Uniservity

Context

UniServity’s Collaborative Projects provide a quick and easy way for teachers to discover how the cLc learning platform can transform 4-walled classrooms into global classrooms, using the range of Collaborative and Web2.0 opportunities available within the UniServity cLc. Providing professional development for teachers, opportunities for parental engagement, and above all exciting collaborative learning opportunities for Early Years and Key Stage 1  children that are otherwise not possible, it is not surprising that UniServity’s Collaborative Projects are so popular.

The It’s A Small World project consists of 5 exciting themes around the project’s main character; Benny Bear. The learning opportunities supporting the changes in the New Primary Curriculum as well as provide cross subject learning activities for the existing National Curriculum. Everyone taking part in It’s A Small World begins the project with Introducing Benny which contextualises the project and introduces teachers and children to key project features and basic skills involved. This Strand also introduces children to Benny Bear and how to invite him to come and stay at your school for the duration of the project (Yes – he really does come to stay at your school!).  Other strands can be done in any order over the academic year to complement your existing topics and plans, and schools can opt to do some or all of these strands.

This means that you have the freedom to choose whether It’s A Small World lasts for just a half term, or as long as a full academic year. At the end of your participation in the project there is a final strand for all those taking part to complete which prompts children to reflect upon their learning and say farewell to Benny Bear as he goes off on his adventures to another school, and teachers to reflect upon their professional development.

Each strand contains a series of sessions which may be used as whole-lessons, or integrated into other curriculum lessons that you already have planned. Each session has specific curriculum objectives and assessment opportunities so that it becomes a vehicle for your Teaching & Learning rather than an add-on.   

The sessions follow a normal lesson plan format, and provides context, introduction, activities for the children, assessment opportunity, plenary and extension/home learning activity. Each session combines online and offline activities so this project can be carried out either through weekly timetabled slots in an ICT Suite, or in daily sessions using a small number of computers/laptops/handheld devices in your classroom.

Strands

Inviting Benny (Benny’s Arrival, Community Comparisons, Invitation writing, Learning Journals, Project Introduction)

Our School Community (Locality, Communities, Routines, People, Places)

All about Us (Record of Achivement/Eportfolio, Goal Setting & Self-Assessment Skills)

Nature (Life & Living Processes, Non-Fiction Writing, Locality, Poetry)

Journeys (Benny’s Departure, Learning to Learn Skills)

Curriculum Objectives Covered

Foundation Stage Curriculum: Six Areas of Learning

Each of the Six Areas of Learning within the Foundation Stage Curriculum are referenced throughout the project, using the Early Steps aspects of the New Primary Curriculum, making this an ideal way to get to know the transition.

Primary Curriculum: Early & Middle Areas of Learning

Each of the Six Areas of Learning in the New Primary Curriculum (post Rose-Review) are referenced throughout the project, using the Early & Middle goals, making this an ideal way to get to know the new curriculum. Please note that where both an Early goal and a Middle goal are similar and covered within the project, the higher goal is referenced and the differentiation included within the relevant lesson plan.

National Curriculum: KS1 Subjects

Each of the Subjects in Key Stage 1 National Curriculum are referenced throughout the project, providing an easy reference point for existing curriculum knowledge and planning.

Assessment

Assessment Opportunities are provided for each session to support Assessment for Learning principles, Curriculum objectives and wider Teaching & Learning practices.

Please use your own school specific sub levelling for accuracy where you wish to use the project activities for more formal assessment to ensure moderated standards across your own school.

To Join this project

Complete the online form at www.uniservity.com/collaborative-projects/  The UniServity Education Development Team will then contact you using the email address that you provide in the form.

You can register to join the project at any time.

In order to gain the most from taking part in the UniServity It’s A Small World Project the first strand (Inviting Benny) is compulsory. To provide the most effective support for this compulsory strand we have 6 starting points each academic year:

Autumn 1 (Monday 7 September 2009)

Autumn 2 (Monday 2 November 2009)

Spring 1 (Monday 4 January 2010)

Spring 2 (Monday 22 February 2010)

Summer 1 (Monday 19 April 2010)

Summer 2 (Monday 7 June 2010)

When you complete the online joining form you will be asked which of these dates you wish to begin the project. Once you have specified a date that you wish to start the project on you will receive support emails each week from this date. If you wish to begin your activities later than this date, or if your term/semester dates do not align with the dates above, please just let us know.

Access to the project will then remain open to your named adults and children until 31 August 2010.

You will be asked who is going to be taking part in the project at your school. There are no limits on the numbers of participants – this could be a small group of children through to your whole school.

Pre-Project Preparation

Each person taking part in the It’s A Small World project (adults and children) must have their own username and password set up in your school learning platform by your school cLc Manager before they can begin the It’s A Small World project. If you need any help with adding user accounts to your school learning platform please contact support@uniservity.com or telephone + 44 (0) 118 953 3220 (9am – 5pm UK time)

Once the usernames and passwords have been set up, our Education Development Team will be able to provide access to the UniServity - It’s A Small World Project. We will ask you for the full names of the children and adults that will be taking part and we will use this list to create a ‘Profile Set’ (group of users) in your school cLc and we will then give this ‘Profile Set’ of users access to the project. You can add further users to the profile set at any time.

Once your users have been assigned access our Education Development Team will contact you to confirm that you are set up and ready to begin the project. You can then login to your school cLc and link directly to the project using your normal account. All the planning, resources and support that you will need to take part in the project can be found within the project itself.

Resources

Teachers will need a Computer and Projector to demonstrate and share the It’s A Small World Project with children. Children will need a Computer/Internet access during most activities. The project combines online and offline tasks so it is not necessary for all children to be online for all of each lesson. Turn Taking or Pair Work is sufficient if you do not have regular access to Computers/Laptops.  

There are a number of printable resources (templates, worksheets, letters and instructions) which can be found in the Teacher’s Area of the project. Medium (Half Termly/Topic) and Short Term (Lesson) Planning is available within the project itself. Full curriculum referencing for the Primary Curriculum and National Curriculum along with assessment opportunities and levelling guidance is included.

UniServity provides each school taking part in this project with a Benny Bear who arrives in the post.

Teacher cLc Skills

The only skills that teachers will need to know prior to joining the project are how to log in and out of their cLc learning platform. Learning how to use the cLc learning platform as a part of everyday teaching and learning is one of the core intentions of these projects, and these skills can be learned within the projects themselves.

Expectations

All schools taking part in UniServity’s Collaborative Projects must complete the registration form which includes agreement to Terms and Conditions in order to be given access to the projects. This is to ensure that everyone with access to the Projects agrees to a set of reasonable expectations to ensure the safety, enjoyment and purposeful learning of all those involved.