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The Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpur
BACKGROUND PAGE CREDIT
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• As you are aware, the JAWS bids that we received for the next academic year have been incredible! The interest to host JAWs has been overwhelming and the topics and areas proposed have been very interesting.
• We are currently working on the JAWS bids to prepare the CPD Calendar for next year. Make sure your school allocates a good budget for staff to attend in-person events.
• We have the FOBISIA Board Meeting & Heads meeting scheduled in March, subsequent to which we will announce the hosts for the CPD Leaders Conference 2023-24, Safeguarding Conference 2023-24 and Teaching Community Conference 2023-24. Keep a lookout on this page for more details.
Last November, we tested a model for ‘Speaker Visits & Tours’ wherein we invited Diana Osagie and several schools from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Dubai (a school in our ‘Friend of FOBISIA’ category) hosted/commissioned Diana to run workshops and training at their school. The cost of the logistics (flights, accommodation and airport transfer) was shared among them all. Our findings were that the model worked incredibly well and was highly cost-effective.
As many of you invite speakers to conduct workshops and training throughout the year, we would recommend that you post the information (Speaker name, month, feasible region etc) on FOBISIA CONNECT for the other CPD Leaders to see. In case they are interested they can also commission that particular speaker and share the logistics cost with you. In case you receive interest, please let us know and we can promote it further, however, the trip planning, itinerary, coordination with school etc will be handled by the Speaker themselves.
Diana Osagie | 23rd Oct - 10th Nov (TBC)
Regions: Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Brunei
Dylan Wiliam | Early February (TBC)
Regions: Taipei
21 Mar 2023 3pm ICT
28 Mar 2023 3pm ICT
DK Learning: Filling the gaps in phonics skills to help students catch up Register here
Real Group: Supporting learners with literacy difficulties and dyslexia in international schools Register here
25 Apr 2023 3pm ICT
Panyathip International Secondary School: Improving Student Outcomes through Effective Marking and Feedback Register here
9 May 2023 3pm ICT
International School @Park City, Kuala Lumpur: Cancer isn’t a scary word: There is a place for Cancer Education in International Schools Register here
16 May 2023 3pm ICT
The EduTec Alliance: Edtech 2023: Best Practice and Myth Busting Register here
23 May 2023 3pm ICT
6 June 2023 3pm ICT
Xcursion Risk Services: International Tour Risk Management Register here
Firefly: Using Technology to Engage the Whole School Community Online Register here
22 November 2022 3pm ICT
GRJ Education: Increasing Leadership Effectiveness: embracing a Leadership Mindset Watch here
29 November 2022 3pm ICT
Kellett School: Integrating Asian and world histories into a coherent historical narrative in an International school setting Watch here
6 December 2022 3pm ICT
10 Jan 2023 3pm ICT
10 Jan 2023 3pm ICT
7 Feb 2023 3pm ICT
Online Safety 4 Schools: Online Safety 4 Schools 2022 & Beyond Watch here
Inspirational Development Group: Giving Effective Feedback to Teachers Watch here
Finalsite: The Not-so-Great Resignation: How to Strengthen Your Teacher Recruitment Strategy Watch here
Educator Impact: Promoting Intercultural Inclusivity for Whole School Wellbeing
Watch here
14 Feb 2023
3pm ICT
Tes Institute (Tes Global): Building self-regulation in our pupils: behavioural and metacognitive approaches Watch here
28 Feb 2023 3pm ICT
Century: ‘Using AI powered technology to deliver ongoing professional development - a case study with Dulwich College Beijing’ Watch here
7 Mar 2023 3pm ICT
Garden International School: Being a Warm Demander Watch here
This was an invaluable opportunity for geographers to meet, discuss and share ideas across Asia. The idea was to share expertise about blended learning.
Case studies were primarily led by teachers in SCIE, Shenzhen and also Tim Spear at Regents Pattaya. Topics covered included “Flipped learning”, Virtual fieldwork where land use data could be collected, “PairDeck” software and an interesting session on stretching the more able through use of the Financial Times online.
Participants shared resources and there was time given for discussing Blended Learning techniques that teachers found effective.
By Ian Davies Head of Faculty for Humanities and Social Sciences
Shenzhen College of International Education
In January, keynote speakers Elizabeth Allen and Beth Puma were welcomed to Taipei European School (TES), Taiwan, to present on a wide range of hot topics concerning English language learners and current models of best practice. With over 35 delegates from across the network in attendance for a two-day conference, there were ample opportunities for discussion and sharing of best practice. Everyone was delighted to engage face-to-face once again and build connections with fellow educators.
Head of the International Foundation Programme at the University of Bristol, Elizabeth Allen, presented on the first day of the conference with a key message of Building on What Students Already Know, including principles of language acquisition, the role and place of translation and how we can develop students’ academic writing
skills across both the primary and secondary age groups. A particular highlight for attendees was the workshop on the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) on academic writing, examining not only the shockwaves this is having on primary, secondary and tertiary education, but also ways we as teachers can leverage its potential to aid students and our own practice. Delegates enjoyed practical demonstrations of its potential and had the opportunity to explore and discuss further in their own school context.
Our second day, we welcomed Beth Puma, EAL specialist, coach and consultant. She invited delegates to reflect on their own practice and consider how Additive Bilingualism and Learner Agency are viewed in our schools and ways in which we can strengthen our own pedagogical approach. It was fascinating to delve more deeply into students’ asset maps and explore how those strengths can be leveraged in the classroom. Through group activities and discussion, delegates considered ways many of the great resources shared by Beth will have both immediate and longer-term impact on language learners of all ages.
A strength of FOBISIA Jaws events is the opportunity for attendees to share their own best practice at the delegate workshops. Special thanks to the team from British International School, HCMC, and the EAL team from TES for preparing such engaging content – there truly was something for everyone.
It was a pleasure to welcome our keynote speakers and such a diverse, enthusiastic cohort of educators to TES and we keenly look forward to cementing the connections made across FOBISIA in the coming weeks and months.
By Peter Collier EAL Coordinator, Taipei European School
It was a KLASS few days in Kuala Lumpur as over 150 PE and sport delegates came together from across the region for the AGM and conference. With the previous two conferences held online members of the PE community were long overdue a face to face opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and network across the region.
During the three days there were over 50 sessions on offer. These were hosted an organised by the PE and sport team at the Alice Smith School with support from the FOBISIA PE and Sport Executive Committee. Delegates were treated to keynote addressed from Manisha Tailor MBE, Neil Rollings and James Simms. Each speaker, an expert in their field, setting the scene for the day ahead and providing members with expertise across professional sport, diversity, high performance and academic PE. These key notes were complemented with a huge range of workshops to suit each delegate. There were workshops tailored towards academic PE, core PE, school sport development as well a number of sports specific sessions. One of the highlights had to be the workshop sessions hosted by netball superstar Tracey Neville MBE.
A huge thank you to all the delegates who travelled, the speakers who made the event so fantastic and the team at FOBISIA for all the support given in putting together such a fantastic event.
By Anna Sheppard Head of Secondary PE
The Alice Smith School
Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the enthusiasm within the room. I’m new to FOBISA but I felt welcomed and supported by others.
The PE sports conference was very informative and well-organized. The speakers were knowledgeable and provided valuable insights on current trends and best practices in the field. The sessions were interactive and engaging, allowing for active participation and discussion among attendees. The venue was also convenient and comfortable. Overall, the conference was a great opportunity to network and learn from other teachers and schools, as well as industry experts.
16th January 2023
Nexus International School Malaysia
At Nexus our collaborative communities are fundamental structures for our continued positive impact on student learning and our efforts to continually improve outcomes. This was our motivation to organise a JAWS focused around the topic of collaboration; to share, to learn and collaborate with our colleagues from FOBISIA. It was our second hybrid JAWS, and as such, we felt slightly more confident in our tech know-how and ability to engage those online and in the room, which allowed us to really focus on meaningful discussions.
The workshops that followed presented a range of practical ideas and strategies around collaboration. The first of these was a double session over the morning and afternoon, exploring successful ways to develop supportive and collaborative teams. Ideas put forward included the importance of norms, considering your own personality type, behaviours and actions within a team, as well as those of your colleagues. We posed questions and gave examples to investigate what successful meetings look like and how to get everyone involved and participating through the use of well planned agendas. Participants considered the teams that they were part of and the success of these to date. The afternoon session focused on the structures needed for successful collaborative teams, including protocols and routines.
The next sessions focused on how to harness the latest technology to support collaboration, giving an insight into the latest Google tools to help save time and maximise organisation, as well as exploration of Canva and how this can be used collaboratively.
SEN specialist, Maddy Proud, and English specialist, Gareth Gorst, gave a quick
reminder of these 6 collaborative teaching strategies, illustrating how they were putting them into use through their partnership in a Year 8 class, before asking participants to choose a scenario relating to one style and its use in attendees’ own classrooms.
Participants were then invited to complete their own personality test and consider how their personality impacts on others whilst collaborating. Then on the flip side, how can we support the personalities of others, considering their needs, challenges and objectives?
Our resident expert boarding parent and Maths teacher, Siti Zaleha, presented us with some thought-provoking questions and information to get participants thinking about the collaborative efforts between boarding parents and school teachers, unveiling perspectives on pastoral care.
It was wonderful to collaborate virtually and in-person with so many colleagues and engage in such meaningful conversations, a massive thank you to all that attended.
By Kay McCabe Director of Learning and Innovation Nexus International
School Malaysia
You can now subscribe to FOBISIA CPD event reminders
• Go to www.fobisia.org and visit Member Support.
• Login using your school email address and visit Calendars.
• Scroll down and click on the orange bell button on the top right corner of the calendar.
• Select the calendars you would like to subscribe to and reminder alerts will be sent to you email.
On Friday 10th February we were delighted to be joined by over 50 colleagues from across the FOBISIA network for the DBIS hosted Early Years and Key Stage 1 e-JAWS. This was an exciting opportunity to share best practice and delve deeper into the possibilities and potential for play based approaches in Key Stage 1. Colleagues enjoyed 7 presentations which focused on a range of topics: introducing a play based approach in Key Stage 1, documentation of learning stories, enabling environments, learning through play in a bi-lingual learning environment, introducing continuous provision into Key Stage 1, essential number sense and phonics.
It was fantastic to connect with colleagues and develop a deeper understanding of how different schools are focusing on developing a holistic approach to learning which considers not only what but also how children learn in order to support them to achieve their potential. Despite the online nature of the JAWs, there was plenty of opportunity for discussion ensuring a fruitful day of learning for all who took part.
By Hannah Tait Head of Early Years (Nursery - Year 2)
Designated Safeguarding Lead (Whole School) Discovery Bay International School
I have attended several webinars and read many articles on how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated change in terms of both teaching and learning and new approaches for student wellbeing, the FOBISIA webinar by Mark Steed in October 2020, for example. The pandemic has also opened a new approach to both the provision and evaluation of continual professional development. In this article I am sharing the experience of piloting an online evidence-based module which can evolve as CPD needs change at the school. It is useful tool which can be adapted to the strategic goals of your school and has many added benefits which traditional models of CPD may lack. I also want to highlight the influence FOBISIA has had on the development of the module.
This year’s strategic plan for Shenzhen College of International Education included an evaluation of our definition of ‘High Quality of Learning’. In the initial planning stages with Jayne Bennion, a director at Karen Ardley Associates, we decided rather than deliver a conventional keynote online we would create a module which would be multi-functional and could support professional development with ideas to be used in the classroom. Jayne has written a blog piece on the module which can be viewed at https://karenardley.com/great-teaching-at-scie/. I was introduced to Karen Ardley Associates (affiliate member of FOBISIA) through a session at the CPD Leaders Conference of 2021.
One of the benefits of creating an online CPD module is that it can play a pivotal role in the induction of new staff. The module we created had a forum where new staff introduced themselves to the school body. We asked new staff to answer from a range of questions such as who was your favourite teacher and why or what was the best professional learning you ever did? Tell us why! Existing staff could then respond to new staff. The module also gave new staff an opportunity to be introduced to students at the school. The content of the module included both students and staff discussing what their ideas were on great teaching.
The module itself supports the framework of CPD which is outlined in Teaching Walkthrus 3 by Tom Sherrington and OIiver Caviglioli. Their Professional Develop-
ment Mechanisms is set in five stages: 1) Building Knowledge, 2) Motivate Staff, 3) Develop Teaching Techniques, 4) Embed Practice, and 5) Take account of Context, Needs & Time Constraints. Again FOBISIA had a big impact as I was introduced to Tom Sherrington and his vision for improving Teaching and learning at the keynote session for the CPD leaders conference.
This was evidence based and referenced back to what had been the focus of previous CPD including Dylan William’s five formative assessment strategies. Ideas had been embedded in the classroom and discussed further at FOBISIA’s love of learning online conference with over 100 staff from SCIE taking part. In particular the key notes of Kate Jones, who now works for evidence-based education, were discussed in small groups.
The online module is a useful way you can reinforce with new staff what your school has been focusing on before they arrive. This can be really positive on the culture so that all staff know the CPD goals. This was shown in a quote from one of the new staff on the reflection forum on the module ‘I’m already feeling like I’m part of a massive family.’ Similarly, an early career teacher remarked ‘there is a lot for me to learn, but luckily, I have great teachers all around me here in SCIE and I am looking forward to working with you all’. Existing staff completed the module during the student induction week. One of the outcomes of completing the module was that staff would choose an aspect of great teaching to focus on for the year for their staff appraisal. They also choose one of the school’s subscribed platforms to support them meeting their target. This could be Evidence Based Education, Teaching Walkthrus, or Karen Ardley Online. Staff were then able to discuss their reflectons at a Q and A led by module creator Jayne Bennion. I was also able to outline the vision for CPD for the year. The message of Dylan Wiliam rings true. “Every teacher needs to improve, not because they are not good
enough, but because they can be even better.”
The module, which was launched in August this year, is flexible and is currently being updated to include faculty uploading examples from lessons and students discussing specific examples of high quality learning which could be used both to support departmental or whole school CPD.
I am in the process of evaluating the module in terms of its impact on great teaching. For this the Guskey 5 stages plan is being used (https://learningforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/guskey-5-levels.pdf ). What is useful as CPD leaders is to collaborate with other CPD leaders. At a recent professional learning network meeting for ACAMIS I was able to gain input and suggestions of how data can be collected to evaluate the success of the module (https://www. acamis.org/professional-development/acamis-peer-learning-network/planning-evaluating-professional-development).
I believe that the module used, alongside an evidence-based approach to CPD, fits in with Dylan Wiliam’s closing remarks in ‘Leadership for Teacher Learning’, “the vast majority of teachers could be as good as the very best if their leaders provide the right learning environment for those they leadcreating a culture in which all teachers improve so that all students succeed” (page 244)
I would be happy to discuss further on the FOBISIA Connect platform.
Sustainability is more than just the latest trend. Embedding environmental, social and governance considerations into a school’s admissions and marketing strategies allows them to stay relevant and impactful for the future
Businesses globally are becoming accountable for their environmental footprint and are incorporating sustainable business practices within their core business practices.
Jerudong International School, Brunei warmly welcomes colleagues and specialists across the FOBISIA network from Admissions and Marketing Teams
Hosted by:
Anne Dickinson
Head of Admissions & Marketing
Jerudong International School, Brunei
Friday 28 April Friday 28 April
9am - 4pm @ at JIS 9am - 4pm @ at JIS ((Hybrid) Hybrid)
Saturday 29 April Saturday 29 April
9am - 1pm @ at The Abode Resort & Spa 9am - 1pm @ at The Abode Resort & Spa (in person) - (in person) - wwww.abodebrunei.com ww.abodebrunei.com
Cost (In-person): Cost (In-person): USD $ USD $ 80 - USD $100 per delegate 80 - USD $100 per delegate (TBC based on the number of registrations) (TBC based on the number of registrations)
Cost (Online): Cost (Online): FF.O.C. .O.C.
Registration Form: Registration Form: hhttps://forms.gle/jQ255aivdsy8hqRY8 ttps://forms.gle/jQ255aivdsy8hqRY8
Registration Deadline: Registration Deadline: Friday, 14 April 2023 Friday, 14 April 2023
Please scan the QR code for more information
Please scan the QR code for more information
Presenting
Further Mechanics
-Beyond the boundary
Further Pure Mathematics
-Thinking deep
11th May, 2023
From 09:30 am to 15:00 pm (Beijing, UTC+8)
To sign up scan the QR code or visit:
Assessments
- Inspiration & diversity
Hosted by The British International School of Kuala Lumpur and Sri KDU International School
12th May to 13th May 2023
This JAWs event will be held at The British International School of Kuala Lumpur, and will be conducted in-person or virtually, depending on the responses of participants Aimed at aspiring and existing senior leaders, the JAWs will focus on the challenges facing leaders in schools and provide us with opportunities to discuss, collaborate and share best practice.
Cost: TBC (approx. 40 USD)
Register here by: 17th March
Hosted by British School Jakarta
Led by Haileybury Almaty
DETAILS:
Safeguarding Leads Meet: 18th May
Conference Dates: 19th-20th May
Fee: In-person: SGD 350 / Online Fee: SGD 50
Recommended: Heads, DSLs, Pastoral Teams
MAIN THEMES :
affluent neglect
gender indecision
online safety
proactive safeguarding
safeguarding in
conservative cultures
MORE CONTACT INFO:
Iain Hope (British School Jakarta)
Please do resign up if you have signed up prior to the change in venue
iain_hope@bsj.sch.id
Darshak Pandya (Haileybury Almaty)
dpandya@haileyburyalmaty.kz
Friday 26th May 2023
For in-person participants, there will be an opportunity to see our learners in action addressing the global goals, as well as meeting our community partners.
For more information and sign up, click here or scan the QR code.
