The Learning Exchange
The Learning Exchange
The learning exchange comprises of five areas of collaboration:
Programmes
This refers to the programmes of learning that are provided for students who may not otherwise be able to access them in the school they are attending. These are generally a part of the formal educational provision, and may include:
- A full year’s programme in a particular subject area (particularly at senior secondary level)
- Specialist programmes for identified groups of students, e.g. gifted and talented, extension maths etc.
- Specialist tuition or coaching in a certain area, e.g. music, languages, art, scholarship mentoring.
Projects
Projects refer to the special interest topics or themes that are usually for a fixed period of time and usually involve a high level of collaboration. Projects are usually one-off events, and are less formal in terms of organization and commitment than programmes.
Examples of projects include;
- Students from several schools collaborating to explore a global issue and find a local solution (e.g. bullying, global warming, urban wastelands etc.)
- Virtual field trips to areas of interest
- Gathering data from a variety of sources to develop big picture trends and patterns (e.g. water quality, weather patterns, pollution levels)
- Connecting with authors and illustrators for a virtual ‘book week’.
Professional Learning
While much of the attention in planning for LCO development is focused on the needs of students, there are enormous opportunities for staff as well to engage in areas of professional learning. Examples of activity here may include:
- Virtual staff meetings with invited experts
- Scheduled online PD to develop specific skills or knowledge (e.g. ICT skills or introducing a new assessment method)
- Virtual department meetings – linking staff with common areas of interest where they may be the only ones in their school (e.g. maths teachers, literacy/numeracy specialists etc.)
Participation
Types of participation referred to in this area may include:
- Virtual syndicate/department/curriculum meetings
- Linking staff with common areas of interest where they may be the only ones in their school (e.g. maths teachers, literacy/ numeracy specialists etc).
- Collaborative planning and resource development.
- Mentoring and support in identified areas of need, including the induction of new principals or senior staff.
Parents and Whānau
This area is to encourage Parents and Whānau to become not just passive receivers of information about the learners progress in education but active participants in the learning process. The result of this active participation can meet the needs of not just the ministry of education but the needs of the wider community that have an interest in the learners outcomes
Note: A successful LCO will operate with (among others) the following values of participation:
- Reciprocity – captures the essence of what an LCO is all about - a relationship of mutual dependence or action or influence.
- Contribution – understanding that participation is about what can be given to the collective, not simply what can be taken or accessed from it.
- Respect – maintaining a mutual understanding of the value of others' contributions, demonstrated through acknowledged use of resources etc.