Study Of Creative Partnerships Local Sharing Of Practice And Learning

Creative Partnerships (CP) commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to research the sharing of practice generated through CP within and between schools locally. Based on 93 interviews with teachers and CP staff, the research explored the relationship between the dissemination of the work of CP and the more informal means by which teachers learn directly from each other, including how teachers share their learning and practice from creative experiences with colleagues in their own schools and between schools; factors that enable, hinder and sustain such sharing; and how teachers plan for and carry out effective sharing. Reported findings include: (1) Teachers learn from attending conferences and events about creativity, but they also engage very directly with each other (e.g. in the classroom and in staff meetings), sharing their enthusiasm and their techniques; (2) Informal approaches are a fundamental stepping stone for teachers' initial engagement with creative practice, as well as for their continued reflection and learning. The study formulates a four-step plan for appropriate sharing, and sets out a model to help ascertain when sharing is successful. This report is directed toward those involved in building capacity for creative teaching and learning within schools, as well as in widening the reach of creative teaching and learning between schools. (Contains 3 figures and 5 tables.) [This research was conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (Northern Office) for Creative Partnerships.].