Event Reports: Learning, Thinking and Creativity 2004
Learning Thinking and Creativity Conference
National Conference Tuesday 2 November 2004
The conference took place at Heriot-Watt University on 2 November 2004. Evaluations confirm that once again our annual conference has proven to be highly valued by the 150+ delegates who comprised teachers from all sectors, pupils, civil servants and local authority advisers.
Thinking Focus
Jim Dunbar introduced his first conference as IDES Chairman and emphasised that the day would focus on thinking skills – the final aspect of creativity to be dealt with by IDES before moving on to developing some new themes and areas. The day was given over entirely to showcasing work in relation to the development of thinking skills. As ever, the material covered by the workshops was real and being practised by teachers in classrooms in all sectors across the country.
Workshop topics covered the following areas
- Instrumental enrichment – Tapestry
- Thinking through Philosophy – Sunnyside Primary School, Alloa
- A guide to better thinking – Wallace Hall Primary School, Dumfries
- Learning to learn – Monifieth High School, Angus
- Thinking to learn – Kinross High School
- Activating Children's Thinking Skills (ACTS) – East Ayrshire Council
- Cognitive acceleration: developing minds, improving thinking – Fife Council
- Thinking through Drama – Claire Brown (formerly of Pace Theatre Group)
Speakers
Jim Dunbar thanked the speakers for giving of their valuable time and noted that IDES was indeed honoured to welcome speakers of such distinction within Scottish education.
Professor Tom Wilson, Chair, Learning and Teaching Scotland, and Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive, Learning and Teaching Scotland, reiterated the importance of networks such as IDES to the way in which Learning and Teaching Scotland intends to continue its work. Once again it was heartening to hear such public support and praise for the activities of the IDES Network and their enthusiasm for its achievements.
Keir Bloomer, Chief Executive, Clackmannanshire Council, was characteristically thought-provoking as evidenced by the many complimentary comments and requests for copies made by delegates in their evaluations.
PowerPoint file: Kier Bloomer's presentation (1,724 KB))
It was also encouraging to hear from Anne McGachey HMI that when the inspectors call they will value the practise of creativity in learning and give credit to and formally recognise the development of thinking skills.
PowerPoint file: Anne McCachey's presentation (317 KB))
In his concluding remarks, Jim Dunbar recognised the auspicious timing of the conference this year, coming as it did the day after the Minister for Education's announcement of the Curriculum Review.
Jim said, IDES has pre-empted many aspects of the Curriculum Review. The management committee has already drafted a proposal for future work which is entirely in keeping with the Review. It is the intention of IDES to look at how integrating the curriculum on a project based learning model can be incorporated into the curriculum of the future. Indeed, today's activities have covered the four main outcomes of education as summarised in the review:
- SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS with openness to new thinking and ideas
- CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS show how success can be achieved in different ways
- RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS develop informed views of current issues
- EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTORS show application of critical thinking in new contexts
Jim Dunbar closed the conference by once again thanking all those whose hard work goes unnoticed behind the scenes to stage such a successful day. He encouraged all delegates to take at least one idea that they had found to be useful to their teaching and try it out in their school. He reminded the delegates of a quote from a teacher at last year's conference: 'Today has reminded me why I became a teacher'.
Look out for more details of the conference in the next issue of 'Network' early in 2005, and for details of future conferences on the website.