As
a result of a series of lead teacher workshops the swell
network has developed a set of guidelines for the types of
relationships that teachers will have as they lead learning
in swell. The guidelines are based upon the work of Phil
Ramsey from Interlead
- thanks Phil for your valuable input.
Download the Swell
Leading Learning guidelines document
The
swell Learning Poutama
The
swell network has identified a need for teachers to be
speaking a common language when they describe student
achievement in knowledge and competency
domains. As a result a swell Learning Poutama has been
developed which describes the stages of learning a student
passes through for knowledge and competencies at any given
achievement level.
Measuring
the effect of swell on
teacher and student achievement
Assessment
and Evaluation strategy The swell network has developed an assessment and
evaluation strategy to help measure the effect that the network's
activity has upon teacher and student learning outcomes. The
swell network has three ways in which assessment and
evaluation data is collected.
Numeracy and
Literacy Data: This data is collected annually to
ensure that, whilst developing other areas, schools do
not lose track of the core business of numeracy and
literacy. It is also collected to gauge the impact that
network activity in other areas is having on student
numeracy and literacy achievement.
Teacher and
Student Surveys: Surveys are administered to all
teachers and samples of students at the outset, middle
and endpoint of swell initiatives. The surveys are used
to gauge change in teacher and student capability,
confidence and understanding of the areas that the
network is focusing upon.
Action Research
Data: Teachers use a common scale to assess changes
in student engagement, knowledge and competency that
result from the interventions that they are trialing.
Results of action research projects are aggregated in
order to make assessments of the approaches which are
most effective in bringing about change.
Download the 2008 -
2010 Swell Assessment and Evaluation Strategy document
Memorandum
of Understanding for handling swell schools' data The schools in the swell network have agreed to
standardize the collection and administration of selected
assessment data. The network has agreed there are some
common challenges with the control and privacy of
centralising and showing each others data. The swell network
has developed a memorandum of understanding for handling
this data. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Upper
Hutt Schooling Improvement Cluster for allowing the swell
network to adapt and adopt their memorandum of
understanding.
Download the Swell
Memorandum of Understanding document
Student
and teacher baseline surveys for current research focus
Download
the teacher baseline survey questionnaire document
Download
the teacher baseline survey data entry and analysis spreadsheet
The
swell learning community structure
Download the Swell
Learning Community Structure document
Principals’ Learning Community
Providing leadership and direction for the swell network of
learning communities and identifying the broad areas of
developmental need for the network.
Lead Teachers’ Learning Community
Collaborating with principals to plan overall research
direction and working with and coaching teachers as they
undertake action research.
Teachers’ Learning Community
Undertaking action research into areas of focus for the
swell network and collaborating with other teachers,
principals and lead teachers in order to synthesise learning
into new practice.
The
swell approach to developing
schooling
One of the
early tasks for the swell network was to create a framework and
methodology that can be used by schools to collaborate on shared
school development initiatives. The following movie outlines the
framework and methods that we have put in place.
What do
swell schools do well and who
benefits from this?
When the swell network was launched in 2007, teachers from the
eleven schools were asked to describe what schools do well and to
outline who benefits from this. The purpose of this exercise was to
develop a shared understanding across the network of what our
schools are good at as well as why we do what we do. The result of
this process forms the foundation upon which the swell network has
been constructed.
What do
swell schools do well?
Who benefits from this?
Understanding children
Sharing strengths
Involving community and using their strengths
Place value on support of communities
Developing and using school culture
Whole school professional learning
Teacher collaboration
Celebrating diversity Meeting
the needs of individual learners
Realisation that relationships are key
Commitment from staff to kids
Foster shared, distributed and inclusive leadership
Remaining open minded and prepared to take risks
Parents
Community
Future generations
Society
Children
Staff
Country
Other learners
Learning communities
Class
Everybody
Lessons from drums for
swell
When the swell network was
launched in 2007, teachers from the eleven schools were given a drum
and proceeded to make music. The following video shows the lessons
that were learnt from drums for the swell network. We will use these
lessons to help us guide the development of the swell network.
Building the swell network is a lot like 130 people
learning how to drum.
In the beginning every one attempts to work in unison
but the performance isn't that great.
Then with a shared focus and set of common goals the
group begins practising ways to improve the performance.
As time goes on, with the group focusing on its common
goals, the performance begins to improve.
After a while the group begins to experiment with
individuals and sub groups trialing ways to improve the
overall performance.
People within the group with expertise share their
knowledge and coach others to improve the overall
performance.
With new ideas and refined skills the performance of the
group shows marked improvement.
The group recognises and encourages individual
expression and as a result the overall performance is
further enhanced.
With the group feeling proud of its performance time is
taken to share and celebrate success.
And
so ends the lessons from drums.
Being part of
swell ...
The moral purpose of
swell
Creating the
shared understandings and
operating procedures for swell
Principals began the
swell project by reviewing Michael Fullan's book "Leadership
and Sustainability" as a catalyst for establishing the moral
purpose and shared understandings for the swell network.
Throughout the rest of 2007 a series of meetings and tours
were held to build the operating procedures for swell. Notes from the review meetings are available here.
Moral
purpose
notes
Conditions for sustainability
notes
Leading
development notes
Developing an action research
process for swell notes
Principal two day tour notes
Towards a structure and
operating relationships for swell notes Systems for synthesising results of action research
projects notes
Evaluation and Review team notes
Leadership Capacity Building team notes
Research Overview team notes
What is
swell?
The
swell
network of learning
communities
is an inclusive group of people,
motivated by a shared
moral purpose,
that support and work with each other, both inside and outside their
immediate learning community, in order to develop
new and better approaches to learning
and teaching.
