Cluster+Goals

Each pair was given a cluster goal to "unpack" and discuss actions to help us achieve them.

To develop more effective teaching and learning in our schools that reflects current research and best practice, the new curriculum and key competencies
 * A good knowledge and understanding of pedagogy to achieve high professional standards
 * Modelling
 * Opportunities for staff to be informed about good practice, readings etc
 * Professional diaglogue
 * Develop an understanding of good practice that are relevant to the school
 * ICT staff have a responsibility to raise awareness of issues

To increase the effective use of ICT as a learning tool across all curriculum areas
 * Motivated leaders
 * PD aimed at increasing confidence
 * Pedagogy must match purpose
 * Modelling good practice
 * Stable and reliable technical resources, full utilised
 * Retention and consolidation before moving to nex skill/buzz word

To accelerate the PD of teachers in the cluster by providing local access to good practice and shared learning experiences
 * Visiting other schools in cluster and in our area
 * Lead teacher roles crucial
 * Buddies, mentors, coaches
 * Local access to shared ideas - wikis and blogs
 * ICT jargon literate
 * Pedagogy, modelling reflections and ideas

To promote models of good practice framed within an inquiry approach
 * Lead tachers modelling for rest of school
 * Video good practice
 * PD
 * Allowing staff to investigate models that fit the school
 * Integrating ICT
 * Creating dialogue via blogs and wikiw
 * Sound pedagogical knowledge
 * Linked to key competencies

To cater more effectively for the range of professional competence among our teachers
 * Using experts for support
 * Techie brekkies/teacher talk - formal and informal
 * Learning from students
 * Adult learners don't want to look silly
 * School visits, sharing ideas, peer/mentoring sytems
 * Support and encourage staff who are 'reluctant adpopters'
 * Share at cluster meetings
 * Create an environment where 'ICT idiocy' is ok
 * Things change rapidly in ICT, everyone is still learning
 * Trying new things and stay upskilled
 * Marketing skills of reliable experts
 * Wise purchasing plan/get advice from each other
 * Leasing vs buying - leasing overcomes obsolete hardware/software

To encourage and support a more personalised curriculum
 * What is 'personalised curriculum'
 * Enable students to be more in control of their own learning and working at a level that encourages them
 * Strong partnership between home and school
 * Students know what they know, how they know it and what they need to learn next
 * Differentiating in community, not just for students
 * Expectations of parents
 * Maintaining a balance between basic needs of school and ICT needs to facilitate learning

To develop effective strategies for all students including GATE, CWSN and ESOL students
 * Review special programmes to include use of ICT
 * Websites and links - social bookmarking
 * Shared good practice
 * GATE - 'Young Thinkers' is interactive and ICT based, working well at CBS. Also 'Mind Lab'. Welcome to visit CBS to observe in use on Thursdays.
 * ESOL resources online - many available

To exploit the potential for an online learning environment to communicate more effectively with the cluster and wider community
 * Encourage the use of the web for gaining information, communication, providing information, additional resources, as a support system
 * Requirements - websites, wikis, bloggin, video conferences, virtual field trips, shared resources and ideas, social bookmarking eg del,icio.us, mobile phone technology, online learning environment eg KnowledgeNet, displaying student work
 * Concerns - information overload, overwhelming, administration time consuming, upskilling teachers to use tools