News
Partner Power!
18/11/08: In this weekend's Sunday Times Parent Power Supplement, three of our PGCE partnership schools were recognised for their excellence. Parkside Community College, was one of the Top State Schools with no Sixth Form, Hills Road, one of the top sixth form colleges, and Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas Primary, one of the top small state schools. Congratulations! More.
NRICH Enriched
17/11/08: On November 10th, NRICH launched a new look site. The changes are designed with teachers in mind, with a special teacher menu to help find the wealth of available resources, as well of course as a student menu. We have introduced a News Page with information about what the project team is up to in addition to the production of the website. With another record month for visits and hits in November (over 11.5 million hits) the website is obviously making a difference.
One major event for us was the first of three linked Teacher Inspiration Days. The hundred teachers who attended will be returning to Cambridge in the Spring and Summer terms to extend ideas and talk about what they have learnt as they try things out back in their schools. Some feedback from participants include:
"Lots of ideas - nice to have chance to try them out in the role of the pupil with other people - don't get enough time to do that at school "
"All excellent, really enjoyed the day and well worth the long journey. Look forward to next session. "
"Very interesting day with lots of ideas to make pupils 'mathematicians'. "
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BBC Interviews
14/11/2008: Two visits by separate BBC teams, one from Scotland and the other the Horizon Programme have recently taken place at the Faculty. Interviewing Usha Goswami on the science of reading, the BBC Scotland team are making a documentary programme for BBC4 called "Why Reading Matters" - broadcast date to be advised. The second interview, conducted by David Baddiel, forms part of a series of Horizon programmes on the science of education and learning to be broadcast February/March 2009. More.
Dr Gerard Duveen (1951 – 2008)
12/11/08: Former colleagues and friends of Gerard Duveen will be sad to learn that Gerard passed away on November the 8th. A full obituary can be found here.
Design and Technology Trainees Speak
05/11/08: Are you interested in the Design and Technology PGCE? Why not find out about the course directly from the trainees? Trainees from 06/07 and 07/08 cohorts contributed to a video which is available to stream or download here.
Money Matters
3/11/08: Expenditure on secondary education has increased considerably in recent years. But what has it yielded in terms of improved school performance? In a report last week for the DCSF, John Gray in collaboration with Jean Mangan and Geoff Pugh of Staffordshire University has estimated the impact of expenditure increases over time - contrary to some previous research, spending more does make a difference. More.
Museums and Literacy
30/10/08: Dominic Wyse and Philip Stephenson have recently been awarded a grant from the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council. The proposed research will investigate ways that museum-based learning can enhance primary pupils' writing. The research will focus on one primary school for each of the Museum sites which are part of the Renaissance East of England Hub; Ely Stained Glass Museum, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, and Fitzwilliam Museum. Helen Bradford, will be heavily involved with the design, collection and analysis of data and the interpretation and presentation of results.
Research Funding Roadshow
29/10/08: If you are looking for funding why not go to the University Centre between 10am – 3pm on, Wednesday 12 November 2008. The Funding roadshow is there for you to drop in anytime to speak to funder representatives about the various funding schemes available, potential opportunities and advice on applications. Workshops will also be held throughout the day and will be led by ESPRC, Knowledge Transfer partnerships (KTP), Leverhulme Trust, Nuffield Foundation, The Royal Society, UK Research Office (European Funding) and Wellcome Trust. more.
Creative Pedagogy
27/10/08: Maurice Galton recently published a final report The Pedagogy of Creative Practitioners in Schools which explored the pedagogy used by successful artists (creative partners) to bring about transformations in pupils' attitudes to (and motivation for) learning, particularly among those disaffected pupils of an anti-school disposition. A copy of the report is available to download here.
Inspiring Maths
23/10/08: More than 100 maths teachers from schools in disadvantaged areas will take part in a series of innovative workshops designed to inspire them to teach their subject in more creative and challenging ways. The sessions are being run in partnership between NRICH, the millenium maths project and the Group to Encourage Ethnic Minority Applicants (GEEMA). More.
Foresight: Mental Capital and Wellbeing
22/10/2008: Professor Usha Goswami was one of 5 science co-ordinators for the Government Office for Science Foresight project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing, which was launched today at the Houses of Parliament. The project draws together the current international science base on helping us all to make the most of our mental resources and to enjoy flourishing lives. Going from the cradle to very old age, the project offers a vision for the Government to develop a new approach to mental capital and wellbeing throughout the life course. Professor Goswami advised in particular on the science of learning difficulties and optimising developmental trajectories for all children. Further information can be found here. ADDENDUM An article, co-authored by Usha, on the project has been published in Nature.
Authors of Month
21/10/08: The Faculty's strength in research has been highlighted by Routledge's featured author of the month. In September the work of Robin Alexander was celebrated, this month has seen the focus shift to John MacBeath and in November Madeline Arnot will take on the mantle. More information on the world class research undertaken at the faculty can be found here.
TES/NASEN Award Winner
20/10/08: The faculty is delighted to congratulate Kristine Black-Hawkins, Lani Florian and Martyn Rouse for winning the TES/NASEN academic book award 2008 for Achievement and Inclusion in Schools. We are elated that their research has been recognised nationally in this way. The judges commended the book's argument that inclusion and academic achievement are not incompatible and looks at strategies to make both happen. More.
Exploring Talk in School
17/10/08: An invited conference on the topical theme of raising the quality of classroom dialogue will be held in the Faculty of Education on the 21st and 22nd of October. Inspired by the work of the pioneering British educational researcher Douglas Barnes (who will attend) and organised by Prof. Neil Mercer, it involves leading scholars from the UK and the USA including Prof Courtney Cazden (University of Harvard), Prof. Judith Green (University of California), Prof. Phil Scott (University of Leeds) and Professors Robin Alexander and Maurice Galton of the University of Cambridge. It will also launch a book on the topic, Exploring Talk in School , (Ed. Mercer & Hodgkinson: Sage). Find out more about the research currently being undertaken at the faculty.
Counselling Fellowship
17/10/08: Colleen McLaughlin has been awarded a fellowship by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy in recognition of her contribution to the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Her work has focussed on children and young people as well as counselling in schools. Find out more about our Accredited Counselling Training.
Teachers Under Pressure
15/10/08: Six members of the Faculty attended the launch of the book by Maurice Galton and John MacBeath Teachers Under Pressure at the House of Commons. Baroness Pauline Perry spoke eloquently for the Conservatives and David Laws gave a view from the Lib Dems with John Bangs representing the NUT with a powerful presentation. Press coverage of the story can be found here. ADDENDUM: The Times Educational Supplement covered the story research here.
What About Us?
14/10/08: Today sees the publication of research that examines how the experiences of students with learning difficulties in mainstream education could be improved, along with a best practice website - "What About Us?" The research is covered in the mainstream press and the university website. If you are interested in this area of Educational Research, why not think about the Masters in Inclusive Education?
International STeM: Turkish Science and mobile technologies in the Global South
10/10/08: Next week sees two exciting talks hosted by STeM. On Monday Oktay Bektas, sponsored by the Turkish Government will talk about his research into the possible reform its school science to be more like that in countries such as England. While on Tuesday, Tom Power from the Open University will examine the new opportunities that are emerging for school based professional development, enhanced by the use of mobile technologies in Africa and Asia. More.
Able Underachievement
07/10/08: Does labelling students gifted affect them and their peers? Hei Jean Ahn's recent BERA paper "A comparison of stress factors, coping strategies and motivation in gifted and non-gifted students" addressed this question, with articles in the TES highlighting the motivational by-product of labelling students gifted, along with the subsequent dangers of stress, anxiety and underachievement. PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THE QUOTES ATTRIBUTED TO HEI WITHIN THE ARTICLE ARE QUOTES FROM HER CONFERENCE REPORT AND HAVE BEEN MISATTRIBUTED BY THE TES.
Undergraduates Return
06/10/08: This week sees the beginning of the new academic year as first year Education Tripos undergraduates join returning second and third year students on the path towards their first degree. Hello and Welcome to the Faculty! More.
NRICHing 10 Million
06/10/08: The STeM mathematics enrichment project NRICH continues to make an impact in many schools and homes around the world. During September the site received 10 million hits. This number is indicative of how much NRICH is valued both by teachers and many other individuals who come across the site. The curriculum mapping documents are highly valued by the community as are the teacher notes that now accompany all the problems that are produced.
During the year NRICH will be running a series of three "Teacher Inspiration Days". Attendance is free (funded by Goldman Sachs) and the same one hundred teachers will attend all three days. There were more teachers wishing to come along than there were places, which is another indicator of NRICH's popularity.
Street Art
02/10/08: Ever wondered what the Masters courses entail? Got your PhD and PPD mixed up? Need to know your Primary PGCE from your Education Tripos? Not sure what subjects you can do as part of secondary PGCE? Fear not: the New Faculty Building's Street has been transformed with displays from each our our courses. The course displays are in place as part of the start of a new academic year. Why not stop and find out more?
Mastering Politics, Development and Democratic Education
01/10/08: The EED research group are pleased to announce a new globally focussed Masters course - Politics Development and Democratic Education - which will encourage participants to engage critically with educational policy, practice and provision in global, national, institutional and temporal contexts, and to move between the macro, structural levels of historical change and development to psycho-social processes. It offers opportunities to consider a wide range of ameliorative and democratic educational reforms in the context of nations that are income-rich and/or in developing economies. Find out more on our new Graduate Study pages.
Outstanding Training
26/09/08: The Faculty of Education's status as one of the leading providers of initial teacher education and training has once again been confirmed by OFSTED . In its recent inspection, Ofsted judged the course - which prepares 250 new secondary teachers in most subjects of the National Curriculum - to be outstanding, with a partnership which offer 'leading edge' training particularly in relation to subject knowledge and pedagogy, and continues to achieve its aim of preparing excellent teachers. More.
New Trainees
16/09/08: This week sees the beginning of a new year as the first of the 2008/09 PGCE Trainees come to the faculty to register and take the first steps towards QTS status. Hello and Welcome to the Faculty! More.
Accredited Counselling
15/09/08: The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) have given their seal of approval to the Faculty's counselling training programme. The counselling training on offer at the Faculty starts at an introductory level, and carries on through to a masters qualification. Find out more.
TONY ADAMS
11/09/08: Former colleagues and friends of Tony Adams will be sad to learn that Tony died peacefully on September 3rd., 2008. Tony was Lecturer at the University of Cambridge School of Education for 27 years, 1972-1999, where he worked extensively as PGCE Lecturer for English. He was a former Director of Studies for Education at Trinity Hall, also of Wolfson, Christ's and Trinity College, Dublin. Tony was an inspirational educator, writer, trainer of generations of English teachers and advocate of European education. A family funeral is being held on Friday September 12, with a memorial service later in the term.
Tony's colleague, Sue Brindley, has set up an online memorial site, primarily for Tony's many international friends who can't attend either his funeral or his memorial service because of distance. Colleagues and friends are invited to leave messages on the site, which can be found at http://tonyadams.legacy.com
New Mentor Training
09/09/2008: On the 15th and 17th of September, new PGCE mentors will be out in Cottenham Village College and Saffron Walden County High School learning skills that will enable them to fully support the Cambridge PGCE students they will be mentoring. The September training days are complemented by a session in the Faculty of Education in February, and can be extended through the level 2 mentoring qualifications offered as part of the Faculty's Practitioner Professional Development. If you are a new mentor and haven't yet signed up for these events, please contact Ursula Clarke on urc20@cam.ac.uk
Youth cultures meet school choice policy in the new global city of Vancouver
09/09/2008:What theoretical and methodological approaches can help guide school choice researchers in exploring the complex ways young people are involved and embroiled in the educational policy of school choice? Ee-Seul Yoon a PhD student at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, will be approaching the questions on Wednesday 10th September 2.30 - 4.30pm as a guest of the EED academic group.
Mastering Primary Education
08/09/2008: A new Primary Education Masters course is being launched this October fusing research and theoretical understandings with the current priorities in primary practice. Participants will be introduced to the best quality national and international educational research in primary education, explore possibilities for developing the primary curriculum, pedagogy and learning and develop the skills to contribute to policy improvement. The course is designed and will be led by the Associate Directors of The Primary Review, due to publish its Final Report in 2009.
Beyond the Lecture Hall
02/09/2008: Beyond the Lecture Hall, running from the 5-7th of September will look at the history of universities' engagement with the wider world. A preview of what is to come ad can be found here.
News Archive
Looking for something in the news earlier this calendar year? The news section is archived by academic year. Try the relevant section of the news archive.
Shaping Modern Education
The Times Educational Supplement's series on 'Thinkers who have shaped modern education' has focused on Jean Rudduck, John MacBeath and David Hargreaves all of whom have been or are Professors at the Faculty of Education