AL Labs of Learning are truly collaborative. Teachers and others in education work with experienced practitioners from the arts, sciences and new technologies to explore new and imaginative approaches to teaching and learning.
Labs provide dedicated time and space for unbounded cross-curricular thinking. Compartmentalised learning and a test-driven curriculum are challenged through experimentation with colleagues from different disciplines with the freedom to take risks and to discover new ways of thinking. Lab participants have the chance to review their practice, their attitudes to their own and others’ learning, find new and creative potential within themselves, develop more effective dialogues and meet a challenging new network of professionals.
A PAL Lab of Learning Pilot in 2001 identified the value for teachers of PAL's immersive, interdisciplinary approach and a four-year Lab programme was designed, which addresses current educational imperatives for teachers at different stages in their careers.
In Feb 2003, the Creative Science Teaching Lab was piloted as a national initiative for Creative Partnerships. The Lab involved teachers, artists and scientists from across the UK, with teachers and artists attending from nine of the Creative Partnership regions. The Lab was extremely successful and was followed by two more CST Labs in 2004 and 2005.
A book documenting the outcomes of PAL’s three-year Creative Science Teaching Lab programme is available. For copies please email Cathy Bereznicki or click here to download a pdf version.
In 2005 a Lab for Teachers and Artists who Work with Volatile and Challenging Young People was piloted; in March a Lab with Brazilian clown, Angela de Castro, explored failure and risk with senior teachers; and the third Creative Science Teaching Labs were in April and November. Lab participants have been supported by mentors and continue to share ideas through a web-based group.
In 2006 the work on failure nd risk was extended to a Lab working with all the staff in one primary school. A colloquium addressing the continuous professional development and training needs of teachers and artists working with Volatile and Challenging Young People was particulalry productive. It led to further succesful fundraising for the establishment of a specific CPD and Training Consortium to develop standards and core competencies for professionals working in the arts across key social inclusion sectors. The first meetings of the consortium were held in 2007.
The long-term aim of the Labs of Learning programme is to create replicable models of professional development which nurture the imaginative powers of teachers and others from all learning environments.
The Labs of Learning programme has been supported by a range of funders including Creative Partnerships, NESTA and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Lab Director
See PAL News for details of recent and forthcoming Labs of Learning.
Click here for a list of Participants
