Introduction
Tapestry has the permission of WIDE World at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to promote and enlist Scottish teachers for a collaboration which involves an on-line modular course “Teaching for Understanding 1” (TfU1).

This module has as its focus the work of Professor David Perkins, Senior Co-Director, with Professor Howard Gardner, of Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero.  Professor David Perkins leads the “Thinking Skills” Educational Agenda at Harvard University. He is acknowledged internationally as the leader in this field.

Aim: “Look at the Learning Classroom”
The Aim of the course is to:

• Introduce the Teaching for Understanding Framework to complement “A Curriculum for Excellence”;
• Promote and understand how the Teaching for Understanding Framework may be used as a guide to develop lesson plans and/or curriculum projects;
• To plan new teaching strategies to motivate and engage students in developing powerful understanding;
• Reflect upon the impact of new practice.

The course comprises:
6 sessions each lasting approximately two weeks (Total 12 weeks)

• WIDE World at HGSE, "on-line"- 6 Sessions
• Tapestry Group Tutorials -  1 Introductory Day
• 1 Twilight to be arranged with Local Authorities

The Tapestry Sessions, are designed as the support vehicle for the course. 

The course involves:

• Reading; Prescribed Text
• Group Discussions
• Group Assignments
• Reflection on Understanding
• Self-Review (Informal)

Text:
Blythe, Tina, (1964), The Teaching for Understanding Guide, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.  Each participant will receive a copy prior to the commencement of the module.

Syllabus

Generative Topic:
The Teaching for Understanding Framework (TfU) and its effects on teaching and learning.

Throughlines (Over-Arching Or Course-Long Goals):
The course is designed to develop understanding of the following questions:

• What is understanding, and how does it develop?

We will begin to understand…

-how your current planning and teaching supports your pupils’ developing understanding and

-how you can do that more deliberately and systematically.

2. What is the Teaching for Understanding Framework (TfU), why and when is it useful, and how can we use it?

We will begin to understand…

• each element of the Teaching for Understanding Framework and how they interrelate,
• how the framework supports teachers in planning, reviewing, and revising  their teaching,
• how the framework guides classroom observation,
• how the framework focuses assessment of pupils’ talk, work, and actions, and
• how the framework’s concepts serve as a professional vocabulary that fosters clear, effective communication with colleagues,

…all of these aimed toward helping pupils develop genuine, flexible understanding of what they are learning.

3. How can we create and sustain a professional education community online that supports our own developing understanding?

We will begin to understand…

• how to work supportively and well in this online environment,
• how to exploit the unique resources offered by an online forum,
• what this course structure suggests about ways to support ongoing professional learning in both online and face-to-face contexts.

In each session participants take on the following:

• read new material on the course website in the “Session Note”
• complete readings and other assignments
• post responses to assignments in the online course discussion
• receive response to work from coaches and online colleagues
• respond to online colleagues

Approximate Time Commitment

Orientation                          time in Session 1
Session 1                                    3.45 hours
Session 2                                    6.30 hours
Session 3                                    5.00 hours
Session 4                                    7.30 hours
Session 5                                    7.00 hours
Session 6                                    10.00 hours (To include 5 hours classroom Assignment)
TOTAL HOURS                          39.45 hours

Accreditation
A WIDE World/Harvard Graduate School of Education Certificate of Completion accompanies this learning and teaching module.  This module is also recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland for Professional Recognition.

Management & Co-ordination
Katrina Bowes will be the prime contact for all information relating to the WIDE World/Tapestry collaboration. This module has now run each consecutive year from 2005. An initial pilot was run in year one involved 7 local authorities.  Twenty local authorities are now involved.