Enhancing Language Skills through School Radio Broadcasting

1. Chris Souvlis Southwark and Southend

2. Welcome • Thank yous Introduction

3. The beginning… • MCMC www.mcmc-regio.com (2011—2013) …and our prep visit… 28th Oct 12

4. www.srl-regio.com Abstract of the project: Some pupils have difficulty with written language. Sometimes they are dyslexic. Sometimes another language is their first language. Sometimes they are simply bored by traditional teaching methods. It’s been shown that inspiring pupils to broadcast via school radio can give them enthusiasm to use spoken language in a way that can build their confidence and skills--which leads to increased achievement in literacy. The regions of Southwark and the Algarve want to develop a project to share the success that some schools have already experienced using radio broadcasting by pupils. The 2 regions and their authorities and institutions will collaborate on a 2 year Comenius Regio project on this theme. With support from the expert partner organisation in each region, each project partner school will guarantee to: --incorporate pupil broadcasting in their teaching via a school radio station platform and -- develop and share techniques for reaching pupils struggling with language and literacy Training will be shared between the school partners and the expert additional partners to ensure that staff and students use the station and broadcast to their schools, to each other and to the community to benefit their ongoing education offer.

5. Our approach • Initially, we will need to ensure that all partner schools are equipped to make simple radio programs. (Equipment and technology is quite easily and inexpensively available these days and since our prep visit when these issues were fully discussed, all partner schools have been designing the spec they will need.) • A joint broadcasting platform will be created and will be linked to a website for the project which will be created allowing experiences and practice to be shared between our regions. • We will then need to share expertise between those partners who have some experience of making and broadcasting pod casts etc and those who don’t. (One of our partners—Lyndhurst school—already has its own radio studio which is sometimes visited by local schools as an example of good practice.) We will also draw on the expertise of Aculco Radio (our community radio station partner on the Southwark side) and Centro de Formação Dr RuiGracio (our teacher training centre partner on the Algarve side) to deliver training to staff from all the partner schools at joint conferences on how to broadcast as well as methodology of how to use broadcasting as a learning strategy. • We will share advice and discuss how best to use school radio broadcasting in our regions to give struggling pupils more confidence with using language. • We will set joint broadcasting projects for our pupils.

6. Aims of the meeting • To establish ties of proximity and knowledge with the project partner institutions; • To review the work plan of the project (activities, calendar, outcomes, etc.) • To jointly train each other in using the equipment and techniques necessary for broadcasting

7. Workplan • Year 1 • After notification of approval: each partner--purchase of equipment • Web site designed • building a shared platform begins--working group of partners from across the Algarve and Southwark • First meeting in London in Nov 2013 focusing on training in using equipment • --5 days to include recording content, editing and visits to Aculco radio, BBC Radio (Portland Place tour) Lyndhurst School’s already functioning Radio • Afterward: Platform to be completed • Leaders in each school in both regions cascade training to their fellow staff • Start using the equipment, making content and uploading content to platform • April 2014 Review 9TH –15TH JUNE Meeting in the Algarve to -evaluate progress -identify any school falling behind in meeting the expected level of competency with school radio development in their own school/ visits to RDP (National) and Gilão (regional) radio stations • Joint project assignments set for both sides – these will included pupil projects related to the UNESCO themes of peace, sustainable development and inclusion, to be celebrated in Feb 2014 and 2015 on World Radio Day. • Afterward: Continue uploading and sharing content

8. Yr 2 (in brief) Year 2 Working with pupils—the project focus moves from teacher to pupil proficiency with producing radio content including projects set at the Algarve meeting Nov 12th – 16th 2014 London meeting Progress reviewed and outputs delivered to Aculco Community radio for broadcast (in both languages) Focus on Dyslexia--Strategies devised following sharing by all partners of regional policies and strategies Planning for joint broadcasting projects incorporating these views undertaken Afterward: Embedding across schools Joint broadcasting projects undertaken by teachers and pupils Dissemination to schools outside the partnership and Comenius job shadowing between Algarve and Southwark schools promoted Algarve 25 hour training program for teachers on school radio/ Southwark One day course delivered and ongoing support offered May 13th – 17th 2015 Final meeting/ confin Algarve Review project and draw conclusions and plan next steps for legacy Web site content finalized / Evaluation and Financial Monitoring reviewed.

9. Review Meeting Program http://srl-regio.com/?page_id=676 Cat, Charlie, Chris (& others to look at changes and report back)

10. Today Session 1 (10am – 11am) - Introductions - Welcome from Chris (choose from Thurs menu – postpone ) - Icebreakers (including how to use the MP3 recorders) – record favourite words in English, Portuguese or any other language - Discuss each school’s needs and wants for the project - Share outline for the training Coffee(11am – 11.15am) – group photos Session 2 (11.15am – 12.30pm) - Where we are now (Sandwiches served) - Using radio in school – 20 min presentation from Paulo and Jorge (Radio N@aus); - 20 min presentation from Charlie (Grove FM) - – group discussions around: o Ideas for potential content and projects o How can we use these ideas to support children with dyslexia and children with EAL? - What content can we produce during this week? Eg sound-scapes, radio diary. Begin to collect ideas for use on Tuesday/Thursday

11. 12.30 Depart to BBC Radio Tour, • Broadcasting House, Portland Place, W1A 1AA Oxford Circus • Session 3 • 2pm – 1 hour 30 minute tour (arrive 10 minutes before the tour starts for security check) • - Take MP3 recorders to record sound-scapes of London • 3.30pm onwards – Late lunch & free time

12. ENJOY, BEST WISHES, WORK WELL!