‘LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING’

TAJ Aquada Fort  Beach Resort & TAJ Holiday Village , GOA

Thursday – 4^TH September 2008

09:00 am to 6:00 pm – Arrival of Participants / Conference On-site Registration

10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Pre-Conference Sessions (for teachers / coordinators, school heads / administrators):

“The Team Visit” – by Margaret Alvarez – Accreditation Officer – Council of International Schools (CIS)

(This workshop is designed for administrators, teachers, and school business managers who wish to be considered for membership of Visiting Teams for the first time, as well as for experienced visitors who wish to become familiar with the Seventh Edition of the accreditation guide).

(Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

12:30 to 1:30 pm     Lunch Break

3:30 to 4:00 pm       Tea/Coffee Break

5:00 pm                     End of Session

7:00 pm                     Dinner at the hotel (only for in-house guests)

Friday – 5^th September 2008

08:30 am       Lighting of the Lamp by TAISI Board Members followed by a Welcome address by Anu Monga, Chairperson, TAISI

09:00 am       Plenary session:  (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

“It’s all about style! A humorous look at a serious subject” by Henry Nicols

(We can all laugh at jokes about descriptions of leaders but the image we present as a leader has profound effects on those whom we lead. Awareness of your own leadership style and the leadership needs of your school is essential to the creation of a vibrant learning community.  An understanding of how our leadership style influences the dynamics of our school community will allow us to laugh as we come to grips with the skills and talents needed to lead effectively in the 21^st century).

10:30 am       Tea/Coffee Break

11:00 am       Plenary session:  (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

“Leadership Skills for Managing International Multicultural Schools in the Indian Context” by Dr. Bindu Hari – The International School, Bangalore

(Identifying and developing leadership skills and embedding best practice systemically in a cross cultural context to ensure sustained growth and stability of international schools).

12:30 pm       Lunch Break

1:30 to           Breakaway sessions:

3:15 pm

1) “Using Multiple Intelligences Theory in the Classroom:  Effective pathways to achievement” by Susan Baum   (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(Multiple Intelligences Theory is a popular approach to instruction.  Sadly, many misuse the theory and create learning experiences that are not aligned to educational purposes. In this session you will be introduced to the Pathways Model for applying MI theory, highly endorsed by Howard Gardner. Five effective uses are explained and demonstrated. Examples include applications K-12).

2) “AD/HD In The Classroom-Effective Teaching Strategies and Challenges” by Neena David   (Venue: Hermitage Centre – Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort)

(Hyperactivity and attention difficulties are issues that are being increasingly discussed in urban Indian classrooms, yet, there is only an emerging awareness about AD/HD as a diagnostic entity among teachers and parents.

Research on AD/HD in India is in its nascent stage and initial epidemiological studies indicate that prevalence rates for AD/HD vary from 5 to 10% of the general population. Typically children with this condition are described by their teachers and parents as 'playful’, 'willful', 'difficult' 'distracted'. Parents report being stressed by the child’s behaviour, receive little social support and are often criticized for their parenting styles.

In the absence of early identification mechanisms, classroom interventions and social support structures, a significant majority do grow to experience academic difficulties, underachievement, emotional upheavals and peer adjustment issues.

What is this baffling condition? Is this just a western fad? Are we confusing this with simple naughtiness? How do I identify a child with AD/HD in the classroom? What if parents don’t seem to share my concerns? What classroom strategies can I put in place that would help?

The talk encourages active participation and hopes to create an awareness and understanding of AD/HD and how it impacts a child’s classroom functioning. It will address the issue of identifying skills and behaviours that a child with AD/HD typically struggles with, the challenges faced by the teacher and suggest practical research based strategies that can be used in the classroom).

3) “The PYP Journey” by Bill Fenton – IBO Asia Pacific Region (Venue: Village Conference Hall)

(The session is designed to inform those schools contemplating the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the processes, procedures and expectations of the IB that will lead to becoming an authorized school.  There will be a discussion about some of the hidden issues such as the management of change and there will be time for questions and answers).

3:15 pm         Tea/Coffee Break

4:00 to           Breakaway sessions:

5:45 pm

1) “The Emotionally Intelligent School, Yea or Nay” – by Henry Nicols (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(There is both empirical and anecdotal evidence that emotionally intelligent individuals achieve more, perform better and are more successful and happy then their less emotionally intelligent peers.  Have you ever wondered how your school stacks up?  What is your Leadership Emotional Intelligence Quotient?  You can become a better leader and enhance the emotional intelligence, success, performance and joy of those you lead).

2) “Fundamentals of Financial Management in Schools – Fundamentals That Every Head & Aspiring Head Should Know” by Richard Tangye – Council of International Schools  (Venue: Hermitage Centre – – Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort))

3) “Preparing for the Accreditation Journey” by Margaret Alvarez – Council of International Schools (Venue: Village Conference Hall)

(It aims to help schools who are thinking about embarking on accreditation).

7:00 pm Dinner at the hotel (only for in-house guests) + Entertainment Goan Folk Dances

Saturday – 6^th September 2008

07:30 am       TAISI Annual General Body Meeting (all member schools are invited to attend)

09:00 am       Plenary session: (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

“Differentiation or Bust: A road map for leaders” – by Susan Baum

(School leaders, principals and curriculum coordinators, are you providing support for differentiated instruction in your school? Do your policies about curriculum and instruction enhance or detract from the ideals of differentiation? Can you recognize differentiation when you see it?  Learn what good differentiated practice is and how you can nurture its implementation in your school).

10:30 hrs       Tea/Coffee Break

11:00 am       Plenary session: (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

“Learn, to Lead; the Role to Technology in the Knowledge Era” by Anthony R Antic General Manager – NIIT Limited

12:30 pm       Lunch Break

1:30 pm         Breakaway sessions:

1)  “Conflict Resolution” by Dr. Bindu Hari – The International School, Bangalore (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(This session provides contextual anecdotes and situations as hands-on exercises to enable senior management team members mediate and resolve conflicts amongst the stake holders of a multicultural school community).

2) “Talent at Risk: Nurturing the needs of gifted and talented students” by Susan

Baum (Venue: Hermitage Centre – Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort))

(Do our classroom policies and practice inadvertently impede the development of our students with high potential? Are we teaching our students at their appropriate instructional levels? Do we provide focused attention to their interests and talents?

In this session we will discuss the needs of gifted students and present strategies for meeting their needs. Social and emotional issues as well as academic issues will be discussed).

3) “I have Taught.  Have the Students Learnt?  The XSEED Way of Assessment by Dr. Tapaswini Sahu – idiscoveri (Venue: Village Conference Hall)

(In Indian context teachers teach and it is assumed that student learn. Tests and exams are still regarded as the only measurement of learning. We often presume that children learn different skills and concepts and periodic tests measure them. Subsequently, at some point of time students will form a coherent picture of their learning. Recent theories and evidences suggest that knowledge is not acquired by just receiving information, but by interpreting the information and relating it to the knowledge base the learner already has. What is important, and therefore should be assessed, is the learner’s ability to organize, structure, and use information in context to solve complex problems. Thus student assessment is an important component in the teaching learning process).

So what do we assess? If one has to assess student understanding, documenting progress towards higher order goals such as application of skills and synthesis of experience requires obtaining information beyond what the tests measure.

How to assess? Classroom assessment tasks are usually designed by the teacher to gauge students’ understanding of the lessons taught and are a feedback for the students. It indicates the teacher regarding her instructional practices way forward. So the question arises what are some of the authentic tools for assessing students learning?

How do we report to the parents? A progress report makes the learning of a student visible to the parents. Teachers make interpretation of student learning and provide further action steps. However it is always a struggle to make a balance between numbers and descriptive inferences….

In this presentation I will discuss how as a curriculum design team we have attempted to consider the principles of assessment and created an assessment cycle with focus on an outcome based learning and assessing).

3:15 pm         Tea/Coffee Break

4:00 pm to    Breakaway sessions:

5:45 pm

1)  “Time Management for Leaders” by Henry Nicols (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(It is not just about 1,440 minutes in a day, but that is all you get!  The challenge is often how to get the most out of the finite minutes in a day, hours in a week or days in a month, not just for ourselves but for those we lead.  If you have ever said, there are not enough hours in a day, this session is for you!)

2) “Curriculum Mapping – The Hub of your School” by Mr. Benjamin Zang – Rubicon (Venue: Hermitage Centre – Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort)

(As international schools juggle the requirements placed on them by accreditation teams, parents, budgets and Boards, curriculum mapping provides a clear way to focus our limited resources. Beginning with the end in mind, we must first decide who our students should be when they graduate. What qualities and values need to be instilled? What skills must they possess?

With a clear picture of our desired results, we can consistently work toward our goals as a unified team. These goals drive all of our decisions: hiring, curriculum development, school initiatives, budgeting, and student body. Our focus can always be centered back on how can we best support our students in achieving and exceeding our expectations. Over time, our curriculum maps document the results of hundreds of conversations and decisions clearly displaying the rich tapestry of our student’s journey through the school. As our budgets, faculty, resources, the world, and our students change, our student’s journey and our curriculum maps will change and adapt too).

3)  “Trinity In Schools” by Mr. Paul Trigg – Senior Examiner of Trinity Guildhall (Trinity College London) (Village Conference Hall)

7:00 pm Dinner at the hotel (only for in-house guests)

Sunday – 7^th September 2008

08:15 am        Arrival of participants

08:30 am       Plenary session: (Aguada Ballroom)

“Results in the Classroom” – How can school leaders stop complaining and start making the right investments – by Ashish Rajpal – idiscoveri

(Schools make enormous of investments in training, consulting, tools, labs, technology. Unless all these efforts are channelised towards an objective (Better learning, Better Teaching), they often lie unused and have little impact beyond the initial euphoria. iDiscoveri’s work with schools nationwide throws up some interesting case studies and insights – and a framework for action).

9:30 am         Tea/Coffee Break

10:00 to         Breakaway Sessions:

11:00 am

1) “Conflict Resolution and Management Strategies for Leaders” by Henry Nicols (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(Conflict is necessary for change and change is necessary for survival and success, and organizational survival and success is necessary for all leaders.  If you have ever thought these things you need Conflict Resolution and Management Strategies for Leader). 

2) “Using Data to Improve Learning – The International Schools’ Assessment” by John Morath – ACER (Venue: Hermitage Centre – Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort)

(This presentation will provide an insight into the characteristics of skill based assessment instruments with particular attention to the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA).

The ISA is currently being used in more than a hundred countries around the world. The program is designed to be administered to students in years three through to year ten.

The presentation will place ISA in the context of the background and services offered by the Australian Council for Educational Research. The ISA will be used to highlight elements inherent in a reasoning test, look at the features of the reporting back process and assess such tests’ capacity to measure development over time. The presentation will also contrast reasoning or aptitude tests with achievement or performance tests. It will reflect on the fact that, while the data generated by such tests is different, it can also be quite complementary.

The session will be informal and will include an opportunity for questions and discussion of the information presented).

11:15 to         Breakaway sessions:

12:15 pm

1) “If You Always Do What You Always Did You Will Always Get What You Always Got” by Susan Baum  (Venue: Aguada Ballroom)

(Business leaders know that if they are not doing it better, faster or cheaper than the competition the competition will be doing it soon.  In education we, too, need to understand the better, faster, cheaper equation.  To help you and your organization think outside the box we will explore proven models of creative problem solving that can bring necessary change to your organization).

2) “Raising Standards of Achievement through Addressing Underperformance” -          by Graham Ranger – The British School – New Delhi (Venue: Hermitage Centre- Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort)

(One important role of a school leader is to develop performance in teachers, to improve the quality of learning and raise standards of achievement. One of the challenging aspects of leadership in an international school is that of addressing issues of under-performance. Many performance management or performance appraisal schemes fall down because they are excessively bureau tic or because they lack a sufficiently hard edge to deal with such issues.

This workshop addresses the following questions:

How should we define and agree suitable quality standards for teaching and for leadership?

How may we best develop the quality of teaching and learning through lesson observation and support?

How should governors be suitably involved in performance management?

How should a performance management scheme work effectively?)

12:30 pm       Vote of Thanks

End of conference

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PROGRAMME

Thursday – 24^th September 2009 (PRE-CONFERENCE)

09:00 am to 6:00 pm – Arrival of Participants / Conference On-site Registration

9:30 am to 5:00 pm – Pre-Conference Sessions (for teachers / coordinators, school heads / administrators):

(1) “The Team Visit” – by Margaret Alvarez – Accreditation Officer – Council of International Schools    (CIS)

(This workshop is designed for administrators, teachers, and school business managers who wish to be considered for membership of Visiting Teams for the first time, as well as for experienced visitors who wish to become familiar with the Seventh Edition of the accreditation guide).

(Venue:

(2) “Achieving Sustained Improvement” by Andy Phillips – Director – AP Associates / BPC International, UK

Developing Strategic Leadership for School Leaders (Senior & Middle) – which will focus on issues of:

Standards – what are they and are they high enough;

Quality – of learning and teaching

Effectiveness – of leadership and management (including accountability and line management / performance management)

–a mixture of inputs and practical workshops (e.g. observing lessons and making judgements / analysing and interpreting performance data).

12:30 to 1:30 pm     Lunch Break

3:30 to 4:00 pm       Tea/Coffee Break

5:00 pm                     End of Session

7:00 pm                     Dinner at the hotel (for in-house guests only)

Friday – 25^th September 2009

08:30 am       Lighting of the Lamp by the Chief Guest followed by a Welcome address by Anu Monga, Chairperson, TAISI

09:00 am       Plenary session:  (Venue: )

“Earth’s Hope” – envisioning a future without poverty in a world with intact ecosystems” by Mr. John Liu – Director, Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP), UK

10:30 am       Tea/Coffee Break

11:00 am       Plenary session:  (Venue: )

‘International Education – One School’s Transformation’ by Rod Fraser, Principal, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Australia

12:30 pm       Lunch Break (Ask Cambridge – an Interactive session for head teachers with Mr. Ian Chambers – Regional Manager South Asia – University of Cambridge International Examinations for all CIE and Candidate Schools)

1:30 to           Breakaway sessions:

3:15 pm

1) ‘Setting Direction and Taking Action: Leading Change in Schools’  by Joyce Lujan Martinez – Head of School – Schutz American School, Alexandria, Egypt

2) ‘Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives’ by Ian Chambers – Regional Manager South Asia University of Cambridge International Examinations, New Delhi

3) ‘Courageous Leadership’ by Sarosh J. Ghandy – Chairman of the Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Regional Director of Caux Initiatives for Business

4) ‘CIS Accreditation and preparing for the process’ by Margaret Alvarez

3:15 pm         Tea/Coffee Break

3:45 to           Breakaway sessions:

5:15 pm

1) ‘Good practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage by Ms. Elaine England – Primary School Head Teacher, UK

2) ‘Global Migration Patterns of IB Diploma Students by John Switzer – Head of Regional Development, IBO, Singapore

3) ‘ISA and how school leaders can use the results for international benchmarking/ how leaders can assist teachers to use reports for diagnostic purposes’ by Deirdre Jackson, Director, Assessment Services – Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

5:30 pm         ‘International Hospitality Development’ by Ms. Viwan Opanukij, Area Manager, Cesar Ritz Colleges, Switzerland ( 30 minutes session)

7:00 pm Theme Dinner organized by TAISI

Saturday – 26^th September 2009

08:30 am       Plenary session: (Venue:)

‘Leadership and Learning: your role in raising standards’ by Graham Ranger – Director, The British School New Delhi

10:30 hrs       Tea/Coffee Break

11:00 am       Plenary session: (Venue:)

‘Aspire, Act and Achieve: a personal recipe for teaching kids to reach their dreams’ by Joyce Lujan Martinez – Head of School – Schutz American School, Alexandria, Egypt

12:30 pm       Lunch Break (Interactive session with Ms. Siva Kumari – IBO Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Singapore with all IB and Candidate School Heads)

1:30 pm         Breakaway sessions:

1) ‘Every lesson Counts! Raising Teachers‘ levels of performance through lesson observation’ by Graham Ranger – Director, The British School, New Delhi

2) ‘Technology is not enough’ by Don Graham – Country Manager, Whizz Education, UK

3) ‘Information on the three IB programmes by John Switzer – Head of Regional Development, IBO, Singapore

3:15 pm         Tea/Coffee Break

4:00 pm to    Breakaway sessions:

5:30 pm

1) ‘Eight Steps to a Financially Successful School’ – by Joyce Lujan Martinez – Head of                   School – Schutz American School, Alexandria, Egypt

2) ‘Teacher Evaluation or One Size Fits All?’ by Ellen D. Stern – Interim Director – Colegio Maya School – Guatemala

3) ‘Indian Youth in a transforming World’ by Dr. Sandeep Shastri – Pro Vice Chancellor Jain University and Director International Academy for Creative Teaching

7:00 pm Dinner at the Hotel (in-house guests only)

Sunday – 27^th September 2009

08:00 am       TAISI Annual General Body Meeting (all member schools are invited to attend)

09:30 am       Plenary session: (Venue:)

‘Principalship Leadership Competencies to Improve Student Performance’ by Clark Kirkpatrick – Independent American and International Schools Consultant

10:30 am       Tea/Coffee Break

11:00 to         Breakaway Sessions:

12:30 noon

1) “10 Effective Teaching Practices” by Vijay & Devika Gupta – Founder Directors of Shikshangan, Pune

2) “Middle Years Programme in the Indian Context – Dispelling misconceptions” by Curtis Beaverford – IBO Regional Manager MYP Asia Pacific

3) ‘What works in Schools – Marazano Framework’ by Clark Kirkpatrick – Independent American and International Schools Consultant

4) ‘Elevating Education with a Focus on the Future’ by Karen Ogilvie – Founder of Craft-ED UK Ltd.

12:30 pm       Vote of Thanks

End of conference

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Speakers: Kevin Bartlett, Director, and Gordon Eldridge, Curriculum Director, The International School of Brussels, Belgium.

This workshop will build on last year’s successful session on curriculum design. We will explore a coherent, connected approach to some of our key questions as educators:

• How do people learn?
• In response to this, how should we assess their learning?
• How does this knowledge shape our teaching?

The central ‘vehicle’ for our conversations will be a set of Learning and Teaching Standards developed by our presenters. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of these standards and a set of activities to put these ideas into practice.

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