Designer Projects
We are often approached and asked to design bespoke, long-term packages to support a particular development focus in a council/authority, cluster of schools or individual establishment.
These projects usually involve a mixture of training events, embedded CPD, consultation and development days. After the initial meeting, the design is presented in the form of a proposal document. This will outline the suggested elements, responsibility of key personnel, agreed success criteria and the costing involved.
These projects usually involve a mixture of training events, embedded CPD, consultation and development days. After the initial meeting, the design is presented in the form of a proposal document. This will outline the suggested elements, responsibility of key personnel, agreed success criteria and the costing involved.
Current or Recent 'Designer Projects'
The following are examples that we are currently facilitating. However the format for each is slightly different. If you would like to enquire about the possibility of engaging in a 'Designer Project', please contact us.
Please note, due to the long-term nature of the projects we are only able to commit to a certain number during each academic year.
Please note, due to the long-term nature of the projects we are only able to commit to a certain number during each academic year.
Our Designer Projects have grown in popularity since 2016, with forward bookings in place until December 2019. Each project involves 'Embedded CPD/CLPL' for the staff involved, as well as a series of linked learning experiences for the children over a 2-week period. A project website is developed and updated daily, a photo-book produced and a family engagement event organised and led by the children involved.
Please email us if you would like further information about the format and cost of these bespoke projects.
The project websites remain published as a resource for staff and a way of children/families continuing to connect with the learning experiences.
Designing for Learning with 'A Curriculum for Wales - A Curriculum for Life', Aberbargoed Primary School, Wales
During the next academic year (2016-17), we will be working alongside teachers to design and facilitate a series of linked learning experiences for different age ranges, assisting the school in moving towards the implementation of recommendations made in the 'Successful Futures' report by Professor Graham Donaldson, 2015. This will involve planning, co-teaching, coaching, action research and reflective practice.
The first project with Classes 7 and 8 (Year 5 and 6) took place in October 2016.
A website was created to use alongside the children, parents and staff - a place to capture the learning as it unfolded. www.singlestepslearningproject.weebly.com
The second project with Classes 3 and 4 (Year 1 and 2) took place in February 2017. Please visit the project website to see the learning in action. www.singlestepslearningproject2.weebly.com
We continued to work alongside Aberbargoed in 2017 and 2018, with another 6 projects taking place. We look forward to returning during the Spring and Summer Terms of 2019.
All projects have been a huge success! A special thank you to everyone involved - children, staff, parents, families, governors and the wider community.
Designing for Learning: Literacy, Numeracy and Skills Across the Curriculum, Miskin Primary School, Wales
We were initially invited to design and facilitate an 18 month project that involved the entire staff in a Primary School. The focus was on raising the profile and standards of literacy across the school. The project had a combination of various elements listed below.
Design and Development DaysSpecific focus days with the Language and Literacy Co-ordinator - designing the project, collating evidence and developing the scheme of work and priorities.
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Whole School INSET Training DaysAll staff were involved in INSET throughout the year that focused on 'literacy' and identifying/evidencing key priorities.
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Embedded CPD/Consultation DaysPlanning and coaching time with each teacher.
Observation Transcripts and Embedded CPD take place each term. |
Twilight INSET SessionsRegular twilight sessions to share practice, reflect and collate ongoing evidence for the school identified priorities.
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The Local Authority Review recognised that the school had initiated a 'forward-thinking, innovative project' and were awarded 'Sector-Leading' status for their implementation of the National Strategy (LNF). Initial data has shown a substantial increase in the Core Subject Indicator (CSI) for Literacy. We would like to thank all the staff and children of Miskin Primary School for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm.
We were delighted to extend this project for a further year (2013-14). There was a continued focus on literacy along with the addition of numeracy. We were able to work alongside the school to ensure that all children, staff and the wider community benefitted from the introduction of the LNF (Literacy and Numeracy Framework in Wales) in a way that was 'owned' by the school.
The collaboration continued with Miskin Primary throughout the academic year 2014-15. In addition to Literacy and Numeracy, we supported the school in the development and application of skills (including ICT) across the curriculum.
We were delighted to extend this project for a further year (2013-14). There was a continued focus on literacy along with the addition of numeracy. We were able to work alongside the school to ensure that all children, staff and the wider community benefitted from the introduction of the LNF (Literacy and Numeracy Framework in Wales) in a way that was 'owned' by the school.
The collaboration continued with Miskin Primary throughout the academic year 2014-15. In addition to Literacy and Numeracy, we supported the school in the development and application of skills (including ICT) across the curriculum.
Dorset Leading Learning, England
We were invited to design and facilitate a year-long project with 10 schools in Dorset and 2 representatives from the council. The focus was on designing a creative, collaborative learning and leadership culture.
Autumn TermTraining Event: Day One
Training Event: Day Two (These took place on consecutive days) Gap Tasks: Implementation in various settings with both learners and staff. Contributions from each school to a shared 'wikispace' - development of an online learning community. |
Spring TermTraining Event: Day Three
Gap Tasks: Implementation in various settings with both learners and staff. Contributions from each school to a shared 'wikispace' - development of an online learning community. |
Summer TermTraining Event: Day Four
Participants collaborated in designing sustainable training for other leaders in their cluster/council Training Event: Day Five Participants delivered their training event for invited guests, under the guidance of Single Steps Learning. |
Critical Skills for Critical Times: Antioch University New England, USA (AUNE)
We were invited to design and deliver a 15 week online course as part of the 'Experienced Educators Program, Master's Degree.
This 'designer project' involved students who ranged from Elementary (Primary) Teachers to High School (Secondary) Teachers, ASD Provision Specialists and College Lecturers.
The challenge was building an effective, collaborative learning community within an online environment…and facilitating a course that still remained authentic to the Five Key Concepts of Designing for Learning.
Elements that made up the online experience included:
This 'designer project' involved students who ranged from Elementary (Primary) Teachers to High School (Secondary) Teachers, ASD Provision Specialists and College Lecturers.
The challenge was building an effective, collaborative learning community within an online environment…and facilitating a course that still remained authentic to the Five Key Concepts of Designing for Learning.
Elements that made up the online experience included:
Accessing a Virtual Learning Environment: Weekly tasks involving video, individual and group assignments, research, reading, analysing, comparison and reflection. |
Regular 'debrief' and reflection using 'chat-room' and discussion forums. |
Using Google Drive to collaborate on shared documents. |
Problem-Based collaborative tasks with a variety of online products: Prezi, YouTube video, iBooks, Google Docs etc. |
Ongoing individual 'Reflective Learning Log' via Google Docs. |