1. Paired placements in MFL and Science: expedient or valid learning experience? Allison Bolster, PGCE Partnership Director, University of Bristol A.Bolster@bristol.ac.uk

2. Starter In pairs… What are your experiences of paired or multiple placements? Discuss the pros and cons (your view) Initial feedback

3. RRCG Project Aims Part 1(with UWE): filmed vignettes of ITE good practice esp. in relation to school improvement and pupil learning outcomes. Part 2: to develop opportunities for trainees in priority subjects to undertake collaborative (paired) teaching on school placements Improve placement capacity for our 60 scientists and 40 linguists by increasing the number of paired placements offered by schools. Aim: pilot ways of improving quality of training experience offered by schools > collaboration

4. Overall description The project took place during the latter half of the spring term and the summer of 2009. Nine schools were identified to take part, 5 for MFL, 4 for Science, and subject mentors from each were invited to take part in a series of workshops.

5. Science Project Focus Science Project Focus The aim for Science became to research with some of those schools ways of turning joint placements, where two student teachers in the same department have two separate teaching timetables, into paired placements, where at least some of the lessons are taught collaboratively (the Y-shaped model).

6. MFL Project Focus In Modern Languages, at UOB (elsewhere?) no efforts had been made to explore the possible pedagogical benefits – for both trainees and pupils in schools – of collaborative teaching. I will then in this talk mainly concentrate on the methodology and outcomes of the project as related to MFL I will then in this talk mainly concentrate on the methodology and outcomes of the project as related to MFL

7. Overall plan Three two-hour paired placement workshops: 1 st: initial introduction, mentors only 1 st: initial introduction, mentors only 2 nd : both trainees and mentors, start collaboratively planning paired activities for summer placement, 2 nd : both trainees and mentors, start collaboratively planning paired activities for summer placement, 3 rd : after the summer placement - mentors and trainees review the experience/ identify future priorities. 3 rd : after the summer placement - mentors and trainees review the experience/ identify future priorities.

8. Workshop 1- mentors only Previous presentation at AT meeting from our then local PLA about TDA MPP Starter: a chance to openly discuss their own pre-conceived ideas/ expectations about the pros and cons of paired placements Starter: a chance to openly discuss their own pre-conceived ideas/ expectations about the pros and cons of paired placements Introduced to previous research by the TDA firstly on the benefits of paired placements for all interested stakeholders (trainee, HEI, school, school mentor and most importantly for pupils), firstly on the benefits of paired placements for all interested stakeholders (trainee, HEI, school, school mentor and most importantly for pupils), then on different modes of collaboration then on different modes of collaboration

9. Brainstorm Benefits? o Trainees o Pupils o Mentors o Schools o HEIs See Handout 1

10. Modes of operation Observing and being observed teaching (either direct, using video or video conferencing) involving: each other, mentor, other teachers Collaboratively teaching: with each other, mentor, other teachers Planning: with each other, mentor, other teachers Assessing: sharing practice and moderating work together, with mentor or other teachers Resource development And others…including cross curricular collaborations and professional issues

11. Modes of collaboration Classroom assistant mode Linear sequence mode Linear sequence mode Pre-teaching observation mode Pre-teaching observation mode Planning/teaching split Planning/teaching split Class division mode Class division mode Following Arthur et al (1997, from Dickson 2009)

12. Key Findings 1, Nottingham strong evidence of benefits in terms of emotional support evidence of good use of some collaborative practice, other possibilities little used nearly all participants positive about possible further benefits time and resources a barrier but 2 easier than 1? lack of awareness limited some use lack of awareness limited some use lack of training an issue lack of training an issue nearly everyone involved felt that pairing was supportive of learning nearly everyone involved felt that pairing was supportive of learning

13. Key Findings 2, Nottingham 81% of students were positive; 15% neutral and 4% negative overall on the use of paired placements Major gains were mentioned by most students in terms of the lower levels of Maslows hierarchy Those students who had actively prepared for the use of the paired placements had often achieved the higher levels Higher levels were most often attained where students shared at least one teaching group

14. He was full of ideas…but so, well, disorganised…to start with it drove me mad but when we were open about it things got much better…I suppose we kind of complemented each other…Im sure my lessons became much more varied and interesting through his ideas…I also think I helped him to organise his lesson plans better, he told me that anyway…early on he kept running out of time…just unrealistic really…when we got to know each other better we could say these things…I learnt many different strategies from him, more than my tutor…or mentor…He was full of ideas…but so, well, disorganised…to start with it drove me mad but when we were open about it things got much better…I suppose we kind of complemented each other…Im sure my lessons became much more varied and interesting through his ideas…I also think I helped him to organise his lesson plans better, he told me that anyway…early on he kept running out of time…just unrealistic really…when we got to know each other better we could say these things…I learnt many different strategies from him, more than my tutor…or mentor…

15. She was brilliant…I found it really hard at first…I just wanted to have a go…I mean, I did think you needed to plan but, well, why write it all down?… I always ran out of time at the beginning, year 7 was a nightmare…but sharing that class helped so much…I had to be planned so we could work together…we shared ideas…I think that helped us both…I like to get kids involved, you know, role play and silly, well, models I suppose…it all takes time, but I know now that good planning can make it happen…she was just so, structured in her thinking…but maybe too controlling…I think I helped her loosen-up a bit…

16. we took it in turns to start with, they were terrible. They just wouldnt listen…I think us both having a mare helped in a way cos we had to stop and think…finally we spoke to our mentor and decided to try some team teaching…sometimes this was just one of us dealing with the usual suspects but we also sometimes split the lesson and the group…I think it was working like this that got them more settled…we also gave them more attention…when we gave them a choice of ways of learning it went really well…we tried out things, you know those ones we looked at last term at uni and we got some good ideas from a school session too…sometimes they worked…it was the variety that really helped though…I think we both got lots better with managing things…

17. they were my worst group but it was OK with us being in it together…at least it wasnt just me who had a problem…we had support [at the school] but they just seemed to be able to do it, experience I suppose…the best bit was splitting the group, we could do so much more…I think we got to know them better and how to react…it made us organise better…they tried to take advantage at the start but we put a stop to that! …it was good to find out, when she was away near the end, that they were still better with me on my own…I must have learnt something…

18. Overall Issues Nature of pair: no pattern re sex, age, class, race or strength of student (but strong views!); support for mixed degree background to help SK development. One mentor or two: both potentially successful; senior and junior model useful; meetings together and separate as appropriate. Timetables: shared groups important for moving to higher levels; degree of sharing? Time and resource: investment issue to allow proper planning.

19. First or second placement priority? Moving schools forward (leaving schools behind?) Individual subject issues Cross curricular pairing Coordinator, mentor, tutor, student training. Informed by the work of Dr Peter Sorensen

20. Plenary: identify together various aspects of trainee collaboration at different stages in the school placement cycle, with strategies to maximise benefits and overcome problems Autumn? Autumn? Spring? Spring? Summer? Summer?

21. Workshop 2 – mentors & students Just before the short final summer placement: each group of three (comprising mentor, Student x and Student y) worked together Short recap on advantages/possible challenges of paired placements Short recap on advantages/possible challenges of paired placements Additional research input provided from the Universities of Bristol, Bath Spa and UWE Paired Placements Project (Science) Handout 2 Additional research input provided from the Universities of Bristol, Bath Spa and UWE Paired Placements Project (Science) Handout 2 Mentors and trainees then came up with five very different plans.

22. Schools A to C School A: peer observation and feedback (also requesting pupil feedback as part of a Student Voice agenda) School B: pre- teaching observation/video/ mutual de-construction, and jointly planned and executed cross-curricular German/Geography lesson. School C: joint teaching of a Year 7 group in which one trainee would act as teaching assistant/LSA

23. School D School D, a high-achieving Language College, three collaborative projects were planned: 1. one with a challenging Year 10 where one trainee acted as LSA; 2. another with a shared Year 7, collaboratively delivering cross-curricular French/History lessons; 3. and a third involved joint Italian input into a G and T day for incoming Year 6 pupils.

24. School E In School E, quite a challenging intake, there was to be Mutual observation and feedback for each trainee at KS4 (one teaching French, the other Spanish) Mutual observation and feedback for each trainee at KS4 (one teaching French, the other Spanish) Collaborative work with a small group of G & T Year 8 students Collaborative work with a small group of G & T Year 8 students The most exciting challenge: 4 weeks collaborative teaching of a particularly difficult low-ability Year 8 group which the mentor would have deemed unsuitable for a trainee to teach solo.

25. Workshop 3: Mentors view Valuable experience in terms of CPD Consideration needed to managing time/space for mentoring two students Having a pair of students, rather than impacting negatively on their overall workloads, enabled greater trainee independence from the mentor Value of this peer support, both emotional and practical, was strongly confirmed by the student teachers, and is also a regular feature of the literature on multiple placements Value of this peer support, both emotional and practical, was strongly confirmed by the student teachers, and is also a regular feature of the literature on multiple placements

26. Workshop 3: Students view Initially found it difficult to share data and communicate thought-processes during joint planning Coordination of behaviour management took time to establish CPD: skills such as negotiation, diplomacy and perseverance had been practised Peer feedback with its need for honest professional dialogue proved especially useful Agreed that time and space for sharing ideas and collaborative planning needs to be factored in to paired trainees school timetables Agreed that time and space for sharing ideas and collaborative planning needs to be factored in to paired trainees school timetables

27. Some felt it might be better to teach in pairs in Autumn placement, before had established own teaching styles and preferences Others felt more time/continuity were needed – therefore Spring term might be preferable

28. Results: Schools D and E Well-matched high achievers who had been able to reach a much higher standard in their individual teaching through working as a pair…(MFL mentor, School D). Skills learnt included Skills learnt included communication and team-working communication and team-working mutual access to each others subject knowledge and previous professional experience, mutual access to each others subject knowledge and previous professional experience, ability to share & develop ideas and resources, producing lessons that were extremely well- planned, dynamic and engaging. ability to share & develop ideas and resources, producing lessons that were extremely well- planned, dynamic and engaging.

29. Dealing with difficult classes They had also given each other both moral and practical support in terms of behaviour management in lessons, with excellent results in terms of pupil outcomes. This success was particularly marked in the case of the challenging Year 8 class in School E which was team-taught for the whole month. This success was particularly marked in the case of the challenging Year 8 class in School E which was team-taught for the whole month.

30. School E – the challenge More individual support, particularly on ICT and writing tasks. Trainee (LSA) could assist learners without disruption to main activity Pupil response to different teachers: readily accepted having two teachers, so trainees could defuse otherwise difficult situations Pupil response to different teachers: readily accepted having two teachers, so trainees could defuse otherwise difficult situations Two trainees could more easily target disruptive elements to keep them on task=lessinterruptions Pupils could focus better and produce higher quality work

31. Future developments Science colleagues from the Graduate School and myself as MFL tutor have recently submitted another bid to the TDA for funding 2009/10 for paired placements in Schools facing Challenging Circumstances. Science colleagues from the Graduate School and myself as MFL tutor have recently submitted another bid to the TDA for funding 2009/10 for paired placements in Schools facing Challenging Circumstances. On the basis of the project described above, we are confident that collaborative work by trainees has benefits for the trainee, the mentor, and also for the pupils On the basis of the project described above, we are confident that collaborative work by trainees has benefits for the trainee, the mentor, and also for the pupils We would hypothesise that these benefits will inevitably impact favourably upon school improvement and longer-term pupil outcomes. We would hypothesise that these benefits will inevitably impact favourably upon school improvement and longer-term pupil outcomes.

32. Collaboration and partnership are a way of life. People work together. There is a consistent approach which is supportive. People are not left to sink or swim. People are available to each other. Team teaching, mentoring, peer coaching, joint planning and mutual observation and feedback are a normal part of the everyday life of the school. A profile of change, MacBeath and Stoll in Improving School Effectiveness, MacBeath and Mortimer, 2001

33. References University of Bristol/UWE (2009)Advantages of ITT for schools, trainees and tutors DVD to be available on the Teacher Training Website by December 2009 University of Bristol/UWE (2009)Advantages of ITT for schools, trainees and tutors DVD to be available on the Teacher Training Website by December 2009 Dickson,D. (2009) Issues and Developments A presentation to MFL ATs at University of Bristol, 28th February 2009 Dickson,D. (2009) Issues and Developments A presentation to MFL ATs at University of Bristol, 28th February 2009 TDA(2008)The Maths and Science Multiple Placement Project: Years 1 and 2 www.tda.gov.uk TDA(2008)The Maths and Science Multiple Placement Project: Years 1 and 2 www.tda.gov.ukwww.tda.gov.uk Partnership Development Schools supported by Bristol University, Bath Spa University and UWE (2008) Paired Placements: Creating a win/win environment for Schools and Trainees www.tda.gov.uk Partnership Development Schools supported by Bristol University, Bath Spa University and UWE (2008) Paired Placements: Creating a win/win environment for Schools and Trainees www.tda.gov.ukwww.tda.gov.uk