University of East London - background
University of East London: Global Citizenship Virtual Schools Project
This project has been designed to embed Education for Global Citizenship as a feature of the secondary provision for teacher training at the Cass School of Education, University of East London. In its most recent inspection report [1] in 2008 The Secondary PGCE Programme was awarded a Grade One (outstanding) both for Management and Quality Assurance and for the quality of training. UEL is a category A provider for initial teacher training. One of the many aspects praised by Ofsted in their report was the innovative development of ‘virtual schools' which provide a "stimulating framework within which trainees, in mixed subject groups, can discuss and explore how educational theories and subject issues might play out in practice" (paragraph One - Ofsted Report). The strength of partnerships between the University and its schools was also highlighted by Ofsted with particular reference to the role of school-based mentors. This proposal seeks to weave Education for Global Citizenship within the framework of these virtual schools over two phases using the strong partnership with school based colleagues to support this initiative.
An Update from UEL in December 2008 highlights the developments shown in bold below:
Phase One - September 2008 to July 2009
1.
Introduce a global dimension into the virtual schools on UEL Plus. This has been carried out with regular interventions by UEL Secondary Staff.
2.
Identify mentors and/or other interested practitioners from schools willing totake part in the development of this project. Specifically this group will become the Global Citizenship Development Group. 12 mentors/Citizenship teaching staff from our partnership schools have been identified and have been contacted.
3.
Involve this group in developing a briefing for cross-curricular tasks incorporating global citizenship into ITE and providing feedback for subsequent development of resource bank. In dialogue with all twelve members via email about this project, four of whom have attended initial planning meeting. All twelve will be taking part in the Global Citizenship Day being held here at UEL (see below and see power point).
4.
Host three meetings of the mentor group supported by the wiki which will be developed during the year in conjunction with (and with input from) SophieMackay. First meeting took place in October with two members of the four members of the working group (KW,GC, KS and JB) - an extension of this group met with GC in November).
Second phase of meetings will take place on February 12th 2009.
5.
Offer a core session on Global Citizenship that incorporates blended learning into the project. Core lecture given at UEL in October by Sophie Mackay.
6.
Encourage interventions on UEL Plus in response to Global Citizenship within the virtual schools in response to core input. This will be managed through the mentor group. Interventions have been taking place coordinated by UEL tutors (each tutor allocated their own virtual schools) - Other staff have also been involved in liaising with virtual schools regarding citizenship project.
7.
Ensure that the resources produced by individual virtual school groups are made available on the wiki (subject to individual agreement of those taking part). Project has developed significantly from original bid (see attached powerpoint slides). Briefing will take place on December 15th 2008 with all PGCE and GTP trainees - working in their virtual school groups with their UEL tutors. The briefing will be for the provision of a whole 'real'
day at UEL on February 12 2009. On this day our twelve citizenship 'mentors' will be working with each of the twelve virtual schools for the whole day. This day will have two main objectives. To create a 'virtual' KS3 off-timetable day dedicated to activities and resources for a themed Global Citizenship event. The second aim of this day will be to generate resources for this event. Instructions have been given to each of the virtual schools for these activities and resources to be made available on their Virtual School Wiki.
In terms of dissemination of the project we are currently in the process of writing abstracts for submission to the UK ITE Network for Education Sustainable Development/Global Citizenship Annual conference taking place on the 9th July 2009. We also anticipate producing a paper for ESCalate later this year.
[1]
To view this report on-line - go to: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=330174&providerCategoryID=16777216
Dr Gerry Czerniawski
Senior Lecturer Secondary Teacher Training Social Sciences
and Humanities University of East
London
Romford Road
London E15 4LZ
