CLUSTER CONCEPT.

One of our realisations over the last few years is that, whilst it often helps to focus on one WalkThru at a time for training purposes at first, in practice, teachers always use techniques in combination.

This is akin to a tennis player who always uses multiple shots to play the game. Each type of shot needs practice in isolation but then it’s the way they combine that make the impact in a match. This is how teaching techniques work: we group them together so they are mutually reinforcing.

CLUSTER-BUILDER TOOL.

We have developed a simple and powerful tool with googleslides that allows teachers to combine any number of WalkThrus into a cluster. They can then be isolated from the rest making a simple, clear selection of techniques all linked to the slides and videos.

Re-sizing and sequencing the icons can then be used to organise them in terms of priority, significance or just to show how they link.

Check out the Webinars section for a full hour long guide to using the tool.

PROBLEM-SOLUTION TOOL.

A recent development is a tool that suggests a cluster of WalkThrus in response to a set of common challenges. Here, the problem posed is: Students aren’t quiet when I ask them to be.

The cluster suggests some WalkThrus teachers might want to look at to tackle this issue. There are multiple examples like this. Take a look.

CLUSTERS FOR POLICY MAKING.

As well as supporting teachers and teams to focus on a few specific linked techniques, the cluster builder has become a popular tool to support schools in formulating a wider policy or teaching and learning framework.

SHARING IDEAS WITH OTHER SCHOOLS.

When groups of schools are all using the cluster builder, they can share ideas about their teaching and learning focus in a helpful visual manner. Each WalkThru selected can be understood in the same way by all the people involved because they have the same common toolkit to refer to. This shared language across a system of schools is incredibly powerful in shaping training and collaboration.