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Developing outreach links between schools and universities in Scotland. Graeme Trousdale LAGB Education Session King’s College, London 31 August 2007. 4 methods of outreach. The linguist goes back to school Teachers go back to university Schoolchildren come to university
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Developing outreach links between schools and universities in Scotland Graeme Trousdale LAGB Education Session King’s College, London 31 August 2007
4 methods of outreach • The linguist goes back to school • Teachers go back to university • Schoolchildren come to university • Developing a website for resources
Linguist at school (1) • Presentation to English department at high school • Deals with resources (including websites on KAL and grammar), courses, other kinds of collaborative work • Covers entire school range, but focuses on more advanced students
Linguist at school (2) • Co-teaching S3 class (14 yrs old) with experienced teacher • Part of a project for ‘transactional writing’ folio for Standard Grade • Called ‘The Linguistics of Names’ • Sociolinguistics; syntax; cross-linguistic comparisons
Teachers go back to uni (1) • Two different approaches: collaborative work to produce resources, and CPD work • Collaborative work – extending name project (further lesson plans) for Standard Grade; developing work on accents of Scotland for (Advanced) Higher; linguistics for languages • Benefits: using the experts (teachers, not academics!); targeted work at different levels; establishing a network of teachers
Teachers go back to uni (2) • Language in Textual Analysis • CPD and elective for Initial Teachers • Range of materials from grammar and dialectology to historical linguistics and stylistics • Benefits: another way of developing resources; bringing together experienced and new teachers; 36 hours of work
Schoolchildren come to uni (1) • Small scale version of e.g. Sheffield events • Targeting a particular region of Scotland (more teacher networks) • (Potentially) gives a positive spin for UoE in terms of UCAS applications • Concentrating particularly on topics at Higher and Advanced Higher
Schoolchildren come to uni (2) • Language and poetry • Language and prose • Scots: history and structure • Language variation and change For example: text messaging (using old ALEL exam question); linking to more work on attitudes; bringing in historical dimension. USING WHAT THEY KNOW.
Developing a website for resources • The CLASS project • www.lel.ed.ac.uk/class • Website has a range of functions, but will primarily be a store for resources • Will be organised via level (e.g. Standard Grade; Higher; etc.) based on teachers’ advice • Associated Google group for discussion
Conclusions • Range of methods • Not all will be practical in all contexts • Main priorities: establishing a network of teachers (CLASS ultimately a teachers’ organisation, with academics simply providing advice when needed); creating free, functional, fun resources