The Victorian IBM/DE&T partnership

Objectives for the RE Program 2004

RE Continuous Improvement Model

RE CI Model Elements

The Victorian IBM/DE&T partnership

• Ongoing partnership since 2001 between DE&T & IBM aimed at improving student engagement and achievement by increasing access to up to date technology.
• Providing teachers and the school community with the opportunity to explore the potential of technology to enhance both student and teacher learning.
• Development and implementation of a model which promotes and supports continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
• 25 schools across five Victorian regions providing a cross section of RE model reference sites- 6 secondary & 19 primary.
• The RE program has been independently evaluated.
• DE&T and IBM provide a project manager to jointly coordinate and support the program.

• Provide a model for continual improvement in teaching and learning approaches for classroom teachers.
• Strategically align the RE program with Blue Print implementation and DE&T program initiatives.
• Provide opportunities for RE school stakeholders to communicate and collaborate within and across RE networks on local, national and international levels.
• Develop and document the RE continuous improvement model for whole school change for DE&T, school leaders and teachers.
• Provide a range of case studies and best practice for whole school change and for continual improvement in teaching and learning approaches.
• Encourage RE teachers to take on leadership and mentoring roles within their schools.

The scope and refinement of the Continuous Improvement model has led to a more integrated and sustainable approach and paradigm. This model consists of 6 elements which include;

1. an action research process,
2. targeted Professional Development,
3. a teacher mentoring program,
4. collaboration and sharing across RE school sites, and
5. IBM's Learning Village suite of tools to facilitate all elements of the RE program.
6. Evaluation

Targeted Professional Development
In order to support teachers in the implementation of their action research plans a rich array of PD opportunities are facilitated and classroom visits and exchanges are encouraged and supported. Schools have developed considerable expertise in using ICT to improve teaching and learning and are encouraged to demonstrate this through school hosted PD sessions and forums. Examples of PD include workshops on the use of Learning Village to facilitate online collaboration and student web publishing, digital portfolio workshops, WebQuest development workshops, school visits and exchanges, leadership forums and planning workshops.

Mentoring- Teachers as Leaders
This strategy focused on a mentoring program providing the skills and competence for teachers in the program to mentors others. It was implemented to assist teachers and principals to expand the RE model in their school by engaging additional teachers and driving classroom reforms. The program provides guidance and support in defining, identifying and demonstrating leadership within the context of implementing effective change to teaching and learning practices in the school community. The strategies suggested can be targeted at the Key Learning Area (KLA) level, professional learning teams, sub-school or whole school level. This component of the RE program was introduced in 2003 as a direct result of feedback provided in the 2002 Evaluation Report.

Networking & Collegiality
Networking using ICT to effect the exchange is a fundamental component of the RE program. Through their involvement, principals and teachers are able to share their insights and experiences within and beyond the Australian RE network. There is a high degree of collegiality between teachers and leaders committed to whole school change and improvement within and across schools, online through IBM's Learning Village, through leadership and teacher meetings and school and classroom visits. Teachers and students involved also have access to and have utilised the global network of RE participants including 6 million students and 65,000 teachers.

IBM Learning Village
IBM?s Learning Village provides a range of web based tools which facilitate online communication, collaboration and sharing within the local school community to promote a dynamic teaching and learning environment. Learning Village web sites, consisting of web based communication, collaborations and curriculum planning tools, have been established for each of the 26 RE schools allowing online web publishing, communication, collaboration and curriculum development within and beyond their educational communities.

Evaluation
Evaluation has formed an important component of the RE program. Teachers are regularly evaluating their progress based through the action research component and reporting to their peers and project managers. In addition regular independent review of progress has been an integral part of the program operation through the appointment of the independent evaluator. It provides an opportunity for reflection, assessment and identification of problems as well as recording progress and innovation. Continuous evaluation is necessarily a key component of Continuous Improvement.