We totally respect the aims of the government of Brazil. Having only been a democracy for just over 30 years, they have achieved an immense result. They face huge difficulties. They are aware of the need to improve and are trying various initiatives in education to help the nation’s children and we place ourselves with them, as partners. We believe we are all working towards the same aims.
Our vision is to be a catalyst to help the systemic, sustainable improvement in education across Brazil. We do that through consultancy, advising school leaders and through mentoring and coaching. We bring our expertise and experience in school improvement and strategy that helps bring new perspective and possible solutions. We also run projects, demonstrating best practice, training staff in schools to continue the transformation.
We believe in the empowering effect of education in it’s fullest meaning. We understand and support the need to raise basic standards, for students to be successful learners, but we also recognise that creativity and the development of interpersonal skills must be at the heart of the learning process. It is knowledge with creativity, transmitted through effective interpersonal skills that will equip students with a life-long love of learning. It is these competencies that will provide a strong foundation for every child to realise his or her potential, to become a fully formed citizen with the imagination and skills to solve problems that will exist in the future, using those same skills to navigate their own path through their chosen development. This project involves coaching educators to build the foundation on which these dreams will be built. It is not about assuming responsibility for the delivery of education for this stays with the educators, but helping the development of skills, attitudes and culture to empower these wonderful young people to take responsibility for their own learning and futures. We recognise that we, as professionals, do not have all the answers and that we need to listen, observe and act, to take risks and to allow failure for it is on these values, these essential seeds, that confidence and creativity will blossom.
Our projects are various, but here are examples.
Project ‘School-in-a-box’
Aprender and ‘Total’, our wonderful partners in Brazil, are developing a model for a support school to augment learning for children who attend government schools. This is funded by private consortiums to build a new type of school – from scratch. The support school does not replace their mainstream schooling but offers free booster classes in the foundations of:
- Portuguese
- Maths
- Science and Technology
- Arts, Dance and Drama
Aprender have trained the Head Teacher, Josebene, and staff in the latest teaching and learning methodologies. Students experience education like never before – active, interesting, rooted in their realities and fun! There are different contracts for the staff, better conditions, amazing professional development and a curriculum based on empowering young lives to transform their families and communities. We have been able to track how our students are doing compared to their peers and build good partnerships with their parents. We will be developing this model into what we are calling ‘School-in-a-box’ with two aims:
1. By demonstrating impact in educational outcomes and by having these externally validated, we aim to showcase these to government. They will see a native Headteacher leading and organising a school very differently. They will see Brazilian teachers teaching differently, actively involving the students in their learning. Our support school targets families referred through social services and those that their mainstream school feels would benefit. It’s free for the students. Our hope is that when the government see this, up close and personal, they will enlist us as consultants to drive through similar change in their schools. When this has been achieved locally, we can target bigger geographical areas, and eventually, the nation.
2. By franchising it to other NGO’s, churches and businesses throughout Brazil. We have everything ready – contracts, curriculum, timetables, costs. We will train their Headteacher who, in turn, will train their new staff. We observe, mentor and coach through this process. We develop Brazilians in this methodology who can then become champions themselves. It means that those organisations using the franchise can get on with helping young people in their communities and not wait for national change.
We seek to demonstrate what can be achieved when people start believing in themselves, becoming motivated and able to train others.
Activate
Learning needs to be active to change thinking and behaviour. Aprender offers courses that promote lesson planning, classroom management and evaluating lessons that involve students being active, involved and fun! This brings greater satisfaction to the teacher and students too.
Example: Aprender are already running workshops based on active learning in High Schools in Uberlândia. Using technology based on simple materials but using ICT, design, group work and presentation skills, the day is a huge success with both students and teachers. We are also helping teachers to develop their own skills so that they can run their own workshops.
Headteacher Academy
Using material from the UK National College for School Leaders, we run courses and conferences in school leadership, including action research and evaluation.
We mainly work in the following areas:
> Growing vision and strategic direction
> Optimizing results
> Improving quality of teaching and learning
> Growing leadership
> Whole school evaluation
> Curriculum enrichment
> Building a team that delivers
Example: In February 2012, we ran a conference about active learning for 150 Head Teachers of High Schools in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, followed by another day conference for all the cities Directors of crèches. Subjects include:
- Raising motivation
- Teamwork
- Monitoring
- Planning
We will then follow up by working more intensely with a small number, building relationship, spreading best practice and demonstrating confidence
Training2Train
Research shows that peer observation in a structured framework of quality management improves school results. Aprender uses tried and tested criteria to help teachers to help themselves. This builds confidence and the confidence to take risks.
Example: Aprender is currently working with a university in Goiânia with approximately 8,000 students. We are helping the senior team develop a comprehensive professional development programme based on peer observation.
