Picture This!

Planning for Personalisation

As part of this work we have developed a workshop which takes people on a journey to examine what personalisation means to them now and how it can be successfully developed and implemented. We've done this with think-tank expertise from Demos and design expertise from Engine and, of course, help from yourselves.

During November 2004, 16 headteachers ran four pilot regional workshops for their colleague headteachers, based upon the workshop toolkit 'Picture This! Planning for Personalisation'.

The Innovation Unit then worked intensively with practitioners on personalised learning. Together we have looked at how it translates into practice for schools, for pupils, teachers and the wider community.

On 8th December 2004 headteacher delegates from each of the four workshops came together for a Ministerial Conference and Innovation Exchange. Participants spent a morning sharing and developing good practice in personalised learning, working with headteacher colleagues nationwide. In the afternoon they were given the opportunity to influence DfES policy through a face-to-face discussion with David Miliband MP, formerly Minister of State for School Standards, where senior DfES policy makers were also present.

Many practitioners involved in the regional workshops are now set to run their own workshops and believe the process will be equally effective in headteacher networks; teacher groups within and across schools; and involving pupils.

The 'Picture This!' toolkit has recently been updated to include the learning from the experiences of practitioners and Local Authorities across England. The new materials can be downloaded here.

Picture This! users' manual (3,111 KB).

Using Picture This! (2,317 KB)

Learning Futures (165 KB)

Action Sheet (1,858 KB)

Word Cards (76 KB)

Picture Cards (1,135 KB)

You are also invited to influence the debate through our discussion page in the Innovation Community. We are very keen to hear your feedback on your experiences of using 'Picture This!'.

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Positive Feedback

The following feedback was received from Mark Klekot, Headteacher of Stiperstones CEP, after a Picture This conference which they put on:

"Had a fantastic day yesterday at our Picture This conference. It was one of the few courses I've ran when we had a standing ovation at the end.

• speed dating at the end to focus thoughts and 'announce' what the participants were going to back at school went extremely well;
• a significant number of schools are committed to repeat the activity at school with staff, governors and local businesses;
• there were the usual moans about sats/league tables/time but these were minimal and when challenged the colleagues could not explain why this would make a difference;
• many colleagues voiced that it should be used as part of the training for initial teacher training, new heads, all teachers;
• valued the fact that heads did the training."

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