Teachers talk about Teaching and Learning of the future

George Town Primary School staff today taking part in a really animated discussion about what they would really like future teaching and learning to look like. Staff were really keen to be involved and really started opening up to the real priorities for students and what they would ideally like them to be able to do during the course of their school day. This was just one part of an ongoing consulation process about what their new primary school might look like and is preparing staff for another meeting with the architects next week. The absolute priority for the design of this new learning environment is how it will enable high quality teaching and learning (as well as incorporating community facilities and hurricane shelter capacity), rather than just designing a great looking building - hopefully it will be both! GL.

And all that was left was the blackboard...

Following the partial demolition of the JGHS English block over the weekend (see blog entry below), the only evidence of a classroom ever having present is the blackboard still mounted on what is now an external wall. The job was done so neatly that a few people hadn't even noticed that the end of the building had "gone". GL.

Delicate demolition at John Gray High School

A delicate operation took place at the John Gray High School over the mid term break, as a demolition crew "chopped off" the end of the English block. This was to enable the construction of the new campus, but still allowing students to use the rest of the building. In a carefully planned move demolition crews undertook the required work allowing plenty of time for safety experts to check the rest of the building, ensuring it was safe for students to return on Monday. Principal Mr Tom Robertson was present all four days to watch the operation - his description of the whole process: "fascinating". School was completely ready for the start of the new half term. Students are intrigued at the many very visible signs of progress towards the new campuses being built. GL.

Teachers visit IB schools during mid term break.

The Ministry of Education's focus on building a world class education system for students in the Cayman Islands took another step forward over the mid term break when a group of eight teachers gave up their vacation and visited schools in Miami that offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years' Programme. The teachers from North Side and Savanannah Primary Schools spent two intense and informative days in classrooms and with school leaders finding out about the realities of delivering the programme in these highly successful schools.

The environments of both schools were alive with the principles and philosophy of the IB programme. Displays showed the cross disciplinary themes and celebrated the achievements of the students as they demonstarted the attitudes and values that are central to the programme in their work and in their behaviour. Students could describe and explain their work in progress with confidence and understanding. Teachers had very good knowledge of the subjects they were teaching and were able to engage their students in high quality discussions and debate. There was a real buzz and sense of purpose in the classrooms.

The whole process was driven by dedicated and focused school leaders who supported and guided their colleagues through the training, planning and preparation needed to achieve such high results. The outcome of all these efforts were some of the highest academic standards in the state of Florida. More than this, the students showed such positive attitudes to learning and a real maturity in the way in which they approachedx their tasks. Their behaviour was exemplary and they had the confidence and willingness to engage in conversation with their visitors.The Caymanian teachers gained so much from the visit and came back with a real determination to implement the programme in their schools. The eight who made this visit are the forerunners of five other groups that will visit before the end of the year. In total, some 35 primary teachers and principals will have visited and plans are in hand to take school leaders from George Hicks High School to visit in the new year. Our thanks to the school leaders, staff and children of Ada Merritt Elementary School and Frank C Martin Elementary School for their open and welcoming hospitality and their willingness to share their experiences with our teachers.

For the teachers perspective on these visits - please visit the Department of Education Services blog: "Building excellence together" where they will post their views in the near future. PS/GL

Even more of the world is watching...

Although we have been tracking this blog for just a couple of weeks, we are just amazed to note that ALREADY we are being read by viewers from twenty two countries, from Estonia to Sweden, through to St Vincent and the Grenadines and from Bolivia to Thailand down to Australia. Such is the power of the web and the interest in what we are doing!! Amazing for such a young blog!

Be Very Afraid continued

Students from Little Cayman Education Service live in "Be Very Afraid" have now taken part in a three way interview with Professor Stephen Heppell in London and the Minster; Hon. Alden McLaughlin in Grand Cayman. This was followed by a two way conversation with the Minister as they described what they had been doing for the previous five hours in their live connection with the BVA exhibition. The electronic links were very reliable and a wide number of people from all over the world "chatted" to LCES students, including Norway, Zambia and Australia, whilst also being filmed by Eygption television. This was an incredible morning for these students. GL.

Little Cayman LIVE at "Be Very Afraid" in London

History was made to day as students from the Little Cayman Education Service join in live the "Be very Afraid" exhibition of students using technology in London. LCES students demonstrated how they used their new technology to link with the UK to share lessons and learn from each other. The progress they have made in the three weeks they have had their Mac Note books has been truely remarkable and really has demonstrated the value that using technology can add to lessons.

This particluar blog entry is being written during this five hour event. Students, teachers and parents got up at 3.00a.m. this morning to start the link at 4.00 a.m. Year 6 student Arrowe has talked to over twenty people so far, whilst simultaneously taking their photographs, creating a picture wall, writing a blog entry and emailing work to the BVA event in London.

Pictured above: Arrowe showing people in the UK where the Cayman Islands are, with Mr Mark Ray from the Department of Education Services holding the laptop with in built camera to show the map, and Arrowe talking to visitors at "Be Very Afraid", something he will be doing for five hours. Year 2 student Jovian was rather too shy to talk although he did wave at some visitors. GL.

Groundworks also underway at the site of the Clifton Hunter Campus

Groundworks are also well underway at the site of the new Clifton Hunter Campus in Frank Sound. This means that the groundworks at all three new campuses are well underway. See earlier blog entries about the groundworks at the Beulah Smith and John Gray Campuses.

Cayman Campus video

A new link on the right of the page takes you to a short but insightful video about plannning for the new schools. Among others, the video features the Minister, architects and Dave Martins of the cultural advisory group, whose role was to help ensure that Caymanian culture is infused in to the new schools' designs. Enjoy! - LP.

Education staff and Principals meet architects

Further consultations with architects for the George Town Primary School have included in depth meetings with senior Education Department staff and all primary school principals over the last two days. All comments and contributions will be seriously considered as part of the ongoing research leading to the new primary school. GL.

Are students supposed to sit on this for an hour????....

As part of the review of furniture and equipment in our schools health issues are vital. New furniture must cater for developing students of a variety of sizes, allow for ergonomic support and be fit for purpose. As such well designed, value for money furniture is to be trialled by teachers and students to ensure that we buy the most appropriate resources for our students. Pictured above; Kate Stewart from "Team a go go" (http://www.teamagogo.com/) working with FNI examines existing laboratory furniture with some concern. (See earlier blog entry below) GL.

Beulah Smith clearance work continues

A huge amount of clearance work has been undertaken at the site of the new Beulah Smith Campus since the last blog entry, as this photograph shows. Architects OwP&P and OA&D are really pleased with the progress being made at this stage...... keep reading for more updates.. GL.

GTPS Consultation continues....

To ensure that every stakeholder has an input into the planning process for the new GTPS, officials from Health Services, Dental Services and Family and Child Services met with architects to day to give their thoughts about the needs of the local community. This is just one of many stakeholder groups to be invited to contribute. Other groups have included; Community Police, Sports Department, Youth Department and Libraries. GL.

This not happening anywhere else in Cayman ....yet!! Little Cayman parents get excited about how technology is promoting good teaching and learning.

(Pictured above: Bottom: parents talking to Jonathan Furness in the UK and top: Arrowe explaining to Jonathan about the parents evening.)

Parents in Little Cayman got really excited about the ICT project that their students were using as a core part of their lessons. Gareth Long from the Ministry and Mark Ray from the Department of Education told them all about every aspect of the scheme. Additionally they were joined by Jonathan Furness of Stepping Stones School UK, (even though it was 1.00 a.m. UK time), and Year 6 student Arrowe explained how students were using the technology as a key part of their lessons. They are now routinely working with students at Stepping Stones, in a range of joint projects and also developing a range of skills including animation, music, and pod casting. Some work is recorded on the Little Cayman blog (http://littlecaymancommunity.blogspot.com/), Staff have already reported that students have surprised them with their capacity to learn skills far faster than they expected and were delighted that students from two different countries were teaching them new things. Each student has a Mac Notebook and a iPod video Nano to record their podcast and take them home to share with parents. A larger Mac screen remains live with Stepping Stones so students can talk to each other as the need arises for joint work. There are more plans to allow students to join age appropriate lessons on Cayman Brac as a norm using this technology.

Parents were very really enthusiatic about what was happening and agreed that it had really enhanced the work for students. GL.

(To watch a video from this evening see: http://buildingexcellencetogether.blogspot.com/)

Parents of GTPS collaborate with architects

Following on from the George Town Primary staff meeting with the architects of the new George Town Primary school, parents also got a chance to get up to speed with progress and share their views with the architects at last night’s PTA meeting. Maureen O’Shaughnessy and Craig Goodman of CS&P architects in Toronto took parents through a comprehensive presentation of the principles and concepts of the new school design, which will be built at nearby Rock Hole (the actual rock hole will be retained as a feature with historic significance!). A variety of questions and answers followed whilst the architects took notes of comments and concerns as part of the collaborative process. Staff also added additional comments including a well received sentiment of: "Please let the building allow me to be as creative as I want to be". Parents also loudly applauded Minister McLaughlin for his assurance that their dream of a new school will be realized. - LP.

Partial demolition starts at John Gray High School.... and bees!

Partial demolition has started at the John Gray High School site, to allow for further groundworks prior to the construction of the new John Gray Campus. First to fall under the bulldozer were the PE changing rooms. An unexpected find was a huge bee hive complete with thousands of buzzing occupants. People will doubtless be pleased to know that these are to be safely removed to a new home allowing a "bee free" working environment for all those working on the site. GL.

GTPS teachers meet with architects

Staff from George Town Primary School joined a highly interactive meeting as they met with the architects for their new learning environment. All staff had the opportunity to contribute their views on what they would like to see included. This was the first of many meetings that they will be involved in to ensure their maximum involvement in the entire process. All other community stakeholders will also have the opportunity to meet the architects and contribute their views as the plans emerge. GL.

Parents hear about the International Baccalaureate

A large group of almost 80 parents from the John A Cumber Primary School listened to Mr Clive Baker, Head of Curriculum Services in the Department of Education Services as he explained all about the International Baccalaureate and its role in promoting high quality teaching, learning and assessment. This is part of an ongoing series of presentations to all government schools and PTA's giving information and seeking their feedback. At the end of the presentation a show of hands indicated that there was overwhelming support for the proposal for John A Cumber to further investigate the IB process. Several teachers from a number of schools have already attended IB training courses and three schools have so far registered to become IB schools, the very early stages of a long recognition process. GL.

Furniture Fixtures and Equipment Consultation

A vital part of the equipping new schools is to ensure that the furniture, fixing and equipment are the most appropriate for the courses to be delivered, for students and for staff. Crucial to this is the ongoing consultation for high school staff as they meet with FF and E experts from OwPP, FNI and Team a go go. The aim then will be for teachers to trial new furniture in schools to evaluate its suitability, whilst considering ergonomic design, flexiblity, robustness and value for money. Views are honestly expressed and lead to good discussions between all participants. GL.

Meet the Architects - the new George Town Primary School

Pictured above are the new architects for the new George Town Primary School rather bedraggled as they emerged from a two hour site visit walking round the five and a half acres destined for the new primary school. GL.
From left to right: Mr Craig Goodman, architect with CS&P Architects Inc, local architect: Mr Donal McGrath, Managing Director of BDCL Architects, and Ms Maureen O'Shaughnessy, also an architect with CS&P.

Randy Fielding, School Planner, Wins International Award

Randy Fielding of Fielding Nair International has just been recognised as International Planner of the Year by the Council of Educational Facility Planners, in Toronto last week. Randy has been involved from the very start of the high schools project and is frequently in Cayman as a key member of the project team.

Fielding Nair are the Facilities Planners for the new high schools in Cayman doing all the consultation and concept design work. FNI have also done a concept design for the new George Town Primary School.

We would all like to congratulate Randy on this international recognition. GL.

Consultation and Communication

A key feature of the whole new schools building process has been the amount of consultation and communication that has occurred and continues to take place with as wide a range of stakeholders as possible. Representatives from the architects (OA&D locally and OwP&P from Chicago) as well as our Education Facilities Planners (Fielding Nair International) are in Cayman every month, sometimes more frequently, to take part in these. This has ensured we have input at every stage as we develop these amazing new facilities. GL.

Pictured above: Chief Education Officer Mrs Shirley Wahler, Architect; Mr David Powell (OwP&P) and the Ministry Director of New Facilities; Mr Dave Smith at one of their regular feedback sessions.

Students Trialling Technology

Students from George Town Primary School are really excited by their new "Mimeo" interactive board stating that "learning was funner", "lessons were more interesting", "work was more colourful", "quicker to use" and "helped research". They also thought it helped the teacher by "doing better diagrams", "you can see how things work - it explains it better", "it means the teacher does not have to write so much" and "no dust from the chalkboard!" They also were unanimous in wanting interactive white boards in every room!.

An essential part of moving towards the use of new technologies in our schools to help exciting teaching and learning opportunities is ensuring that we buy the most appropriate equipment. To achieve this the Ministry has put a range of devices in all schools to be trialled and evaluated during the course of the year. These include interactive white boards by "SMART" and "Mimeo", along with a range of handheld devices. The results of this evaluation by teachers and students will help ensure that only appropriate and effective equipment is installed in our schools, thereby providing good value for money. GL.

New Curriculum - the final consultation

In addition to building new schools a vital part of the transformation of the education system is the work in developing a new national curriculum for the Cayman Islands This is due to be introduced in schools in January 2008. The major review, led by Mrs Helena McVeigh, Chief Inspector of Schools, has been in progress for over a year. A key aspect of the process has been the involvement of a large team of people, including approximately sixty teachers, to ensure that the curriculum reflects the needs of the Cayman Islands as well as being comparable to the best international standards. Vitally, the whole community have had opportunities to contribute to the new curriculum at every stage.

This review is entering its final stages of consultation with draft curriculum documents for each academic subject posted on the Ministry's website. (www.brighterfutures.gov.ky/curriculum)

Everyone is encouraged to take this final opportunity to review the curriculum documents and submit feedback. A detailed statement about this review can also be found on the website at: www.brighterfutures.gov.ky GL.

Work starts on the new Beulah Smith Campus

People have been very pleased to see that considerable groundworks have already taken place on the new Beulah Smith Campus in West Bay, just two weeks after the official groundbreaking ceremony by the Minister of Education: Hon. Alden McLaughlin. This education campus, being built around the national cricket pitch, will offer considerable opportunities for joint education and sports use by students and the whole community.

The Beulah Smith Campus is slated to open in September 2009, along with the John Gray Campus in George Town, the Clifton Hunter Campus at Frank Sound and the new George Town Primary School. Regular progress reports will be posted on this blog. GL.

Professor Heppell on new Teaching and Learning styles in use as core part of Little Cayman project

"In an increasingly joined up world the ability to communicate across oceans and across cultures have transformed the way we work and now, the way we learn too. The confidence that the young people develop through this linking will stand them in good stead as 21st century citizens, employees and even (one day perhaps!) as parents. But for now the excitement in these global learners' eyes is enough to confirm that it is all worthwhile. And this is just the beginning". Professor Stephen Heppell.

Link to Department of Education Services blog: http://buildingexcellencetogether.blogspot.com/

Technology enhances Teaching and Learning

An essential element of our new schools is in ensuring staff and students are prepared for and excited by the ability to work using the full range of teaching and learning styles supported by robust technology. Little Cayman Education Service, with just four primary age students, has launched a pilot project, using a full range of technology as an integral part of their lessons, to link with the equally small Stepping Stones School in the UK for joint lessons and projects. Each student has been issued with a "Mac" note book which enables them to work alone, research and, using "iChat", able to "join" lessons and work collaboratively with other students in other schools. It is intended that this scheme will be developed to allow them to join lessons in schools on Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman as well as to other schools around the world.

Professor Stephen Heppell is Chair of Governors of Stepping Stones School, and devised this idea in conjunction with the Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Education.

Pictured above are Mr Jonathan Furness, lead teacher of Stepping Stones School who is visiting the students of Little Cayman for several days, working "live" with the students of "Stepping Stones." GL.

To monitor this joint project link to the following blogs:
http://littlecaymancommunity.blogspot.com/
http://steppingstonesschool.blogspot.com/

Link to Department of Education Services blog:
http://buildingexcellencetogether.blogspot.com/

JGHS parents receive new schools update

A packed hall of parents and staff of John Gray High School listened attentively to the latest update on the developments regarding the building of the new high schools. Following a presentation by Mr Gareth Long, Strategic Development Advisor (Education), the Minister; Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Chief Officer; Mrs. Angela Martins and the Minister gave detailed answers to questions from an appreciative audience who, at one stage bursting into spontaneous applause as the Minister spoke. It was stressed that the new schools are just one part of a major transformation of the education service and not the sole focus of development.

The audience also listened keenly to a contribution by Mr Dave Martins, Chair of the Cultural Advisory Group and they were particularly impressed by the amount of thought and work that has been, and continues to be, put into the reflection of Caymanian culture into the design of the new schools. Mr Martins noted that every suggestion the Group had made had been adopted by architects and reflected in the school designs.

There will be further public updates on the new schools projects as the term proceeds. There is a real commitment to communicate about what is happening through a variety of media, this blog being just one method. GL.

Work starts at the new John Gray site..

Ground breaking ceremonies are one thing but concern has been expressed about when the actual work will start. The photograph above, taken at 9.00a.m. today, shows that the groundworks really have started on the site of the new John Gray Campus. Even by afternoon it all looked very different again as this exciting development really starts. GL.