Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
Similar to Lahc introduction to Round Square
Similar to Lahc introduction to Round Square (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Lahc introduction to Round Square
- 2. Introductions Rod Fraser Chairman, Round Square Board Rachael Westgarth Director of Strategy & Operations Duncan Hossack Regional Support Manager
- 4. 1 A little bit of background
- 5. 50 Years 160 Schools 40+ Countries 5 Regions Global Network of Schools 7,000 students attending a conference 1,700 community service projects 1,500 students on an exchange
- 6. There is more to us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less. - KURT HAHN “
- 8. Supporting Holistic Experiential Learning in Member Schools ROUND SQUARE IDEALS Network: International Like-minded Connected Quality Resources: Collaborative Best Practice Web library Discovery Framework: Skills Literacies Attitudes Values Activities: Service Adventure Conference Exchange
- 9. • Not for profit • UK Registered Charity • Governed by a Board - Regional Representation - Specialist roles • Worldwide Management Team • Office in Windsor, UK • Heads and “Reps” • Collaborative & consultative Round Square Organisation Structure
- 11. ROUND SQUARE STRATEGIC PLAN REGIONAL & WORLDWIDE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS supported by REGIONAL OBJECTIVES (Europe, Americas, S.Asia & Gulf, Africa, Australasia & E.Asia) OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES (Worldwide Management Team) and referenced to GLOBAL FRAMEWORK (Shared)
- 12. 3 Strategic Themes A vibrant, connected network A world class educational approach A platform for future leaders
- 13. A vibrant, connected network A world class educational approach A platform for future leaders Real-world learning democracy Co-creation of knowledge
- 16. • Activities expanding to include all ages • Curricular/ Co-curricula: embedding RS • Focus on deepening whole-school engagement- aiming for all students • Resource and research centre • Continuing to professionalise (just enough) An exciting future
- 17. Greater Collaboration More regional and individual school-hosted opportunities inc. service, project, adventure and conference opportunites Quality of Interaction + Professional Development opportunities; the formation and development of cluster groups; introduction of a structured mentoring programme Network Development Growth in unrepresented or under-represented parts of the world; a focus on quality of engagement and best practice sharing Regional Objectives 3 Broad Areas
- 26. Round Square Discovery Framework “To construct a practical and useful framework that captures and communicates the unique spirit of a Round Square approach to teaching and learning”
- 27. Method and Process 160 school consultation Worldwide writing team examined 40 attributes Description & recognition written for each Peer review & comment Mapping to IDEALS Examples gathered & tagged to attributes
- 28. Learner centred approach Learners Explorers Attributes Discoveries Core values Spirits = BEING NOT DOING
- 29. THE SPIRIT OF THE IDEALS Spirit of Internationalism is found in those who seek to discover and embrace the similarities and differences between nationalities and cultures and in ways that promote meaningful and lasting understanding, tolerance and respect. Spirit of Democracy encompasses a sense of equality, fairness, social justice, a sense of responsibility to actively participate, and a desire to do what is right (for the greater good). centres on the significance of understanding mankind’s place in the universe, the forces that shape our surroundings and the impact we have on those surroundings. Spirit of Adventure is characterised by those who push themselves beyond their perceived limits, cross boundaries and discover that they are capable of more than they thought. Spirit of Leadership recognises that successful leaders are driven by a desire to be of service to others and to nurture, guide, develop and help them to improve and succeed Spirit of Service celebrates personal development through practical experience that brings sustainable support and benefit to others. Spirit of Environmentalis m
- 30. Sense of Responsibility Courage Appreciation for Diversity TenacityInquisitiveness Communication Skills Self-Awareness Teamwork Skills Commitment to Sustainability Ability to Solve Problems Compassion Inventiveness Spirit of the Environment Spirit of Adventure Spirit of Leadership Spirit of Service Spirit of Internationalism Spirit of Democracy Explorers The Round Square Discovery Framework © 2015 Round Square
- 31. Pilot Phase 12-18 months Podio platform to share trailblazing Reporting to RS membership at International Conference 2016 Professional Development: Best Practice Re-Development of RS online resource library around Discovery Framework Further development of RS online collaboration platform
Editor's Notes
- Round Square is governed by a Board of Trustees Rod Fraser – Chairman of that Board. Formerly Principal of Ivanhoe Grammar School, a Round Square Member School in Melbourne, Australia Managed by an employed team headed up by Rachael Westgarth, Director of Strategy & Operations. The worldwide office is based in Windsor, where Rachael and five of her team are based. The remaining five members of the Worldwide Management Team are based in each of the five Round Square Regions. In this region, the staff representative is Duncan Hossack.
- Three main elements to share A brief outline and history of the organisation Our current strategic objectives and themes, developed collectively by our membership over a 12 month period starting in 2013 Finally some exciting current initiatives and future plans – the implementation of our strategy
- Round Square is first and foremost a network of schools This is its key strength – the most important feature Broad geographical spread covering 5 continents 2016 is Round Square’s 50th anniversary Grown to 160 like-minded schools through word-of-mouth and recommendation Looks set to grow significantly over coming years
- Round Square built on philosophies of Kurt Hahn, a German educator and a key figure in the development of experiential education. One fundamental underpinning principle that with the right environment, circumstances, challenge and support, students can discover an inner-capacity to exceed their own and others’ expectations. Created by schools as a network for schools, inspired and influenced by Hahn, whose modesty prevented the organisation being named after him. Instead it was named after the building at Gordonstoun in which the inaugural meeting took place. Belief that students could only really understand life by experiencing it in many exciting and challenging ways. Focus on learner-led personal stretch, growth and challenge Young people as the guardians and leaders of the future. Courageous and compassionate leadership Hahn’s philosophies also underpin Outward Bound, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and United World Colleges
- Also derived from Hahn’s philosophies are Round Square’s IDEALS, so named because the initials spell out the word IDEALS. These are our values, principles, pillars. Schools in the Round Square network share a commitment to these themes and students and educators in Round Square schools share a common language and understanding around the value and importance of these themes. The Round Square IDEALS are our touchstone around which we experiment and innovate
- And as the anchor the IDEALS are at the heart of a whole load of activity Round Square is first and foremost about its network – we are like-minded schools, built on quality education, keen to be connected and to learn with and from each other We do this through sharing best practice and resources. We recently made significant investment in building tools on a web site to facilitate this. Latest initiative is the Round Square Discovery Framework – hugely exciting development of an approach to teaching and learning that is uniquely Round Square. Launched at RSIC15. Active research throughout 2016 reporting back at RSIC16. Underpinning all of this is a core of traditional RS activities Service activity and Service Projects through which students work with, help and support communities in need Adventure programmes that stretch students and take them beyond comfort zone – traditionally physical outdoor adventure (backpacks and exploring) but also any activity that stretches and challenges Conference opportunities – International, Regional, Local (hosting!!) Exchange – students and teachers spending time working/ studying in another RS school
- Round Square is a registered charity – accountable to the UK Charities Commission and subject to English charity law Governance of the organisation is strictly overseen by the Charities Commission & RS adheres to a tested and endorsed framework via its Articles of Association and other Governance Documents The Board includes a combination of regional representation (elected by region), specialist roles (elected by constituent group e.g. reps’ representative or governors’ representative) and members at large (elected by the collective heads of all Global Member Schools. The Board employs a staff team – the Worldwide Management Team Based out of Round Square’s Worldwide office in Windsor, UK with six members of the team situated here and five Regional Support Managers each based in their own region. Completing the structure of the organisation, each RS Member School Head along with a representative from the faculty, appointed to the post of RS Rep plays an active and engaged role in the operations of the RS network. The structure is designed to be collaborative, consultative and democratic through representation.
- Round Square Strategic Plan consists of: A Global Framework developed collectively by the RS membership via a series of workshops held at the RSIC 2013 Regional Objectives developed collectively by each region via workshops held at the 2014 Regional Meetings Operational Objectives developed by the Worldwide Management Team in response to (and in support of) the Regional Objectives as identified by each region At the top of the pile – the Regional and Worldwide Team Implementation Plans – the “how we are going to do it” response to the objectives developed by each These Implementation Plans are shared within each region and across the worldwide team as the route-map to achieving our shared objectives
- And those objectives break down under three key strategic themes
- Which combined give rise to a whole lot of great initiatives, collaboration, experimentation, sharing, expansion, resource development and discovery.
- Exciting plans ahead Three key areas of focus in the next 12 to 18 months
- Three areas have a themes in common Focus on expanding to include students of all ages (from 4 to 19) Also expanding to incorporate in-curriculum and extra curricular – holistic education, combining every aspect of school life and learning in a complementary package These two areas of expansion are all about reaching more students in a deeper way RS is also focusing on becoming a resource centre for the schools in our network – facilitating sharing of ideas, inspiration, good practice and resources – saving time, money, angst, and hopefully making the whole greater than the sum of the parts Research will be a key feature in the coming year(s) – partnering with Cambridge University to deliver an evaluative study into the value/ benefits/ impacts of the RS approach Continuing to professionalise without losing the personal interactions and relationships on which RS was founded and thrives – still all about the people – still the same personality and ethos – just with a bit more efficiency/ value for money/ gloss to our processes
- Collectively the RS regions have identified three areas of focus – individual plans but with the same three themes
- Behind the password the Round Square web site hosts several platforms and tools to help our network to interact and find opportunities to work together
- This map and school list is available on the public web site. You can look up who our members are, find out about their approach to Round Square and link through to their web site. Schools that are members can also log in to the web site and access, via this map, contact details for heads and reps at each school, and other information internal to the RS network
- The resource library is available through our logged-in site. This is a space where RS schools are encouraged to share their ideas, successes, lesson plans, resources they have developed in connection with the IDEALS, publish articles and papers. Round Square also uses this space to share templates, handbooks, presentations, online training and compilations of good practice around Round Square activities. It has a multi-level filter that includes age range, any curriculum links and mapping to the IDEALS
- This is the Exchange Matchmaker. Member Schools use this to advertise and search for exchange opportunities for students and teachers. Each listing includes a full description, and terms of the exchange as well as contact details for the person that is searching or offering so that 1:1 telephone and email contact can be established quickly. This tool also covers GAP placements
- This is the events and opportunities calendar. All RS schools are encouraged to post their conference, service project, and any other opportunities where fellow RS schools are able to participate in an event at their school. Each listing includes details of who can take part, how to register etc. There is also a filter on this section including theme, dates, age range etc.
- The employment section enables schools to post vacancies which are then shared on the public home page of Round Square’s web site
- The Collaboration platform is perhaps the most exciting of the tools behind-the-scenes on our site. Through this area, any teacher in any RS school can post an opportunity/ invitation for other schools to collaborate in a learning initiative or activity. Instant access to an engaged and enthusiastic network of 160 schools. These cooperative projects can be bi-lateral or multi-lateral with a number of schools engaging in a single project Current live examples include a film festival, a programme of french language skype conversations, an art competition, a rainwater science experiment and a cricket tournament.
- Our brief – to: Capture the Round Square approach to teaching and learning Identify & describe what is unique/ unusual & binds our schools together outline an approach that infuses RS values throughout extra-curricular/ in-curriculum ensure that our framework Describes rather than Prescribes
- Started with 40 attributes under 4 headings Wrote a description for each and explained how we would recognise each. One person wrote primary content for each of the 40 (c. 4 each) We then swapped and two other members of the writing team commented on/ edited the original description and recognition So each element written through collaboration of 3 people We then mapped each of the 40 to the IDEALS We then gathered examples of these attributes in action – case studies, anecdotes, explanations of activities or scenarios in which they were developed (in a Round Square context) We mapped these examples to student age-groups, to context (in curriculum/ extra curricular etc) and to specific subjects (maths, geography, history etc) We then linked them to all of the attributes that were relevant Finally we deleted any attribute that hadn’t been referenced from any of the examples
- Starting to develop a Round Square language around this We want to differentiate from other learner profiles or philosophies This is practical and student-led so the language that is evolving as the project progresses is starting to reflect that. We’re talking about students as ”explorers” and the skills and values and attributes are their ”discoveries” We have also rearticulated our six IDEALS in terms of spirits rather than activities – a set of beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours. Its all about BEING Round Square, not DOING Round Square.
- Or re-imagined explanation of the IDEALS Already this has made Round Square and our IDEALS more accessible to faculty and students alike across a whole-school. The principles of the IDEALS are more readily understood, the route-map for embedding them throughout the school is clearer, and the broader definitions enable a broader spectrum of students to engage.
- This is the framework in full The students, our Explorers, are at the centre Around the outer edge are the IDEALS spirits The layer between the two is the distillation of our original 40 attributes values, skills and literacies into 12 Discoveries that have real resonance and relevance to all Round Square schools. The interaction between the discoveries and the IDEALS is constantly moving and developing. The Discoveries are fully transferrable and so in the illustration the arrows indicate the outer circle revolving so that any discovery can contribute towards the development of any of the Spirits
- The Discovery Framework is now in a pilot phase Between 25 and 30 of our member schools have taken it away to test, play and experiment with it over a 12 to 18 month period. In particular we are wanting to test that it is flexible and adaptable to any curriculum, any country/ culture and all ages. Every test school is doing something different and collectively they are reporting back on an online platform ahead of sharing their early experiences at the RS International Conference in October 2016 Ultimately the Discovery Framework will provide the structure for a lot of the Round Square Network’s collaborative work, though it will continue to be entirely optional. We hope that there will be something in it for everyone and the feedback so far has been extremely positive.