University of Glyndwr ESCalate National ITE Conference

1. University of Glyndwr ESCalate National ITE Conference

2. Delivering an English - Gaelic pathway to ITE students remotely in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland Lynda Keith - University of Strathclyde Ian Minty - UHI Millennium Institute

3. The context (1) • Responding to changing patterns of provision • Fitting into a 1 yr ft PGDE structure • Meeting the needs of Gaelic Medium Units • Gaining local authority support • Using locally-based staff to deliver • Gaining institutional and national approval

4. The Context (2) • Scottish Executive’s Stage 2 Review of Initial Teacher Education, (2005) “….. accessing initial teacher training is problematic for potential students living in remote areas……” • Currently 34 ITE students studying in 4 separate UHI locations (7% of the total enrolment on the 08-09 cohort of 506 students)

5. Lews Castle College • Inverness College • Moray College • Argyll College

6. PGDE Structure • 2 semesters of 18 weeks each • 18 weeks taught • 18 weeks school practice (2 x 9 wks) • Semester 1 Primary 5-7 (8-11 yrs), including modules on language, maths and educational studies • Semester 2 Early Years (3 – 8 yrs), including Expressive Arts and RME. • Planning Effective Teaching and Learning (PETL) runs throughout the course • PETL delivered simultaneously in Gaelic to UHI and Glasgow for Gaelic pathway students

7. The Laptop Initiative • Laptops for every PGDE student • Use of 1st Class virtual learning environment (VLE) • Blended learning delivery • Students gaining computer skills • Lectures video-streamed • Intensive use of video-conferencing

8. How’s the technology worked so far ? • Video Conferencing unreliable to begin with • Staff training in the use of video conferencing protocols • Staff and students unfamiliar with the technology • Saving in staff time and travel costs • UHI technical expertise • Impact on student technical skills in the classroom

9. Gaelic and English Pathways 2003-04 Just 2 Gaelic students 2008-09 34 (2 Gaelic and 32 English) in 4 locations Total so far of 104 students 29 Gaelic pathway 75 English pathway Stornoway 20 Gaelic and 14 English over 6 yrs

10. What the students said – the positives “Tutors only had small groups to work with so we were able to ask questions and had interactive workshops rather than lectures in a hall with 500 other students. We collaborated with other students in Islay who also worked from a remote location. The course was available locally. I was able to train where I lived and wanted to teach.”

11. What the students said – the negatives “The vc connections were sometimes unreliable; there was often a lot of time wasted trying to establish a link to Jordanhill, although UHI IT staff helpful. The nature of the course required students to be self-motivated and self sufficient. This could be regarded as a negative, although I enjoyed this aspect of the course.”

12. Local Authority benefits • Use of experienced teachers to carry out teaching practice supervision • Involvement in interviews • Learning new technology skills • Building their own CPD profiles

13. The Challenges (1) • Failure of graduates to land permanent jobs • Lack of movement amongst older teachers • Scottish Govt commitment to a guaranteed probationary year • There are Gaelic jobs, but not where the students need them to be • Reduction by Sc Govt of ITE numbers for 09-10. Drop from 521 to 427

14. Challenges (2) • Small schools and student teachers • Rollout of the widening access model to other remote locations, eg Dumfries and Galloway • Equity of experience between the Glasgow Jordanhill students and the UHI students • Is this a sustainable model, and if so what’s the future for TEIs ?

15. UHI and Strathclyde staff research activity • Mary Welsh, Strathclyde, Impact of the Laptop Initiative • Donald Gillies, Strathclyde, Widening Access • Ian Minty, UHI, and Lynda Keith, Strathclyde, The Student Experience

16. Flora’s Story

17. If you want to contact us:ian.minty@lews.uhi.ac.ukl.keith@strath.ac.uk