The following links and resources are a sample of those available that can assist professional learning in the context of learning, teaching and assessment. All those engaged in Aberdeenshire Council schools and other centres should see career-long professional learning as a key aspect of their professional life. Indeed, the GTCS (2021) confirm:
“As a registered teacher to demonstrate your professional skills and abilities you are required to:
- commit to lifelong learning, through an ongoing process of professional review and development that impacts on the learning of children and young people;
- reflect and engage critically in self-evaluation using the relevant professional standard”
Aspects of the following resources will be of use to:
- individual professionals
- middle and senior leaders
- head and system leaders
- Aberdeenshire ECS plans for Professional Learning
The ECS service has committed to confirming an annual plan for professional learning. Given their significance, learning, teaching and assessment should always feature within such plans. A link to the 2022-23 plan is here.
- Aberdeenshire ECS and Education Scotland advice and support for learning in a digital context
The pandemic necessitated huge developments in learning in a digital context. Applied well, learning in this way can enhance the experiences and outcomes for young people. Additionally, as per the GTCS professional Standard it is a requirement of all teachers that they ensure digital literacy is developed in learners. Seek advice ex Paul Cruickshank/Jim McLean?
Additionally, here is a link to the Education Scotland National-e-Learning Offer.
- Aberdeenshire ECS Sharing Effective Practice.
This is a tab within this site for sharing aspects of effective practice in learning, teaching and assessment. Consideration of such sources can stimulate reflection and stimulate improvement in local practice. Access to examples of local and national practice will be added here.
GTCS Professional Standards 2021
All the published standards suggest a requirement to focus on planning learning, teaching and assessment, pedagogy, curriculum and the learning context. The comparable nature across all standards provides a fruitful source for dialogue and confirmation of expectations. Link is here.
Extracts ex positive HMI reports re QI 2.3
To support reflection and dialogue, consideration of positively evaluated practice can stimulate professional learning and improved practice. A link to positive inspection reports for QI 2.3 can be found here.
Education Scotland Resources/EDSPLL Opportunities
The Education Scotland site includes the National Improvement Hub. Within this resource are a wide range of sources to support professional learning. This link takes you to areas considering learning, teaching and assessment Further refinement of search would then be needed.
Additionally, here is a link to a range of professional learning programmes run by EDSPLL.
Specific Focus Areas/Approaches
The following are some of the specific approaches to learning, teaching and assessment applied in Scottish schools. Consideration of aspects here could support reflection, dialogue and professional learning:
- Education Endowment Foundation Toolkit
This is a useful resource that attempts to evaluate the relative effectiveness of differing classroom interventions. Link is here.
- Dylan Wiliam/assessment for learning:
Dylan Wiliam has been a keen promoter of assessment for learning. A range of very helpful videos can be found here. Additionally, a range of resources can be accessed via his own website.
- Shirley Clarke
Shirley Clarke is a key figure in the field of assessment and learning. A range of resources (mainly available commercially) can be accessed via her website here .
- John Hattie/Visible Learning
John Hattie has carried out extensive research into effect sizes of different classroom interventions. This is linked to his work on Visible Learning. A link to this is here.
- Making Learning Visible
The strapline for this approach promoted via the University of Harvard is: “ Creating strong learning cultures in schools using documentation as a tool to deepen and extend learning” A link is here.
- The Great Teaching Toolkit
A useful resource that looks at models for key aspects of classroom practice. A link is here.
- Mark Burns: Thinking For learning/Learning Backwards
Interesting ideas regarding refreshed views on teaching and learning. His website and blog could assist reflective discussions and are here.
8) World Education Summit
This summit took place in spring 2021. A link via Northern Alliance log in to the resulting online resources is here.
We have also taken the opportunity to share some Podcast information that we also feel would be very useful for taking work forward in this area:
Scottish Educators Connect Website – James Cook and Anita Le Tissier https://scottisheducatorsconnect.com/
This contains a plethora of brilliant Podcasts discussing Play, Values, Child Poverty and so much more. The website has book recommendations and further info.
Changing Conversations Podcast – Sarah Philp and Billy Burke https://g.co/kgs/uPjM8S
Another brilliant set of podcasts, including wonderful conversations with Michael Fullan, Mark Priestley, Gavin Oattes etc.
Edinburgh Early Years Podcasts https://soundcloud.com/user-227479287-28906765
Absolutely brilliant set of podcasts on Realising the Ambition, followed by conversations on creativity, pedagogy and lots more.
TED Talks on Education https://www.ted.com/topics/education
In particular talks from Ken Robinson, Rita Pearson, John Tsang)
Would definitely also recommend the Education Scotland Building Back Better series on Youtube, and the videos of the ACE-aware conference and the ACES to Assets conferences held in Glasgow. Both series include an input from Nicky Murray, and the takeaways from these are totally inspiring. Nicky’s ACE-Aware Nation talk is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGLGuco-L_g&t=1389s
