Futurelab e-news items August 2008

PEN comment: as usual a great range of activity from Futurelab. Good to see some familiar faces at the Challenging Learner Voice Conference.
 

Million Futures: what are your hopes for the future? http://www.millionfutures.org.uk/
 
Enquiring Minds ‘online workshop’
Outcomes from a series of workshops held in May are now available. These workshops included sessions on the project’s context, how to organise enquiry-based learning, and a case study presented by one of the teachers involved. A set of videos and presentations from the events now form an ‘online workshop’, which is a useful additional resource for those interested in trying Enquiring Minds in their school. http://www.enquiringminds.org.uk/try_it/online_workshop/ 
 
August web articles
Latest web articles include: ‘Learning – it’s a family affair’ by Kim Thomas, an interview with Natasha Innocent (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) about the benefits of learning as a family; and ‘Who personalises learning? The learners of course’, in which Fiona Aubrey-Smith shares her insights into transformational curriculum work with Merlin John. http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications_reports_articles/web_articles
   
Challenging Learner Voice – 23 October
Futurelab’s autumn conference, sponsored by Mouchel and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), takes place in Warwick on 23 October. Register your interest now to be informed when online booking opens (there will be early-bird rates) – please e-mail events@futurelab.org.uk. Details about the speakers are online – full programme available soon.
23 October 2008 Warwick University Conference Park

Despite the vast number of changes in the education system in recent years, learners themselves still remain largely unheard in the change process. If education is to become more personalised, then the views of learners must be heard.

This one-day conference offers practitioners, researchers, policy makers and industry the opportunity to challenge existing notions and interpretations of what ‘learner voice’ should actually mean in practice.

It will consider the role of learner voice in personalised learning, identify barriers, challenges and opportunities and consider some of the digital technologies that offer the potential to embed learner voice in practice.

The event will include keynote presentations, plenary sessions and workshops. Speakers confirmed to date are listed below

• Michael Fielding, Institute of Education, University of London
• Nick Lee, Warwick institute of Education, University of Warwick
• Audrey Osler, School of Education, University of Leeds
• David Gribble, International Democratic Education Network (IDEN)
• Chris Davis, Department of Education, University of Oxford
• Lynn Davies, School of Education, University of Birmingham
• Ian McGimpsey, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts
• Neil Selwyn and John Potter, Institute of Education, University of London
• Simon Binns, Edge Foundation
• Dr Keri Facer, Research Director, Futurelab
• Dr Tim Rudd, Senior Researcher, Futurelab
• Dr Francesc Pedró, Centre for Educational Research and Innovation
• Zoë Readhead, Principal, Summerhill School
• Kevin Crossley, Edison
• Chris Yapp, Capgemini UK

Full details and online booking will be available soon – in the meantime to register your interest please e-mail events@futurelab.org.uk.
 
My-E update
My-E (My Education) is a prototype online visual environment that supports young children to explore and express their own personal learning experiences, interests and aims. The application enables children (aged 5 and 6) to build stories about their learning experiences and preferences through multi-layered representations (eg shapes, icons and sounds), which teachers, adults and parents/carers help them to develop. An update on progress with this project is now available.
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/my_e/details
 
New work programme supported by Becta
Futurelab is undertaking a programme of work – supported by Becta – to contribute to the ‘Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning 2008-14’ strategy. Work will be carried out in five key areas: learner entitlement, family learning, adult informal learning, computer games, and mobilising technology leadership. More information available soon.
Further details… 
 
Research Director announcement
Futurelab’s Research Director, Keri Facer, will be leaving Futurelab in the autumn. Keri has been with Futurelab since its launch in 2001 and has made a significant contribution to the development of the organisation into one of the world’s leading R&D labs. The search for a successor has begun. http://www.futurelab.org.uk/about_us/Press_Release1079