Sara Hennessy

This book presents a fresh approach to bridging the perceived gap between academic and classroom cultures. It describes a unique form of research partnership whereby Cambridge University academics and school teachers together grappled with and reformulated theory – through in-depth case studies analysing practice using interactive whiteboards in five subject areas. The inquiry exploited the collaborators’ complementary professional knowledge bases. Teachers’ voices are particularly audible in co-authored case study chapters. Outcomes included deeper insights into concepts of sociocultural learning theory and classroom dialogue, more analytical mindsets, sustained new practices and ways of working collegially. The book reflects upon the power of lesson video review and details how the co-inquirers negotiated “intermediate theory” – bridging educational theory and specific settings – framed in mutually accessible language and embodied in interactive multimedia resources for teacher development. These include video clips, analytic commentary from multiple perspectives, lesson materials, plus optional prompts for reflection and critique – not models of “best practice”. The resources make pedagogy explicit and vividly illustrate the book’s ideas, offering theory-informed yet practical tools designed with and for practitioners. Hennessy and colleagues have tested a model of ongoing, teacher-led development and innovation, professional dialogue and classroom trialing stimulated by discussing selected multimedia resources. The book will interest academic and teacher researchers, initial teacher educators, professional development leaders, mentors, plus practitioners interested in using interactive whiteboards and dialogic teaching. It explores widening approaches to collegial development to reach educators working in other contexts (with and without technology). This could involve intermediate theory building or shortcutting by sharing and adapting the outcomes – springboarding teachers’ further critique and professional learning. “I cannot recommend this book too highly ... it weaves a complex developmental story with a range of facets. It emphasises clearly the rigour of the research that was conducted, while demonstrating the complexity of the inter-relationships, practices and issues for both teachers and researchers in developing practical and theoretical knowledge. Its graphic insights through text and associated media provide exemplars for teachers and those who work with teachers as a rich resource. It shows us all what can be achieved and the means of achieving it.” Prof. Barbara Jaworski, University of Loughborough

Supporting Professional Development through Collaborative Studies of Classroom Teaching with Technology

Bridging between Research and Practice

Paul Warwick

Do your students tune out from the IWB? No matter how 'whizzy' you make the technology, do you have trouble engaging them?Would you like some ideas to support a more interactive approach to using the IWB, so that your students are more motivated and involved in your lessons? Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) are now found in the majority of UK classrooms and many teachers are highly technically competent with this technology. Yet there is a need to develop expertise that capitalizes on such advanced technological equipment as an effective teaching and learning tool. The aim of this resource is to support a more interactive approach to using the IWB, especially in whole-class teaching. Research into classroom practices shows that more interactive approaches - in particular engaging pupils in dialogue and discussion - promote better learning. This resource offers practical support and examples that help develop teaching practices that are more productive for learning, focused around the use of the IWB. This teacher resource has three key elements: The Professional Development Resource takes you through discussion, reflection and practical activities that focus on dialogue and the use of the IWB The Reader explores key issues related to use of the IWB in primary and secondary classrooms, and directly supports the Professional Development Resource The Resource Bank offers video examples, sample classroom activities, explanatory screenshots, and IWB lesson templates, all available online Together with its website containing the resource bank, this text is an essential toolkit for trainee and qualified teachers, as well as senior leadership teams. "I fully recommend this set of extremely useful material containing a strong classroom voice endorsed by authoritative academic researchers. Teachers will be drawn to this material, and will be able to review their own practice, reflect on the centrality of classroom spoken interactions, and investigate how best to use the expensive item of technology on the wall to get the very best from their investment. The blend of resources, ideas and readings coupled with the video clips will provide a wealth of material to do just that. It will prove very useful for teachers with any length of experience, from those who might want to take a fresh look at their classroom practice to those new to the profession. I will certainly draw from this in my CPD training with school staff." Sally Elding, Senior Adviser, Primary Elearning Team, The ICT Service, Cambridgeshire "This book ensures that 'interactivity' in the classroom does not just mean the casual interaction of students with software. Instead, the authors show how to combine two very powerful tools - the IWB and talk - to create an effective and inclusive learning environment. Chapters draw on classroom settings to show how use of the IWB can be enhanced by a focus on the quality of the talk that goes on between students, and between teacher and learners. Authors use practical experience to highlight the things that make the difference to the use of the IWB - for example the establishment of exploratory dialogue, the thoughtful organisation of group work and the creation of straightforward but stimulating IWB resources. In addition the text provides clear guidance for teachers on how and why to raise student awareness of the importance of their discussion when making or considering digital artefacts. There is a strong focus on ensuring that both students and teachers understand best use of the IWB; and that contexts for learning are provided which really merit discussion. The Teacher Development section considers use of the IWB in a dialogic classroom - and shows how best practice can be achieved, with useful resources, and a format for reviewing own learning. The Reader section provides insight into the aspects of talk that fit together to generate a dialogic classroom context, and crucially shows how use of the IWB is both enhanced by dialogue and contributes to students' capacity to take part in learning dialogues with one another. The Resource Bank draws on a range of classroom contexts, providing examples to support teachers as they create their own lesson plans and ideas. The text is accessible and interesting, with complex ideas clearly explained, and the book is readily navigated.This book will enable teachers to plan for dialogue based on the motivating and interesting features of the IWB. In particular it provides guidance for student use of the IWB, and creation of own resources tailored to learning needs. Teachers who wish to have a focus on dialogue will find here a theoretically based, practical approach to ensuring that their students really benefit from interactivity, with the IWB and with each other." Dr Lyn Dawes, Educational Consultant "This valuable resource provides both a theoretical framework and pedagogic guidance to use the interactive whiteboard to its full potential with learners of all ages. Written by established classroom practitioners and academic researchers, it provides a set of resources which are grounded in the reality of classroom life, but underpinned by academic rigour which make it useful to both student and experienced teachers alike." Professor Gary Beauchamp, Professor of Education and Director of Research, School of Education, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK Contributors: Lloyd Brown, Simon Knight, Caroline Neale, Diane Rawlins, Rupert Wegerif

Sara Hennessy

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