MirandaMod Knowledge Exchange (60 minutes)
Chartered College of Teaching workshop
What makes effective online learning for teachers?
Hannah Tyreman and teacher representatives from the ‘Teacher Online Learning Development Group’

West Downs 9
Chair: Christina Preston
Time 13.45 – 14.45

Drawing guidance from current research and practice to develop CPD programmes – Julia Flutter and Hannah Tyreman (The Chartered College of Teachers) with ITTE/MirandaNet Fellows, Alison Hramiak, Christina Preston, Helen Caldwell, Duska Rosenberg.

Recently, we’ve seen a welcome increase in the focus on what makes professional learning for teachers effective. In the face of workload, recruitment and retention concerns across the sector, attention is being paid to how CPD can help, rather than hinder each of these challenges. If teachers are to spend time on their CPD then it must be worthwhile; resulting in a greater level of impact on students’ learning.

The release of the ‘Standard for Teachers’ Professional Development’ by the Department for Education in July 2016 was a significant move in the direction of more relevant and meaningful CPD for teachers.

Whilst there is now an increasing evidence base and sharing of practice related to what makes effective face-to-face CPD for teachers, The CCoT is interested in what makes effective online learning for teachers.To date mentoring online is a skill that is largely acquired without any formalised training. In addition, the design of many of the online packages does not allow more than a simplistic pedagogical approach, mostly information transmission.

In this context, Alison Hramiak and Christina Preston, ITTE/MirandaNet will explain how they have been investigating the perceptions of the role of the ementor and the main issues and challenges surrounding this role for them and their institution. The theoretical models that have been developed in MirandaNet Fellowship practice since 1994  have been used as a lens through which to focus on what the mentoring role is thought to be both in courses and in communities of practice. In this workshop they will share their thematic analysis of the data captured through questionnaires ask their co-researchers to share the evidence they have provided through  in-depth interviews.

Secondly Julia Flutter and Hannah Tyreman will chair a conversation in which the participants will share their thoughts on –

• How online learning can be made effective for teachers; enabling practice, building in feedback, addressing misconceptions, and encouraging engagement beyond the life of the online learning.

 

• How a set of units related to the engagement and use of research for teachers can be designed to simultaneously develop knowledge, skills and habits.

 

The outcome is intended to be some practical advice for mentors based on the relationship between theoretical models and practitioners’ experience.

Julia Flutter RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS MANAGER
Julia has worked in education research for over 20 years as a Research Associate at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, where she has been focusing on collaborative approaches for improving classroom teaching. She is a director of the Cambridge Primary Review Trust, a not-for-profit organisation promoting excellence in primary education, and is an Associate Editor for the internationally-respected Cambridge Journal of Education.

Hannah Tyreman is an Online Learning Specialist for the Chartered College of Teaching.

Alison Hramiak is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Sheffield Hallam University, working primarily as the Post 16 PGCE Course Leader. She is a science and computer science specialist subject tutor, and teaches on the Masters and Doctoral Courses at Sheffield Hallam.

Her research interests include, cultural adaptations and impact  in beginning teachers, assessment and feedback, the history of education, research methods and she has also researched into pedagogy and ICT – particularly Web 2.0 Technologies, and Digital Literacy. Alison has published books and papers on these topics, nationally and internationally, and regularly present her work at national and international conferences. She has co-written and edited a number of books on education and is a Fellow of the HEA.

 

Dr Christina Preston has been at the forefront of edtech for over 25 years. Current chair of ITTE and Associate Professor of Education at De Montfort University, Christina has won 5 international awards for her contribution to education innovation in research and in practice based professional development programmes. In 1992 she founded the MirandaNet Fellowship, the first international e-community of practice, to provide educators with opportunities to share knowledge and experience about innovation in teaching and learning. MirandaNet Fellows work with associate companies and teachers on research projects that involve teachers in managing change. (http://bit.ly/2aMfoLo)

Helen Caldwell is a Senior Lecturer in the Teacher Education Division at the University of Northampton, where she is curriculum lead for Primary Computing and programme lead for the PostGraduate Certificate in Primary Computing. Her teaching covers the use of technology across primary subjects, implementing the computing curriculum and assistive technologies for SEND. She offers CPD for teachers and Initial Teacher Training across these areas. Her PhD research focuses on the transfer of innovative pedagogies in technology education within professional learning communities.