Editorial | International Teaching Magazine

May 2022

The new ITM podcast, high-level risk management in uncertain times, The Times Education Commission on education in the UK, how to calm down with yoga and reflect on . . . reflection.

New ITM Podcast

Max Simpson and Conrad Hughes discuss inclusive 'Pathways to the Future' for all teenagers.

In harm's way

Keeping people safe in high-risk situations is what Phil Jones does. What can schools learn from his approach?

State of the nation

The Times Education Commission reports soon on the state of education in the UK. Rachel Sylvester reports.

Calming influence

Eva Coddington presents the case for the active practice of Yoga in schools as time very well spent. Just breathe!

Reflection

We are often urged to ‘reflect’. Holly B. F. Warren takes a visual approach to explore what it means. Go with it!

School climate

Katrina Daniels-Samasa suggests that if a school does not actively cultivate its climate, it will drift and problems arise.

Digital divide

Global digital poverty will only get worse unless more children have access to the internet according to Al Kingsley.

Schools and risks

Do you suffer from risk assessment anxiety? According to David Gregory, you are not alone! Help is at hand!

'Most magnificent'

Teacher-librarian Kim Klein explains how her school blends self-directed learning with UDL to support students.

London calling

Approaches to live online teaching are becoming more sophisticated and ambitious. David Boddy reports.

We've got their backs

Lorna Conroy describes how her school has developed a 2-track approach to monitor secondary student wellbeing.

Write for ITM

Join a growing number of people who care about international education and want to write about it!

in editorial 0 comments

April 2022

The war in Ukraine overshadows everything. Stephen Priest’s article describes staff evacuations from Dnipro and Kyiv and how the Black Sea Schools group are supporting each other.

Also in this edition: recruitment, retention, inclusion, sustainability and Edruptors!

Shadow of war

Stephen Priest looks at heroism in Ukraine and how schools in the Black Sea Group have supported each other.

Coping strategies

Milena Tišma describes how a school in Zagreb helped children cope after two earthquakes during lockdown.

Authentic inclusion

According to April Remfrey, international schools need guidance and clear standards in order to be more inclusive.

Assessment in PE

Assessment in PE has come a long way. Could it go further without detracting from the suibject? Yes says Mat Heaume.

The 'to don't' list

Kevin Bartlett, argues we don’t need to ‘educate’ our parents. We do, however, need to co-create Learning Communities.

Teaching sustainability

The University of Reading has developed a free online course for teaching sustainability, Dr. Helen Bilton reports.

Cognitive overload!

For Elen Harris understanding Cognitive Load Theory can enhance learning, especially when introducing new ideas.

New opportunities

According to Adrienne Waller there are good reasons why BIPOC educators should consider working overseas.

Come and join us!

It has become vital to retain great staff. Simon Dunford looks at building a school’s reputation as an employer.

Edruptors!

Who are the biggest influencers in education? Ashley Kirk looks at the world of ‘edruptors’ and what they have to say.

Team healthcheck

Whether everyone is flying or flagging, more gets done if you look at how you work together, says Michael Iannini.

Going well?

A survey by Tes shows international schools address wellbeing needs, but more can be done says Jon Romer-Lee.

AI & Assessment

Sometimes we think an innovation can be really good for international schools. Here's the pitch from Atom Learning.

JOBLINK 2022

ITM's convenient one page link to recruiters, agencies and school associations posting new jobs.

Write for ITM

Most of our articles are written by global educators - why not join them? We are always interested in new ideas.

in editorial 0 comments

March 2022

Leading in an era of change, being ‘I.M’, gender disparity at the top, using the Harkness Method in the classroom and ‘do – don’t talk!’ – an active approach to wellbeing.

Action, not words

For Nicholas Chaddock just talking about wellbeing in the classroom achieves little. Doing rather than talking is the key.

Room at the top?

Katie Tomlinson argues that seven steps should be taken now to address the gender disparity in school leadership.

Being I.M.

Are schools only paying lip-service to international mindedness? Nalini Cook talks with Chris Allen & Anson Wong.

Challenge & response

Critical incidents cause distress. Responding in the wrong way makes things worse. Ian Gross looks at the issues.

Compassionate leadership

Dame Alison Peacock, considers the future of the profession during the post-Covid recovery.

Democratic discussion

Isla Phillips describes how she uses the Harkness Method of discussion for student-lead interaction in Years 7 to 10.

Mental wanderlust

We refer to the idea of curiosity routinely. What is it? Holly Warren’s prose poem provokes us to think more deeply.

Coordinating inclusion

Anita Soni reports on research at a district level in Malawi designed to support children with disabilities.

Future imperative

Is the future of learning in safe hands? Not unless we follow three imperatives, according to Sir John Jones.

One family at a time

The winning entry of the 2021 FOBISIA R4G Journalism competition from The British School in Tokyo.

The leadership pivot

Ever had that moment when your words lack meaning? Diana Osagie makes the case for 'the leadership pivot'.

Ways forward

According to Lord Jim Knight, dealing with Covid came at a cost, but ways to improve teacher wellbeing are also here.

in editorial 0 comments

February 2022

How the international job market is moving increasingly in favour of teachers, checklisting a new package and calls for international schools to take the lead in global educational change

Seller's market

International teachers are in big demand for 2022. For Diane Jacoutot, schools face a very tough year recruiting.

What's in a package?

Before your sign a contract, make sure you know what's included - timeless advice from Andrew Wigford.

A world that sees us

A prestigious UK award for a new centre in Bangkok prompts Andy Homden to reflect on international SEND.

Learner passport

Concerned that conventional assessment is not fit for purpose, Conrad Hughes suggests a different approach.

Future of education

How will education change in 2022? Sally Alexander looks at seven trends that are already emerging.

Reimaging education

For Abigail Reed, a new report from UNESCO is a clarion call for international schools to lead educational change.

Find the time

Mark Beverley discusses the importance of finding the time to reflect on and discuss teaching practice.

Rosenshine and sport

Rich Molloy looks for a middle path for coaching sport and finds it in Rosenshine's ten principles of pedagogy.

Online safety

Students are under threat online. Al Kingsley has some starting points for an approach to digital safeguarding.

Digital storytelling

Serdar Ferit and Harriet Marshall look at how digital storytelling can build empathy and widen student horizons.

Write for ITM

Most of our articles are written by global educators - why not join them? We are always interested in new ideas.

JOBLINK 2022

ITM's convenient one page link to recruiters, agencies and school associations posting new jobs.

in editorial 0 comments

December 2021

Recruiting trends, specialised sports academies, post-colonial outreach in Ghana, low-cost live streaming from classrooms in Dhaka and assisting mass vaccinations in KL.

Recruitment trends

A new report shows shifts in international school teacher recruitment and CPD. Anne Keeling has more.

Sports Academies

Nick Mooney looks at the benefits that Specialised Sports Academies are bringing to international schools.

EduSpots!

A network of community projects in Ghana meets both global and local learning needs as Cat Davison reports.

Classroom broadcast

How low cost live streaming from the classroom helped students still at home at one school in Dhaka.

The myth of falling

Does failure really toughen you up? Not without a process of healing, argues social psychologist Dr. Helen Street.

JOBLINK

ITM's convenient JOBLINK page of leading international school associations and agencies advertising the latest positions.

Rapid response

Chika Kumashiro-Wilms tells how a simple question led to the mass-vaccination of refugees in Malaysia at ISKL.

Internet of things

What is the 'Internet of Things' and how can it be used in schools? Uma Shankar Singh looks at some of the issues.

Changing the world

If you want to find out how to change the world for the better, Margaret Rooke suggests listening to young people.

The cookie jar

Huma Shah wonders if we are doing enough to protect online privacy, despite recent strides in safeguarding.

Circle and chairs

Early Years creativity has been central to a project recognised at a major Milan design event, as Holly Warren reports.

Social Gaps

Simon Dunford looks at the gaps in social learning that need to be closed on the return to on-campus learning.

in editorial 0 comments

October 2021

Wildly wise, video and assessment, drama and blended learning, learn to love gaming and the OECD’s new survey of Social and Emotional skills.

Wildly wise

Charlotte Bouchier has news of a WWF-linked competition for students exploring key issues in the lead up to COP26.

Beyond the academic

Andreas Schleicher looks at the outcomes of the OECD 2018-20 global Survey of Social and Emotional Skills.

Community success

Educational interventions gaining the confidence of indigenous communities do work, as Susan Bennett reports.

5 sticky changes

Asked to research what would be the 'sticky' changes in education after Covid, Anna Harrison found 5 big answers.

Dramatic response

Holly Sullivan on how drama teachers in Asia found ways to collaborate online, setting up links that will now endure.

A defence of poetry

Allowing a post-Covid poetry opt-out from GCSE is wrong, according to Jill Pritchard who laments the move.

7 from Sevenoaks

7 articles from Innovate, the journal of the Sevenoaks School Institute of Teaching & Learning published by ITM in 2021.

All ways coaching

Nicholas McKie fuses three pedagogical styles with three ways of coaching to form 'a coaching way of teaching'.

All a game?

Bryan Gibson on evidence that gaming and Game-Based Learning will play an important role in education.

School to home

It was not an easy choice for Dallin Bywater to be a Stay at Home Parent, but it led to a broader perspective on life.

Write for ITM!

Most of our articles are written by global educators - why not join them? We are always interested in new ideas.

in editorial 0 comments

September 2021

The changing face of professional development, research-based ideas for setting up your classroom, the rise and rise of blended learning and the impact of your leadership style on learning.

Call for nominations!

Nominations for the International School Awards 2022, hosted by ISC Research are open until 30th September.

Classrooms by design

According to Kate McCallam, it’s worth considering the research about classroom design before setting up for the year.

Making it stick

Finding ways to measure the long-term impact of online professional development. Dr. Helen Bilton reports.

Inclusive inspiration

Do ‘inclusive’ leadership styles in teachers motivate students? Research by Paul Parham and Gloria Moss suggests they do.

Creative connections

A daily walk sparks off all sorts of connections for Andrew Tidswell about the link between curiosity and creativity.

Change the narrative

Take back control! Despairing talk of ‘catching-up’ after Covid is self-defeating, argues Al Kingsley.

On the blend

Anne Keeling on the latest report from ISC Research looking at emerging practice in international teaching.

Right for you?

Dr. Natasha Ridge looks at 5 questions you should ask about yourself and the school that offers you an interview.

No turning back

Renee Rehfeldt thinks that Covid has made PD fairer and more accessible in international schools, despite a sense of loss.

in editorial 0 comments

ITM’s best of 2020 – 21

This has been the most difficult of years for educators, but new ideas have never been far from the surface since the pandemic began.

Here’s our pick of this year’s ITM articles from 2020 – 21.

New revolutionary?

Is Christopher Pommerening the new leader of the Learning Revolution? In December we looked at his ideas.

High-impact feedback

In March, Elen Harris looked at giving high-impact feedback to students, while saving teachers time. Total win-win.

Globally competent

At the COBIS conference in May, Andreas Schleicher of the OECD looked at the vital new skill of 'global competence'.

Viral maths

Professor Marcus Du Sautoy explained the mathematics behind the spreading of a virus in our October edition.

Leading in a whirlwind

Looking back over an incredible year, Phil Mathe spoke from the heart about Covid and the lives of middle leaders.

Teacher shortage?

By January 2021 Diane Jacoutot, was predicting a teacher shortage in 2021 – 22 and with very good reason.

Fair balance

Are international schools culturally biased? Gwen Byrom thought we should ask ourselves some hard questions.

What to learn

Kevin Bartlett showed in November that some of the old questions about education are still some of the most radical.

Data first

The message from Ashley Kirk and Doris Suchet in June was when planning strategically, don't guess - follow the data.

Outside in

School design is more important than ever. In June, Ian Bogle looked at connections between spaces, inside and out.

White water ride

For Richard Gaskell the year had been a white-water ride - but ways are emerging to help schools steer their way through.

Inclusive careers

Kyra Kellawan and Andreu Gual i Falco asked schools to challenge attitudes that undermine student aspiration.

Unfair and unreliable

The year has seen chaos in the world of formal assessment. Time for change wrote Ian Grove-Stephenson in April.

OT and learning

The time is right for new ideas. In May, Rachel Gillespie argued Occupational Therapy should be mainstream in schools.

Teaching sustainability

According to Kirsty Knowles writing in June, teaching sustainability should be centre stage. Who would argue?

in editorial 0 comments

July and August 2021

Setting up ‘hublings’, service learning, libraries v fake news, innovative EAL, pre-clinical mental health interventions, tech threats and ‘slow looking’.

Hublings

Ulrike Suwwan suggests including ‘Hublings’ - flexible spaces for self-directed learning – in the design of any school.

Slow looking

Head of Art, Charley Openshaw thinks careful observation and drawing are great techniques to help wider learning.

Future service

After a difficult year, Megan Flottorp and Cathryn Berger-Kaye explore how schools can build programmes in ‘21-‘22.

Tech threats

Glaucia Rosas and James Wilkinson see a ‘perfect storm’ for educational technology in schools. Here they explain why.

Happy medium

According to Sam Fraser, there is significant growth in the enrolment of medium-cost international schools.

Personalising ESOL

Lewis Tatt questions whether textbooks are sufficient in themselves for the personalised 21st century ESOL classroom.

AR for EAL

Flora Floris and three of her students describe their success when using the AR platform Moatboat to teach EAL.

School first

Claire Sewell looks at courses which will help schools become more self-reliant in making a range of positive interventions.

Magic of leadership

For Ciaran MacMahon, the magic of leadership is 'being present' for others and bringing out their leadership stories.

Brilliance imperative

In order to create brilliance in your organisation, focus on what's going well and the rest follows, writes Simon Dunford.

Critically literate

Julian McDougall places school libraries and effective media literacy in the front line to counter ‘fake news’.

Edruptors

ISC Research Conference for the latest trends in international school education. July 8th, 2021: register here.

Feature image: by Tri Le from Pixabay

in editorial 0 comments

June 2021

Floella Benjamin and Andreas Schleicher at the COBIS conference, Sir Anthony Seldon on looking after yourself, using global data in strategic planning, music and dyslexia, teaching sustainability and outside-in school design.