| 19 December 2012 |
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| ECIS: the source for international education |
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- International school in US raises the bar for students
 The International Community School in Decatur, Ga., was once billed as a school for refugee children, and now is boasting success despite the challenge of educating 270 students from 30 countries. Students at the International Baccalaureate school are expected to be proficient in English, and reading and maths are practiced daily. "If the kids see that you are invested in them, then they become invested in you, they become invested in what they do in class, because they realise that you care about them," said soccer coach and fifth-grade teacher Drew Whitelegg. CNN/Schools of Thought blog
(13 Dec.)
    
- Headteacher celebrates dramatic turnaround of UK school
A once-struggling primary school in London has improved dramatically in the past two years, with students demonstrating better achievement in maths and English, and the school now ranking among the most improved in the country. Miranda Gibb, the school's headteacher, attributes part of the success to a targeted investment in the school's appearance and resources, as well as ongoing performance assessments for both students and teachers. The Guardian (London)
(13 Dec.)
- Do Ireland's teachers need more technology support?
Schools in Ireland are being criticised by some in the education field for taking an "ad hoc" approach to the use and support of education technology. Among the complaints are that schools often are designating one person to act as ICT manager without proper training or support, and that technology, such as interactive whiteboards, is not being used to its full potential. "Teachers don't have a system of support whereby they feel confident that the technology is going to be repaired and it's going to be in perfect working order," said multimedia lecturer Miriam Judge. The Irish Times (Dublin)
(13 Dec.)
| Leadership and Governance
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- Teachers in Australia prepare for industrial action
Australia's teachers union and government officials have yet to reach a deal over compensation for educators in Victoria state, and as the end of the school term approaches on Friday both sides are still far apart. The union has said it intends to begin industrial action if an agreement is not reached, which could lead to the elimination of some extracurricular offerings such as camps and musicals. Teachers also would not write comments on students' report cards, it was reported. The West Australian/Australian Associated Press
(16 Dec.)
- Australian schools use iPads to help students communicate
At two schools in Australia, students with disabilities are using iPad devices to better communicate and participate in classroom lessons. The Gowrie Primary School is using the technology in its special-education classrooms as part of a programme piloted at Canberra's Malkara School. Educators say the students, who have verbal difficulties, have used the devices to create stories and express themselves. Already, the students have improved their communication skills, as well as their literacy and numeracy abilities. ABC (Australia)
(18 Dec.)
- Research: Better preschool enrolment would benefit UK students
Researchers at London University's Institute of Education have found that students in the United Kingdom who spend at least one year in preschool have improved performance in later grades. The findings, which were based on students' performance on international league tables, have the researchers optimistic that a government initiative to enrol more low-income youth in preschool could lead to improvement in the future. The Independent (London)
(10 Dec.)
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Keynote presentations now online
If you couldn't make it to Nice, but still want to experience a part of our Annual Conference, now you can. Three of our keynote presentations are now online. You can watch the speeches of Mark Schulte and Clayton Lewis, Jim Cummins and Terry Small. You will need to enter the password: "ECIS." As we go forward, we plan to stream more of our events.
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The results are in!
Thank you to everyone who completed the Annual Conference survey. We were overwhelmed with positive responses and great suggestions. Your feedback helps us make future events even better. You can view some of the results here.
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SmartBrief will not publish on 26 Dec. or 2 Jan.
In observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, ECIS SmartBrief will not publish on Wednesday, 26 Dec., or Wednesday, 2 Jan. Please look for a special issue on Friday, 4 Jan., and regular publication will resume the following week on Wednesday, 9 Jan. Enjoy the holidays!
 | There are two things that one must get used to or one will find life unendurable: the damages of time and injustices of men."
--Nicolas Chamfort,
French writer
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| | About ECIS
Founded in 1965, ECIS is a global membership organisation that provides professional development opportunities and consultancy services to its members who are comprised of international schools, individuals and educational organisations. | |
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