Using the National Critical Skills Glow Group to Collaborate with other Teachers
Overview
The Critical Skills Programme (CSP) is a comprehensive and highly effective teaching model designed by classroom teachers in New Hampshire, USA, in the early 1980’s under the auspices of a state-wide education/business 
partnership. It was introduced to the UK in 2000 and has been successfully adapted to the developing needs of Scottish education, especially in relation to Curriculum for Excellence. Due to CSP’s widely-recognised potential to transform young people’s lives, the UK company has recently converted to non-profit status and is in the process of becoming a registered charity. Critical Skills run training courses using a programme which is based on four broad educational ideas; a collaborative learning community, experiential learning, results-driven learning and problem-based learning. While each broad idea is powerful in itself, they work best as a cohesive whole where the collaborative classroom culture develops through shared experiences and problem solving to help each pupil meet essential curriculum targets.
Marianne Flanagan the Acting Principal Teacher from Dalrymple Primary School, East Ayrshire gives us her views on Critical Skills training and the impact it has had in their school.
Marianne’s views on the Critical Skills course. (0.48)
Marianne explains the impact Critical Skills training had on her learning and teaching in the classroom.(1.14)
Marianne tells us the impact of Critical Skills training in Dalrymple Primary School. (1.27).
Context
Since one of the main ideas which underpins Critical Skills is the development of a collaborative learning community the creation of a National Critical Skills Glow Group is an ideal forum to promote this. The Glow Group has enabled teachers from across Scotland who have (and have not) trained in Critical Skills to share their ideas and resources. It also allows teachers to see how other practitioners have been using Critical Skills, whether it is in early years, primary, secondary or at a management level.
How is the Glow Group Organised?
Noticeboard
The first page is the Noticeboard which gives you an overview of what CSP is. You will find instructions as to how to use the Glow group on this page, a news web part to keep you up to date with the latest CSP news and a page viewer web part which displays the Critical Skills website.
Discussions
This area includes four discussion boards on different areas including collaborative projects.
Curriculum for Excellence Levels
There is a tab for each Curriculum for Excellence level. Within each level tab are various document libraries organised by subject areas. Each subject area contains folders on different topics created by teachers. This is where teachers can upload their challenges and other resources, and also where they can go and view other teachers’ resources. The group is structured in this way so teachers can quickly and easily find what they are looking for.
Community Builders
This page provides an area where people can discuss which Community Builders they have used and how they have used them. It also provides some web links as to where you might find Community Builder resources.
Quality Products
In this area you will see some examples of products which pupils have created within a Critical Skills learning environment.
Useful Documents
This page provides some Critical Skills resources which teachers have used during In-service days, and some templates for Critical Skills activities.
Glow Meet
On 3rd March P6B at Harrysmuir Primary, West Lothian had a Glow Meet with a group of teachers on a Critical Skills Institute in Edinburgh. The Glow Meet was recorded and is displayed on this page.
Ingredients
What do people need to use the Critical Skills Glow Group?
- Glow log on.
- All teachers have automatic membership of this Glow Group.
- A willingness to share.
Recipe
Video Clips:
Where do I find the Critical Skills Glow Group and what does it look like? (4.49)
How to post a reply on a Discussion Board. (1.23)
How to post a new discussion on a Discussion Board. (1.32)
How to create a folder in a Document Library. (0.57)
How to upload a document into a folder in a Document Library. (1.14)
Impact
This group has had a positive impact on teachers across Scotland. It has allowed practitioners to collaborate and share ideas. It has also provided a support network for teachers after their Critical Skills training.
Listen to Marianne Flanagan an Acting PT from Dalrymple Primary School, East Ayrshire talk about her views on the Critical Skills Glow Group.
How did you find out about the Glow Group? (0.20)
How have you used the Critical Skills Glow Group? (0.37)
What impact has using the Critical Skills Glow Group had on your teaching? (0.34)
To access this Glow Group click on the link below:
Critical Skills National Glow Group
To view another cookbook on the theme of Critical Skills click on the link below:
Incorporating formative assessment and critical skills within 2nd level social studies