme!

Thank you for all of the messages of support and well wishes regarding my new role! The impact of the feedback I have had on Twitter and in response to my blog should not be underplayed, so please keep it coming!

Keep up the good work, and keep well!

Chris

@ChrisWildePE

chriswildepe@gmail.com