November 2007 | Design Fluency Lab
for the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority & Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
The key concern for this Lab was how to inspire teachers to understand that designing the future of learning is about more than new buildings. Our priority was to develop new ways of teaching and learning. What could teachers – and policymakers – learn from the different ways in which artists and designers see and create solutions?
The specific context for this Lab was the closure of all ten of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s secondary schools to be replaced by seven brand new learning centres, each with an extremely high technical specification. The Lab was commissioned by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in partnership with KMBC. Its aim was to enable teachers to envision and re-inspire their creative learning design practice, with others from government, the arts, design and science. In essence all participants were to experience new approaches to learning design and to reflect on their own professional lives. The commission came from Mick Waters, Director of Curriculum at the QCA, in response to a need identified by KMBC (and others in the Building Schools for the Future programme). The 4-day residential Lab brought together Knowlsey teachers, QCA curriculum developers, policymakers, artists and scientists.
“This was the most significant professional experience of my life. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with such inspirational people in such a stimulating place. I want to do it again”. Teacher participant
Lab Director
Caroline Nevejan
Participants
Daniel Allen – film crew, camera assistant
Cathy Bereznicki - Director, PAL Labs in Learning
Marc Buckley - teacher
Mark Chater - Programme Adviser, QCA
Gill Clarke - choreographer
Catherine Crilly - teacher
Joanne Gallagher - Learning & Teaching Consultant (Science), Knowlsey MBC
Peter Gilpin - Lab Chef
Victoria Gowan - teacher
Vicky Hughes - teacher
Bryony Lavery - playwright/director
Paul Leonard - environmental scientist, Honorary Professor, Plymouth & Brunel Universities
Alison Livesey - Head of Policy Support, Curriculum Division, QCA
Sirishkumar Manji - musician/composer
William McLean - architectural designer
Dave McVey - teacher
Sugata Mitra - Professor of Educational Technology, Newcastle University
Kathy Pimlott - PAL General Manager
Helen Pinnington - Learning & Teaching Consultant (AfL), Knowlsey MBC
Kathryn Weeks - teacher
Konrad Welz – film crew, director/cameraman
Visitors
Susan Benn - PAL Director
Helen Bishop-Stephens - Senior Officer, Combined Arts, ACE London
John Crookes - Head of Curriculum Partnerships & Evidence, QCA
Annette M. Dietze - Head of Strategy & Development, Amsterdam Institute of Education
Marjan Freriks - Dean, Amsterdam Institute of Education
Angela Hall - Director, Nuffield Curriculum Centre
Stuart Lindeman - Strategic Director (Education), Partnerships for Schools
David Roscoe - Education Transformation Manager, Knowsley MBC
Funded by
Qualifications & Curriculum Authority
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
