5 minute read
Meet our new ACT Curriculum Team
from Insight - Issue 17
by ACT
As we enter an increased need for a blended learning approach in supporting our learners, we are delighted to introduce you to our newly formed... curriculum team
Vicky Galloni
Vicky has worked for ACT for the past 4 years and has recently returned from Maternity into the Curriculum Lead Role. Vicky has over 15 years' experience in Work-Based Learning and Further Education developing learning programmes. She has a passion for curriculum design - particularly where innovation and technology meet - to provide learners with the knowledge and skills, they require to succeed.
Kameron Harrhy
With a first-class degree and a PGCE in Welsh, Kameron has 4 years' experience working as a Welsh Teacher and enjoys being involved in Welsh arts, music and culture. Kameron strives to provide support to learners and practitioners in fulfilling their potential as confident communicators, as well as supporting them on their journey.
Sam Holland
Sam has been working with ACT for the last four years in the IT/Media team as an assessor and curriculum developer. Prior to that, Sam has a history in digital marketing in the live music sector. He is a skilled content creator with a passion for digital learning and a focus on innovation. As one of ACT’s Digital Champions, Sam enjoys finding and utilising digital tools to add value to the learners’ experience.
About the Team
The Curriculum Development Team is aligned with our ACT Plan and sits under the Quality Strategic Aim to ensure that we can meet the demands of varied curriculums - especially as we move into an increasingly digitally led world. The team will support and bring to life content from our delivery experts across ACT, to collaborate in producing engaging resources which inspire our learners to succeed.
ACT recognises that it is currently a challenge for Assessors, Tutors and Teachers to find the much-needed creative time to develop new resources for their curriculums. By forming our very own specialist Curriculum Team, they will be able to support and bring to life content from the delivery experts across all ACT Provisions, to provide engaging resources that promote wellbeing and continued learning. The central Curriculum Team will provide curriculum development support across 5 key strands:
Care, Support and Guidance
Welsh Dimension
Digital Technology
Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Skills
Additional Learning Needs The team will achieve this by providing advice and support to practitioners when developing new resources, to ensure all teaching and learning materials consider the health and wellbeing of learners. In addition, they will also promote knowledge in this area by identifying and maximising opportunities to embed sector specific support. The team will also support practitioners to ensure opportunities to embed Prevent and British Values, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are embedded within all teaching and learning materials too.
Welsh Dimension
ACT is proud of its history and the leading role it has played in developing and promoting the Welsh language in Wales. The Curriculum Specialist will enable and support delivery to develop bi-lingual and Welsh resources, ensuring the Welsh Dimension is fully embedded. This will enable learners to express their views and needs in the language of their choice; enabling the use of Welsh as a preferred language throughout all of our programmes.
Digital Technology
The team will work with practitioners to help develop digitally inclusive resources, which are engaging, accessible and interactive. The aim is to ensure that the learner journey within ACT considers digital wellbeing and supports learners in developing their digital capabilities so they can thrive in the working environment.
Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skills
Working with all practitioners, the team will ensure all teaching and learning materials maximise opportunities to develop skills, and that resources are developed at the appropriate levels to meet the varied needs of learners across the ACT provision. The team will also quality check teaching and learning material to establish a high literacy standard throughout.
Additional Learning Support
Advice and support will also be provided to practitioners when developing new resources and materials. The resources will be flexible and adaptable to support the varied needs of our learners across all of ACT provision, with a focus on the 4 broad categories of learning needs:
Communication and Interaction
Cognition and Learning Social, emotional and mental health
Sensory and/or physical needs The Curriculum Strategy will underpin the aims of ACT delivery provision across Schools, MTS, Traineeships and Apprenticeships, and support the wider ACT strategic plan. ACT recognises the need for delivery content to be brought together across all areas, with a strong focus on the health and wellbeing of our learners, which will be the foundation of all delivery content. The Curriculum Strategy will be released in the forthcoming weeks.
The team have already been working hard to create an interactive resource which showcases a range of digital tools, demonstrating how they can be used to support curriculum delivery. This interactive digital experience illustrates and explores how we can work in partnership and collaboration across the ACT provision, to create engaging and innovative teaching and learning resources.
Explore the interactive resource here.
Tip: Ensure your speakers are turned on and click the full screen icon.
Next Steps...
Over the next 6 months the team plan to carry out a robust Curriculum Review across all ACT Provisions. The team will assess the current delivery against the 5 curriculum strands, and plan to work effectively and collaboratively to review all current teaching and learning resources. The review will be conducted by vocational area to ensure we are working towards an aligned progression pathway.
Tracey and I are delighted to have recruited a team of specialists that we are sure will be both innovative and creative in supporting our fantastic delivery teams to further develop and improve our curriculum! We are excited to be making our content even more engaging, inclusive and standardised right across all our learning programmes! I’m sure you will all join me congratulating Vicky, Sam and Kameron on their new roles and wish them the very best of luck!
