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Linking to Learn, Learning to Link

Linking to Learn, Learning to Link. Who are we?. Link Community Development Abigail Deffee Lizzy Okunola Natalia Battistini Lifeworlds Learning Rob Bowden. Introduction.

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Linking to Learn, Learning to Link

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  1. Linking to Learn, Learning to Link

  2. Who are we? Link Community Development Abigail Deffee Lizzy Okunola Natalia Battistini Lifeworlds Learning Rob Bowden

  3. Introduction • Link Community Development: charity working with governments and communities to improve the quality of education in sub-Saharan Africa • Link Schools Programme: partners in development • What’s involved: training & clustering; Partnership Curriculum Projects; improved communication & access to partner information; support for visits • School Development Projects: benefits for all • Your involvement: communicating with your partner school, communicating with us

  4. Who’s in the room? Glo-bingo Ella Temperature check

  5. Why are we here? To share and show that: Your link provides a fantastic opportunity for real learning about the real world; Linking is an exciting and rewarding journey for you, your school, and the wider community; Learning through linking can be creative, participatory and fun; Successful linking requires particular approaches to learning, especially when working internationally; There is support and resources to help us improve our understanding and practice for linking.

  6. A learning journey The importance of learning So what is development? What support is available? Resourcing your linking What makes a good link?

  7. We are all learners The importance of learning Learning new stuff is easy…compared to learning unconscious attitudes and behaviours Hazel Lyth Who am I? The rain in Spain falls mainly in the the plain The rain… The importance of understanding perspective

  8. How do we learn? The importance of learning Leadership FOR learning Leadership AS learning - we need to learn too - the importance of open minds Unconfident Incompetent Confident Incompetent Unconfident Competent Confident Competent What type of learner am I? Feeling comfortable? Why do this? – confidence and competence

  9. Creating a safe space The importance of learning Creating the right environment effective learning needs an effective environment what is our role in this? the need for a safe space Is your classroom safe? What about your staffroom? What about your community? What about your link? So what is a safe space? How do we create one?

  10. Learning qualities The importance of learning • Dispositions and Values • Respect for self • Respect for others • A sense of social responsibility • A sense of belonging • A commitment to learning • An engagement with change • Ideas and Understandings • The centrality of relationships • Disparity in human living conditions • Technological and economic change • Democracy, governance and citizenship • Cultural identities, conflict and conciliation • Rules, rights and responsibilities • Gender identities • Sustainable development and conservation • Capabilities and Skills • Communication skills • Critical reasoning and thinking skills • Social skills • Action skills What experiences and issues provide context for this learning?

  11. Development is… So what is development? What do YOU understand by development? The most important factor to achieving development is… Perspectives on development Where do our perspectives come from?

  12. West knows best? So what is development? A critical perspective ‘There You Go!’ The hazard of thinking we knowwhat it is they need Why is this?

  13. A matter of words So what is development? Developed Developing First World Third World North South More developed Less developed Understanding the relationship 80:20 & Social Justice

  14. Link’s approach So what is development? School Performance Review Link Schools Programme: partners in development

  15. Confused? So what is development? You are not wrong: “In development we will always live in flux. We will always need to learn and unlearn in order to do better. We will always travel and never arrive.” Robert Chambers It can be very confusing: “I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn’t poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, I was deprived. Then they told me deprived had negative connotations, I was underprivileged. Then they told me underprivileged was overused, I was disadvantaged. Then they said disadvantage is a relative concept, not an absolute one. I still don’t have a dime. But I sure have a great vocabulary.” Unknown from Holding Together – equalities, difference and cohesion by Robin Richardson

  16. Dev & Education What support is available? Getting to terms with the terms International Development Education Same thing? The Global Dimension(s) Global Learning 70-84 Global Global Citizenship

  17. Why engage? What support is available? Motivation, function and aspiration Young people are interested and engaged What kind of learner? They are global citizens NOW They have an entitlement “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela What kind of environment?

  18. Where are you? What support is available?

  19. Take confidence What support is available? “Use your own best judgement at all times” Celebrate and share successes – focus on the ‘bright spots’ Know when to act, know when to ask Know where to look for help and for what you want help with Know that it can go wrong and that that is OK Remember to keep learning, reflect on what you know

  20. Help at hand What support is available? NATIONAL Think Global (DEA) - Global dimension website DECs consortium Others (like Lifeworlds Learning, Oxfam, TIDE) 36-38 REGIONAL Regional representatives (this is changing) LOCAL Your local DEC/support Each other!

  21. Linking 2 Learn Resourcing your linking Making the connection: theory into practice Mutuality: benefits at all levels of the partnership Pupil Voice: pupils are active participants and help make decisions Openness: to learning from (not just about) a different locality Commonality: as the starting point for partners – then differences Assumptions: understanding own attitudes and values in a safe space Context: of wider global issues and how impact on partners Critical: thinking about aspects and issues, including of oneself Sensitive: to relationship and to controversial issues Exploring: ourselves, partners and issues – will not always have answers

  22. Finding a frame Resourcing your linking Finding a frame What are we actually going to learn about? Use an existing frame… Millennium Development Goals Children’s Rights Environment and Sustainability …or create your own Food and farming Water Energy Climate change Childhood How do people live together? Who decides?

  23. Big picture Resourcing your linking Practice and creativity 14-46 We are working with real people & real issues emotional resourcing Practicality and logistics Pedagogy and learning

  24. Link’s resources Resourcing your linking New curriculum materials from Link Built around the MDGs Primary and Secondary Curriculum linked to partners Example lesson plans

  25. Think to Link What makes a good link? Research and experience shows us that Linking can be very positive for all if done well… …but can reinforce stereotypes and do damage if done poorly. Good linking can enrich the curriculum and enhance learning… …but can be superficial and misinforming if done badly. Successful linking takes time and needs careful thought… …but can be unsuccessful if rushed and unplanned.

  26. Learn for Linking What makes a good link? Clear (shared) educational objectives Focus on quality rather than quantity Flexibility and patience Support from SMT, school plan, community Take on controversial and sensitive issues

  27. Linking to Learn What makes a good link? Global interdependence Attitudes, values and perceptions Media literacy and communication skills Critical thinking and decision making Rights and responsibilities

  28. Thinking time What makes a good link? It is worth investing up-front Thinking about linking… …can create linking for thinking Time for some blue-sky thinking

  29. All aboard! What makes a good link? Ambitions/hopes Enabling factors Limiting factors

  30. Taking it home What makes a good link? Curriculum Community Campus

  31. Act and Aspire What makes a good link? High IMPACT Low Easy EASE Hard

  32. Thank you and good luck Please complete the evaluation Open surgery

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