The course - USR-ER

The context

For the implementation at regional level I've chosen the course Mentoring in Schools for some reasons:

The course is offered to a large number of teachers in the region who, for various reasons and in different ways, already play the role of mentors
The majority of teachers involved are "Animatori digitali", ie. Digital Trainers in their schools. It means that the technological side of the course should not cause problems and we can focus on the proposed contents
English, on the other side, could be a problem for most of them. Meeting together can help solve this issue
The course is a real MOOC, with real interactions with other real teachers from all over Europe. This implies new approaches to study, the acquisition of new points of view, the real exchange of experiences and practices
The course is relevant for the role of these colleagues in their school but also at regional level for the possibility of creating a network of mentors

National Plan for Digital Schools in Emilia-Romagna

Teacher Academy course

The first steps

Before the end of the school year (2018-19):

End of April: I have explained the project to Servizio Marconi's Coordinator (Mr. Roberto Bondi) and staff to have their support and help both for realization and logistic
Beginning of May: I have talked with Direttore Generale of Regional Ministry Office, Mr. Stefano Versari, and got his approval
Beginning of June: I have sent a mail to all the Digital Trainers of the region and to some experienced teachers who regularly take “Sala Ovale courses” (in-service training courses offered by Servizio Marconi) to explain the project and open applications
Mid-June: we have reached the maximum number of 30 participants in few days
End of June: I have sent a last mail before summer break to give some details more about the course and the link to Teacher Academy website

After Summer Holidays

2019 - 2020 school year

Immediately after the beginning of the new school year

6th of September: final call to the group of participants who will take the course to ask for confirmation
30 teachers (both Digital Trainers and experienced teachers) have confirmed their participation. The group is formed.
27th of September: Drafting and publication of the Regional Decree establishing the course signed by the Direttore Generale
23 of September: first meeting at Sala Ovale - Regional Office to define the framework and the tasks
From 23 of September to 4th of November: regular meetings to follow the modules of the course and think about possible activity to implement at school

New way to register to "Sala Ovale courses"

Each participant has got his/her own regional card and register to courses via online form

m_pi.AOODRER.REGISTRO UFFICIALE(U).0019957.27-09-2019.pdf

Regional Decree of the Direttore Generale, Mr. Stefano Versari, establishing the course and the Technical and scientific committee:

Some first reflections

In this case too, all the participants agree that taking the course together and having some F2F meetings is the added value
Having the opportunity to speak/write in Italian during the F2F meetings helps a lot those teachers who don't feel at ease with English and encourages them to take the activities of the modules (which are of course in English!)
Meeting F2F helps to carry out the activities and tasks. Teachers are very busy in this period and most of them cannot do the "homework" assigned, considering also their peculiar role within their schools
Meeting F2F encourages teachers to express themselves, to exchange ideas on mentoring practice and to plan mentoring activities together
Digital Trainers say that they need to feel less isolated in their task: Emilia-Romagna is a huge region, with more than 530 school institutions (more than 2000 single schools). This course gives them an opportunity to reflect also on their role
Whether they are Mentors or not, reflecting on this topic can be of help in their task of supporting colleagues in digital implementation and best teaching practices

At the end of the Pilot ...

Some pros

All the participants have reflected on the developing of the course and we have found the following:

It has been important to meet together to follow the course.
Time constraints both at school and at personal level often prevent the completion of the activities, even if the interest is sincere and the desire to complete the course is authentic.
The need to remodel the path, however, has turned into an opportunity for reflection on the activities to be carried out personally, which have therefore benefited from an "extra" of reflectivity on the part of the participants.
Working together is, without a doubt, much more enjoyable and productive! If I have an idea and you have another idea, we don't have an idea each, but we have gained two ideas together!
English and ICT are not a problem (at least not for the group that participated in the Pilot)!

Some cons

Not everything has obviously been positive. But for different reasons. Here are a few:

The face-to-face meetings were aimed at framing the problem, reflecting on general themes, discussing the theoretical framework and launching ideas to carry on the work at home.
This did not happen for the majority of the participants.
Some of them did their work independently at home, but most of them, overwhelmed by their professional and personal commitments, came to the meetings without having done their "homework".
This led to the need for a reshaping of the path, also providing time for the development of activities during the meeting itself.
The last critical aspect concerns the applicability of the course to the Italian educational context. But this is another kind of problem...

Feedback from the course moderators (TA)

Notable contributions from WEEK 1

Learning while mentoring

Mentoring can this way become an opportunity for learning also for the mentors.

[...]

Emma Giurlani on Differ also highlights how important it is that a teacher entering a mentoring relationship has "the willingness to put his/her experience at the service of others, to grow together professionally”. She thinks also of "a small team of mentors and mentees", e.g. two mentors-two mentees, working as a whole.”

Notable contributions from WEEK 2

As many other teachers emphasize, it is important to plan activities that can motivate the students, as disruptive behaviour can arise because of the students’ lack of interest.

[...]

Many teachers suggest using technology and multimedia in the classroom together with innovative teaching methodologies like Stavroula from Greece and Elena Pezzi from Italy, who mention their experience in Project-based Learning and eTwinning.

Notable contributions from WEEK 4

LEARNING DIARIES

[...]

This week we would like to highlight the following Learning Diary: Laurence Bellini’s Learning Diary on Wakelet

Please note that the above list of notable contributions is just a tiny selection of the numerous, great contributions from Week 4. If your contribution is not mentioned, it does not in any way indicate it being less noteworthy or recognised.

SEG Pilot - USR in numbers

Teachers who expressed willingness to take the course (May 2019): 40

Teachers who confirmed their participation in the course (September 2019): 30

Teachers who started the course (first meeting): 25

Teachers who completed the course: 15

Maria & Carla

Maria & Laurence

Silvia & Marcello

Vittoria & Roberto

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