A conference inaugurating the “Learning Schools Club” activities in the 2016/17 school year was held in Ząbki near Warsaw on October 6 and 7. Directors of schools belonging to the Club from all over Poland met to discuss how to improve learning and teaching processes at their schools. This year 35 schools will participate in the LES Club activities, including both old members and the new ones.
The Conference was opened by Marta Dobrzyńska, the “Learning Schools” Program Managing Director who welcomed the participants and told about the mission of the “LES” Program. The Program comprises many activities and projects known from practice by schools participating in the “LES Club” but it is developing and expanding its offer with new elements. For example one of the new elements is the “OK Notebook” course, introducing new tools and methods of work with feedback information to the formative assessment process.
Katarzyna Maniszewska, the PAFF Program Director, emphasized that 16-year program experience and achievements are used also by other PAFF educational initiatives, including the PAFF and UW School of Education. The School of Education is an innovative post-graduate full-time course for future teachers, based on best Polish and world models, where practice and theory are closely connected. Director Maniszewska encouraged the school directors to start cooperation with the School and its future graduates.
Jacek Strzemieczny, President of the Center for Citizenship Education Foundation, presented the idea of school development based on the work of its director and school leaders. He pointed to the need to focus attention on students’ learning, importance of partnership and joint reflection of teachers on the method of working with students.
School directors shared their opinions on challenges they are facing in the new school year and positive aspects of introduction of the LES idea to their schools. The two-day meeting was an opportunity to share experiences during the workshops and discussion, among other things on the Teachers Work Practices, atmosphere building at schools as well as conditions that are necessary to introduce the latter.
The “Learning Schools (LES)” Program has been carried out since 2000 by the Center for Citizenship Education Foundation and PAFF. It is addressed to directors and teachers of all types and levels of schools supporting the changes that will help to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning. One of the main objectives of the program is promotion and introduction of formative assessment method to schools and supporting the teachers teamwork. “LES Club” is an offer for schools that have already participated in the program initiatives and wish to continue using its resources to work on their development, especially on student teaching and learning improvement based on the Teachers Work Practices.
Detailed information on the Conference can be found at:
http://sus.ceo.org.pl/laboratoria-i-klub-sus/o-dzialaniu/aktualnosci/sus-w-szkole-i-w-nauczycielach
