We’ve some really exciting developments emerging for 2012 including an innovative e-linking programme which we are working on with Dissolving Boundaries from Northern Ireland, an SLN-MUN London conference, a monthly poetry challenge and a quadblogging ‘let’s read together’ exercise… read on to discover more
Dissolving Boundaries
SLN is delighted to have formed an association with the Dissolving Boundaries (DB) programme, which uses the ICT curriculum to develop links between schools in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
In August Roger Austin, the DB director from the University of Ulster, came to Bradford and worked with us on a sharing research day. In November SLN went to meet the DB team in Northern Ireland to have a look at how the programme works in schools.
Firstly, we have to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful people we met in Northern Ireland, who were fantastic hosts, and who gave so generously their time and energy. Teachers and children were clearly committed to the e-linking way of working and it has been completely embedded in school life. We were particularly impressed with the way the children were able talk to us about what they did and what they were learning. We learned so much on our visit and were inspired to come straight back and set up our own e-linking process.
So, SLN e-linking is now underway. A trial-link is already taking between two schools that have worked together for some time and were really keen to give it a go. E-linking enables schools to have much more frequent and regular interaction around their on-going shared work. Pupils are encouraged to take a lead in using a moodle to share work and ideas. Ideas for playing games by Skype video conference are being explored, using some well-loved SLN activities to establish possibilities for an e-linking process starting with exchange, meeting, leading to discussion and then deeper conversations.
E-linking allows school links to get become established very quickly, even if the schools involved are situated far apart. It is an invaluable addition to our work and an innovative way for new links to be created across the country.
We have been very lucky to secure some time from Steve Dale, ICT consultant with Bradford Council, and we are delighted to see the e-linking initiative progress with Steve at the helm. Our Spring newsletter will give much more detail about how to get involved with SLN e-linking and we will be demonstrating different e-linking tools and techniques at our network events in February.
SLN-MUN Events
The Schools Linking Network – Model United Nation (SLN-MUN) events continue to grow in popularity.
We would like to thank Buckinghamshire and Stockport for taking the SLN-MUN project into their second year! Five new schools in the High Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire is now busy preparing for the Conference, and a further five secondary schools in the Chiltern District will start their SLN-MUN journey in March 2012.
Stockport students will be starting their preparation in January and will be holding their Conference on 24 May 2012. Norfolk has also launched their SLN-MUN in 2011. The Year 12 students are busy preparing for their Conference which will take place on 7 February 2012. We are also in the preparation stages of the SLN-MUN London Conference 2012 – watch this space for more details.
SLN-MUN events help young people to become active and engaged citizens through the exploration of identity, diversity, community and equality. The aim of the project is to engage students in current world affairs while providing them with the opportunity to explore the four key questions – ‘Who am I? Who are we? Where do we live? How do we all live together?’ – which form the basis of all SLN teaching.
For more information contact lee.scholtz@schoolslinkingnetwork.org.uk or visit our SLN-MUN section for details of conferences for 2012.
SLN Poetry Challenge
Early in 2012 we’ll be launching a monthly poetry challenge, open to young people up to the age of 18. The challenge will be to write a poem centred on a single word. Each month we’ll post two words on our website and invite you to create poetry from one of the words. Our favourite poems will be posted on our website and the overall winner will receive a prize.
To sign up to the SLN poetry challenge please contact
lee.scholtz@schoolslinkingnetwork.org.uk
Let’s Read Together
Our next new challenge is about sharing our love for reading and stories combined with developing our IT knowledge and skills through blogging – but most importantly it is about sharing ideas and working together. SLN will suggest three books per month and we are encouraging schools to get involved in Quadblogging and exchange ideas and comments about the books online.
Quadblogging allows schools to work together online and share information of a similar nature. It involves ‘four’ schools forming a partnership and exchanging information through a school blog. Over a period of a month, each school’s blog would be the focus for one week, with all students encouraged to visit and leave a comment.
Quadblogging helps to increase the awareness of your school’s blog and helps to raise its profile amongst students and staff alike. It’s also a great way to teach young people how to express their ideas and thoughts in a safe and educational online community.
For more information please contact lee.scholtz@schoolslinkingnetwork.org.uk
SLN Winter Newsletter 2011
Welcome
Latest News
Guidance Information
Partnership Feedback
Features & Events
Local Authority Updates
