The internal meeting discussed curriculum plans for various communication classes, including activities like debates, documentaries, and creating a yearbook. Teachers shared what they had been working on in their classes. Future plans included continuing various projects and integrating vocational areas. The external meeting clarified assessment procedures for a computing project team unit. Groups from the communication department would provide services and formal report templates were created for assessments. Presentations would also be used formatively. Follow up actions included confirming details with other teachers.

1. Examples of curriculum team planning meetings (Internal and external)

2. Internal meeting Date of meeting– 5th November 2009 (MB 1.20 at 13.45). Lecturers in attendance– Mark Hetherington, Caroline Brady, Deborah Harris, Isobel Paterson Purpose of meeting– to discuss Communication provision up until week 9 and create an agenda for further classes. Curriculum area – College Preparation Class (groups A-D)

3. Overview of what was discussed (including pedagogical issues) – Deborah – discussed the possibility of a yearbook with her class, but this wasn’t met with a positive response at the start of term. This may change later on though. A variety of different and interesting activities have been happening in this class, such as debates, presentations, stereotype analysis, a theatre visit to watch ‘Kes’ linking into the film ‘Sweet Sixteen’. Isobel – discussed a ‘getting to know you’ exercise at the start of the session which wasn’t particularly successful and has been concentrating on written work in the main. A variety of documentary / TV programmes have been watched and discussed to identify broad themes – me and my school, me and my Edinburgh and me and my Scotland. Isobel has adopted a ‘treat’ system by organising analytical written work on the Monday and use of Click view on a Friday. This has worked well. Isobel encourages the students to reflect on their journey from primary to secondary school and will be integrating teaching into the Sports vocational area shortly.

4. Discussions continued Caroline – this class is all female and Caroline has been applying the teaching to the Digital Storytelling area working with Madeleine Brown. She has identified a number of areas to work on, such as the yearbook, creation of a learning log (which has in turn informed the creation of a scheme of work) where all skills learned are recorded which has been very successful. An e diary has been created where students reflect on aspects of College life such as their first day at Stevenson, what it is like being a student etc. The film ‘Sweet Sixteen’ is currently being analysed where students are encouraged to reflect on their position, addressing a variety of social issues etc. Mark – this class is very IT literate and are very comfortable using the PCs in room 120. Initial exercises involved students defining communication, looking at communication in the workplace, types of communication and addressing why communication could be important to them. Taking Caroline’s lead, all learners in this cohort have set up their own blog, where they are encouraged to reflect on aspects of college life, using cameras and negotiating tasks. Mark has encouraged the idea of students identifying with the idea of what is like to be Scottish by viewing a number of programmes using Click View. Students are writing up their ‘autobiography’ and researching their fore and surnames. A documentary called ‘e mail is ruining my life’ was watched and discussed. No vocational integration has been adopted as yet but this will be addressed shortly.

5. Action points Mark to type up CTP notes. Mark to disseminate notes onto G Zajak CPC yearbooks to be created in June, not January

6. External meeting Date of meeting– 17th January 2011 (3rd floor) Lecturers in attendance– Mark Hetherington and Colin McCourt Purpose of meeting– To clarify assessment procedures for Working Within A Project Team Unit Curriculum area – HNCComputing

7. Overview of what was discussed Mark clarified that three groups had been requested for servicing in 2011 from the Communication and English teaching team which looks like Mark Hetherington, Madeleine Brown and Stephen Welsh. Assessment integration again will be for the four reports for Colin’s Unit (Building a Network PC). Proforma for formal reports have been drawn up by MH and should be used for Colin’s unit to ensure standardisation for delivery and assessment. Group presentation formative assessment to be retained so that students can discuss their research findings with peers.

8. Action points MH to contact MB and SW to clarify what was discussed at the meeting. Dates for assessment set at mid May. Lecturers to confirm day for submission with C McC for their respective classes.