Learning Groups
Sightlines learning groups are for members of the Sightlines Network who would like to become involved in research and discussion with colleagues on particular topics. We are launching two new groups: "Creative Thinking in Practice" and "Developing Environments of Enquiry in the new English National Curriculum'. Please email robin (at) sightlines-initiative to find out more.
Creative thinking in practice
What is creative thinking?
How can we encourage and develop children's and our own creative thinking?
This group is open to practicing early childhood and primary educators in our network, and has been proposed by a network member working in Italy. "I think that even now people have a very limited understanding of what we really mean by 'creativity'. It tends to be linked to children's ability to express themselves through different creative languages. But as you know this is only part of the equation. When I see what people take home from Reggio I see a lot of light and shadow play and painting and even clay work. I don't tend to see so much that could be classed learning experiences that encourage divergent and lateral thinking."
This could be a very fruitful group to push beyond the first-level changes that many of us get stuck at, and to create a group which itself engages in divergent and lateral thinking. It is open to members working within and outside of the UK. The group will use our online forum and Skype as the principle communication tools, and may arrange to meet as the work progresses.
Facilitators: Marianne Valentine, author, educator, interpreter; Robin Duckett, Director, Sightlines Initiative
There will be an individual participation cost of £20 to cover costs of administration and technology. Please email or ring Robin at Sightlines office in the first instance to find out more and to ask to participate.
Developing Environments of Enquiry in the new English National Curriculum
This group has been requested by a leading nursery/infant school head teacher who is keen to connect with colleagues as she frames her school's reflective practice in the light of the draft new English Primary National Curriculum. It is for head/lead teachers of English Nursery/Infant/Primary Schools in the network who share her concerns and task: that they are passionate in the development of creative, co-constructed education as, for example, evidenced in Reggio Emilia and envisioned in the principles of the network.
We envisage this as being an important group in the development of connected, well-articulated and thorough practice at this crucial and contested time.
It will be moderated by Andrea Sully, Early Years Advisor, North Somerset Council; Robin Duckett, Director, Sightlines Initiative; Catherine Worton, Head Teacher, Trimdon Grange Infant & Nursery School; Christine Merrick, Early childhood consultant and Lead primary OFSTED Inspector.
The group will begin with a day seminar led by Andrea Sully.
"This seminar has been organised to support, guide, strengthen and facilitate schools in their understanding of the new NC, alongside their freedoms to make wise choices and good decisions in designing their school curriculum. The seminar aims to help leaders and teachers to do the important kinds of thinking that characterise effective schools:
We will consider what matters to children; the distinction between the National curriculum and a school curriculum, the aims of learning and teaching within the whole planned curriculum, and the articulation and progress of co-constructed, enquiry-focussed learning."
The group will develop using online media as appropriate. There will be an individual participation cost of £150 to cover costs of administration, technology and the initial seminar. We are hoping for a group size of 8-10 participants: please email or ring Robin at Sightlines office in the first instance to find out more and to ask to participate.
The Language of Photography - Network project 2010-11
In 2010 Sightlines Initiative launched a national project for its members which focussed on The Language of Photography
.
The idea for this project was that member groups could explore the same focus, exchange their experiences and learn from and with each other.
The aim of the project was to explore how children use photography as a way to express themselves, their feelings and their ways of seeing.
We chose Photography as the focus for the project as it is amongst the most accessible and versatile of all the expressive languages.
The camera is a tool for communication but also for creativity. Even very young children can go beyond documenting what is in front of them to using the camera expressively. Photography is the most perfect medium to enable children to give expression to their personal, unique view of the world. The digital camera is a powerful expressive tool in the hands of very young children who have not yet developed spoken language or skills of representation. By equipping them with the skills and tools to photograph their own experiences, we can see what is important to children. The concept is that the project is an opportunity to investigate the point of view of children through photographic language.
The project was inspired by a project from Reggio Emilia where children explored digital photograohy as one of their many languages of expression.
Children often use cameras in a very exciting way- unrestricted by conventional notions of what makes a good picture they are so direct, curious and unpretentious that I often find myself liking their pictures more than my own.’
Julian Germain
Sightlines Initiative held conferences, seminar days, workshops and bespoke CPD to support groups participating in the project.
We also produced support documents along the way with ideas for developing the project.
Over 30 settings/schools engaged with this project and began to explore this fascinating subject on many levels and in various different ways.
Sightlines network members can access more Language of Photography project material by clicking here.
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