WEEKLY WHITEBOARD ??

Hello there,

Balancing a heavy workload while ensuring quality education can be daunting.

In last week's Weekly Whiteboard , we started the new year on a high by discussing entrepreneurship education. This week, let's shed light on teacher workload!

It's 2024, and the challenge of managing the workload continues to evolve.

And as teachers, the workload is ever-increasing.

As we navigate the world of education this year, let's look at practical strategies that can make the teaching journey not just manageable but also more fulfilling.

Welcome to your?weekly dose of all things education, student careers, 21st-century education, and a tiny bit of deserving fun.

Today, we'll cover:

• Managing teacher workload: Three ways for teachers to better manage workload in 2024.
• Updates That Matter:

1. ??Can online schools solve the post-Covid attendance attendance crisis?
2. ??In Abu Dhabi, the 12th World Environmental Education Congress will emphasise the impact of environmental education.
3. ??Business schools are thinking beyond tech.

We know you're panicking now... ???

The school year is about to end soon.

Some of your students still need to secure work experience placements.?

They won't be able to gain exposure to the world of work then.

Gatsby Benchmarks for your school will be affected.?

And this overwhelming struggle continues.

Luckily, our award-winning alternative, 'The Internship', can solve work experience for ALL your students this month and help you hit multiple Gatsby Benchmarks! ???

Click here and ensure 100% of your students are work-ready.

THURSDAY SPOTLIGHT: MANAGING TEACHER WORKLOAD

As we continue to navigate the dynamic world of teaching in 2024, finding efficient ways to manage workload remains one of the top priorities.?

Here are three strategies that are easy to implement and can significantly aid in workload management:

?? Simplify administrative tasks: Create checklists for routine tasks like attendance and homework collection that can enhance organisation and efficiency. Utilising template responses for common parent inquiries and student feedback will save significant time in communication. These simple strategies streamline administrative duties, allowing teachers to focus more on teaching and student engagement.

?

?? Embrace tech:?Leveraging technology isn't just about being trendy –– it's about efficiency. Automated grading software, lesson planning and feedback apps, and learning tools like Google Classroom, Kahoot!, Trello, Socrative, Padlet, and many more can reduce the grunt work, allowing you to focus more on student engagement and personalised learning.?

?

???Student-led learning:?Implement strategies like project-based learning, either through own resources or outsourcing them, that encourage students to lead activities. This not only fosters self-reliance in students but also eases your direct instructional load.

There are many other ways workload can be effectively managed. The essence of it lies in balancing technology with a human touch, collaboration with individual initiative, and professional development with personal well-being.

?UPDATES THAT MATTER: THURSDAY TOP THREE ??

The latest news: ?

1?? Online schools: The number of pupils missing significant school time has doubled since 2018-19, with disadvantaged students and those opting for home education increasing notably. The UK government's new accreditation scheme for online schools, inspected and approved by Ofsted, aims to provide better education alternatives for school-refusing children.

Why it matters: It highlights a significant shift in educational trends and policies, emphasising the growing importance of alternative schooling methods to address increasing absenteeism and changing educational needs.?(Via Schools Week)

2?? Environmental education: The 12th World Environmental Education Congress, following up on COP28 discussions, will focus on addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis through education and will be held in Abu Dhabi from January 29th to February 2nd, 2024. The gathering also aims to serve as a hub for inspiration and actionable strategies with various influential speakers, including educators, NGOs and academia.

Why it matters: It highlights a global effort to empower students with green skills for a sustainable future. (Via ZAWYA)

3?? Softer skills: Today, many business schools are urged to equip future leaders with flexibility, innovation, and adaptability alongside technical skills. This is as volatile geopolitical and technological landscapes demand a multifaceted approach to future-proofing careers.

Why it matters: Experts emphasise the importance of understanding both technical and non-technical aspects for future careers.?(Via FT)

8billionideas Tales

Did you know Esher Sixth Form College was able to provide nearly 500 students with an alternative to work experience, hit the Gatsby benchmarks, and win a major industry award with a modern solution?? ?

This modern alternative to work experience is called 'The Internship' and was created to tackle a common struggle faced by Career Leaders and Work Experience Coordinators in the UK and abroad – the overwhelming task of securing work experience placements for a significant number of students, sometimes in hundreds.?

To date, 'The Internship' has empowered thousands of students in multiple schools.

So if you're too looking to help your students, be it 1 or 1,000, become work-ready before the school year ends soon, check out 'The Internship' now.

Click here to know how.

Also, you can read the full story behind how Esher Sixth Form College solved work experience for their students.

?? Lastly, need some classroom ideas? Check out these creative ideas to?create an epic classroom this year.?