Editorial | International Teaching Magazine

April 2021

The IPC at 20, working in a for-profit school, encouraging student questions inc class and the unreliability of written exams.

Encouraging questions

Hélène Bonsall looks at the value of student questions, and examines why they are not asked more frequently in class.

Data share

Sam Fraser, leader of the ISC Research field team on how the pandemic is changing international education.

Unfair and unreliable

Ian Grove-Stephensen makes a strong case for abandoning paper-based summative assessments now!

The best for all

Clare Taylor loved working internationally, but suggests that international schools could learn to be more inclusive.

Is this for me?

Would teaching at a ‘for profit’ international school be for you? Sadie Hollins has some pointers.

COBIS invitation

Colin Bell, CEO of COBIS extends an open invitation to members and non-members to attend this year’s Conference.

Wellington EdFest '21

Sign up for this year's Festival of Education organised by Wellington International, taking place April 17 - 23.

A drop of paint

Holly Warren reflects on the nature of imagination and its connection with reality as a drop of paint falls from a brush.

IPC re-imagined

Gregory Biggs describes how this popular curriculum is being re-imagined in the light of more recent research.

Winning the wait

College counsellor Paul Yap looks at how G12 students can ‘win the wait’ as they plan during lockdown.

Self-directed

Using the principles of High Performance Learning, Neil Thomas enables students to be self-directed.

COBIS Conference 2021

This year's conference, also open to non-members, looks at 'Leading in a climate of change.' Book your place here.

Feature image by tao cui from Pixabay

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March 2021

Unheroic leadership, what parents want, the Sevenoaks approach to feedback and, one year on, how are we doing on the white-water ride of Covid-19?

What parents want

Anne Keeling on the new ISC Research White Paper analysing what parents are looking for in an international school.

Unheroic leadership

Ciaran McMahon suggests that leaders who ask good questions rather than provide all the answers add real value.

High-impact feedback

Elen Harris looks at how Sevenoaks School has developed a model for giving high-impact feedback.

No barrier

Janice Ireland and Marytina Osuchukwu describe how a school in the Niger Delta region has introduced inclusion.

How are we doing?

A survey for the 2021 COBIS Bursars and HR Staff Conference shows how schools are dealing with the pandemic.

White water ride

Richard Gaskell invites us to pause and listen as we prepare to take on the next section of the Covid white-water ride.

Curiosity is key

Brendan Law identifies four elements for any modern curriculum, but everything must unleash a child's curiosity.

ESG for schools?

Lisa Walsh thinks that schools should follow the green example of many businesses by adopting an ESG code.

Beyond bilingual

By embracing the complexity of language provision, the International School of Paris aims to ‘go beyond bilingual’.

See and understand

Alex Cull looks at developing children’s conceptual understanding of mathematics before, during and after Covid.

An international life

Gail Schoppert reflects on a lifetime in international schools and the many changes he has seen since the late 1970s.

Pandemic legacy

Rob Stokoe on self-aware leadership and the emerging pandemic legacy of resilient, positive headship.

Feature image by dariasophia from Pixabay

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February 2021

What we can learn from the Danish experience in 2020, setting high standards for SEN learning and the crucial role of middle leadership during the Covid crisis.

Danish example

Kevin Goggins thinks the Danish experience of Covid may point the way to more lasting educational change.

Leading in a whirlwind

Phil Mathe takes off his hat to the middle leaders who are playing a crucial role in schools around the world during Covid.

Virtual can be virtuous

Gary Minnitt, Director of Accreditation at COBIS reviews a pilot series of online school visits. So far, so good.

High standards for all

Colin Bell and Kamal Bodhanker want to raise the bar for Additional Educational Needs (AEN) in international schools.

Learning and making

Farida Danmeri looks at the link between constructionism and ‘making’, analysing how one enhances the other.

A question of balance

Robert Young thinks the idea of the balanced curriculum is under further threat as a result of Covid-19.

Careers inclusion

Kyra Kellawan and Andreu Gual i Falco ask us to challenge the attitudes that undermine student career aspirations.

Pandemic reflections

Imagining a ‘new normal’ is backward looking, argues Ger Graus. It’s time to build on what we have learned in 2020.

Better Boards

Matthew Savage and Helen Wright explore effective school governance, asking how schools can grow 'better Boards'.

Transformational hub

President of the School Library Association, Richard Gerver, explains why libraries are more important than ever.

Two-way process

Supporting local employees as they encounter “international school micro-culture shock” is vital, argues Henry Wong.

Self-care

For Angelo Castelda, in order to help others effectively during the ongoing pandemic, make sure you look after yourself.

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January 2021

The importance of the wider curriculum in 2021: sport, innovative service projects and outdoor education.

Also: school leaders under pressure and is a teacher shortage looming?

Looming teacher shortage for 2021 – 22?

Race4Good

ITM looks at R4G, a stunning service project that would not have taken place without lockdown.

Fully focused

Far from being marginalised, sport moved centre stage at Giggleswick School during lockdown.

HUGS Uganda

Set up to provide a good education in sustainable schools, HUGS is a model for great low-cost learning.

The Great Escape

Nicholas Chaddock looks at why reevaluating the importance of outdoor education is vital in 2021.

Fašenk!

According to Doroteja Kostanjevec, schools play a vital role in preserving Slovenian culture.

Teacher shortage?

Diane Jacoutot analyses the impact of Covid-19 on recruitment, predicting a teacher shortage in 2021.

Lost in time

Painting enhances a sense of being in the moment, but for Peter Hudson there may be more to it than that.

AISTA TA Training

The way a school plans training is revealing, writes Peter Hogan, who looks at new CPD for TAs.

SLT under pressure

According to Helen Kelly, colleagues in leadership positions ended 2020 under massive pressure.

Going international

ITM reviews a new guide to international education, a must add to your 2021 reading list.

Little troopers

Frequent moves and family separation mean service children need support, writes Louise Fetigan.

Emotional literacy

Whatever you teach, argues Richard Evans building, emotional literacy transforms lives.

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December 2020

Picking up the baton for the Learning Revolution, intercultural-mindedness and is it time to start thinking about travel again?

We can all dream.

New revolutionary?

Andy Homden asks if the baton of the Learning Revolution has been picked up by a new champion.

Teaching on principle

How can we create effective, shared, learning cultures? Using principles, not rules, writes Kevin Bartlett.

Uzbekistan

After visiting Uzbekistan, Elly Tobin has no doubt it should be high on the bucket list of any serious traveller in 2021.

Leaders who learn

For Natalie Croome, the impact of professional development is enhanced if school leaders participate in staff training.

Borneo fieldtrip

Having spent 10 years in Malaysia, foraging in the Borneo rainforest is a vivid memory for Hannah Rae.

Intercultural mindset

Felicity Gunn suggests intercultural sensitivity can take any school community to new heights.

Reimagining our craft

Daniel Shindler looks at the core values which have enabled him to take an optimistic view of what we all do.

Fully protected

Rachel Thorpe suggests how to secure the best cover for your staff when renewing a school’s medical insurance.

Think tank

Holly Warren describes Think Tank, an innovative studio environment for young learners at a school in Italy.

World of Sport

Phil Mathe looks at how PE teachers from around the world have collaborated online to keep students active in 2020.

When I grow up

Who knows what jobs today's young people will be doing in 10 years? Ger Graus looks at how we can prepare them.

Gift of the Nile

Mansoor Ahmed reminds us that many data indicate further growth in international education. Egypt is a case in point.

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November 2020

Student engagement in the online classroom, the benefits of animals in the classroom, what kind of learning really matters, and a new online suppliers directory for international schools.

Music therapy

Students in schools around the world are confronting Covid with music. Laurie Lewin invites your school to join in.

Whole school values

When conducting a review of school values and philosophy, Roger Sutcliffe suggests that you do so philosophically.

November momentum

Andy Homden looks at an innovative tender concept that connects schools with suppliers of resources & services online.

What to learn

Kevin Bartlett explains how the Common Ground Collaborative focuses on the kind of learning that really matters.

Historic social media

Alexis Anderson and Himani Sood describe how they have been using Social Media to support historical inquiries.

One step ahead

Roz O’Shea and family were trapped by quarantine and closed borders but still got through to their new school!

First steps

Fionna Heiton looks at how a new approach to teacher training in a remote district in Nepal is making a difference.

Classroom tails

A new book by Helen Lewis and Russell Grigg explores how animals can affect children’s learning and wellbeing.

Digital motivation

Gargi Sarkar argues that student self-assessment enhances enagement during online learning.

Parent communication

Gwen Byrom thinks we need to see school-home communication from a parent’s perspective.

State of flow

For Denny Berndt, simple ideas to stimulate engagement keep students ‘in the zone’ when online.

Return of the mask

Matthew Savage considers what social and emotional masks international students will be wearing in 2020.

JOBLINK

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

Write for ITM!

We would be delighted to hear your ideas for articles to be published in International Teacher Magazine.

Consilium Education

ITM is published by Consilium Education, specialist consultants for startup and emerging international schools.

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October 2020

Kevin Bartlett on the DNA of learning, medical insurance in the Covid age, Marcus du Sautoy on pandemic maths, Ger Graus wants to raise aspiration and the launch of ChildSafeguarding.com

The DNA of learning

In a quest to create a new pedagogical paradigm, Kevin Bartlett and the CGC ask ‘What is Learning?’

The 2020 factor

Reeling under the pressure of Covid-19, schools have shown resilience, but what in fact is going on? Will Bedford reports.

Keeping it simple

Discovering Cognitive Load Theory was a eureka moment for Steve Garnett. Here are 4 key ideas for CLT in the classroom.

Viral maths

Professor Marcus Du Sautoy explains the mathematics of exponential growth behind the spreading of a virus.

Opening doors

In the second of two articles Ger Graus argues for changes to the curriculum which will excite the imagination and raise aspirations.

Flexible admissions

Esther Clark looks at how international schools can offer greater breadth and stronger continuity for their students.

ChildSafeguarding.com

Matt Harris reports how a gap in safeguarding training for schools is being filled by a group of international educators.

Health risk

Rachel Thorpe looks at medical insurance as Covid-19 challenges basic assumptions about teaching overseas.

Leaders who learn

Natalie Croome looks back at her own learning – as a child, as a trainee and as a teacher, and reflects on her ‘special teachers’.

Lockdown voices

Elly Tobin, has been listening to teachers and students talking about the experience of online learning.

The big move

Experienced international teacher, Jess Gosling has advice for those starting an overseas career or contemplating a move.

Write for ITM

Schools, teachers and other organisations writing for ITM are being noticed. Contact Andy Homden to find out more.

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September 2020

Unconscious bias in international schools, what’s trending in international edtech and inclusion, teaching the 2020 WEF skills, role modeling for student aspiration

Fair balance?

Gwen Byrom thinks we all need to take a hard look at the cultural climate in which international learning is taking place.

Trending 2020

Diane Glass of ISC Research looks at two important 2020 studies about edtech and inclusion trends in schools.

Start with why

Kevin Bartlett explains why he founded the Common Ground Collaborative with other like-minded educators.

Our role to play

Ger Graus looks at the role models we all look up to and asks how ‘heroes and she-roes’ affect the aspirations of young people.

Animal care

Nicky Cook of the Worldwide Veterenary Service looks at a new animal welfare project and invites schools to get involved.

Teaching WEF 2020 skills

Jackie Beere reviews the ‘must-have’ skills as defined by the World Economic Forum in 2020 and how we can teach them.

Life models

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, wanting to protect your children is natural. But there are limits, says Nicola Pearson.

Wishes for Nepal

When living in Nepal, Fionna Heiton and partner Durga Aran could not ignore the challenges faced by local schools.

Get personal

Derek Devine thinks that distance learning can be personalised without adding to the pressure that teachers are already under.

Total inclusivity

2020 has been a turbulent year, Stephen M. Whiteford thinks it will force us to face some difficult truths.

Education pandemic

Stephen Cox reflects on the state of world education, using Covid-19 as a metaphor for outdated systems that need changing.

Special places

When we are able to travel again, it will be the people we meet that make a place special, according to Susan Bennett.

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When they were living in Nepal with their twin toddlers, it was difficult for teacher Fionna Heiton and her partner Durga Aran to ignore the challenges faced by local schools. Fionna takes up the story.

July 2020

Looking to the future: cautious optimism in the UAE, recruitment during the pandemic and is the Asian Century gaining momentum?

The IPC at 20, working in a for-profit school, encouraging student questions inc class and the unreliability of written exams.

Unheroic leadership, what parents want, the Sevenoaks approach to feedback and, one year on, how are we doing on the white-water ride of Covid-19?

What we can learn from the Danish experience in 2020, setting high standards for SEN learning and the crucial role of middle leadership during the Covid crisis.

The importance of the wider curriculum in 2021: sport, innovative service projects and outdoor education.

Also: school leaders under pressure and is a teacher shortage looming?

Picking up the baton for the Learning Revolution, intercultural-mindedness and is it time to start thinking about travel again?

We can all dream.

WRITE FOR ITM

TELL US YOUR STORY

Student engagement in the online classroom, the benefits of animals in the classroom, what kind of learning really matters, and a new online suppliers directory for international schools.

Kevin Bartlett on the DNA of learning, medical insurance in the Covid age, Marcus du Sautoy on pandemic maths, Ger Graus wants to raise aspiration and the launch of ChildSafeguarding.com

Unconscious bias in international schools, what’s trending in international edtech and inclusion, teaching the 2020 WEF skills, role modeling for student aspiration

Transforming Early Years education in the Himalayas

Looking to the future: cautious optimism in the UAE, recruitment during the pandemic and is the Asian Century gaining momentum?