An ICT workshop on Creative Collaborative Technologies was held for the UKIERI Cluster School Partnership 2008-09 from the 6-9 April 2009. The workshop was attended by two Indian and two UK representative of each of the 13 cluster of schools. It was facilitated by Baldev Singh of Imagine Education and Chris Swift who introduced elanguages to the participants.

The participants of the workshop worked with emerging web based technologies that allow students in two schools in two different continents to collaborate in creating teaching learning resources and working together. Some of the web resources that they used worked on creating photo stories, stitching together video and powerpoint presentation, editing video diaries and using the UKIERI e-languages website for showcasing their work.

The ICT workshop also provided the partner clusters to refine their joint curriculum project plans adding appropriate technology to enhance opportunities for collaboration and for generating meaningful discussion. A school visit was also organised for the UK participants to allow them to get the feel of an Indian school and understand the context in which these schools operate.

The workshop was much appreciated by the participants and this is what they had to say…

I really enjoyed the conference and found the most interesting part to be finding out about the different projects other schools were working on both in India and here in the UK .  I think a follow up session for the UK delegates to discuss progress since Kolkata would be interesting as well as an opportunity to share  new ideas that have evolved.  I can't wait to get back to India in October for our exchange where we are going to present the work that has emerged as a result of Kolkata!! Joanne Gates, Lancaster Girls Grammar School

Baldev was so inspirational!...... I am in the process of doing a photo story with my Yr nine class on Hinduism and sending some questions over. We loved having the opportunity to visit one of our partner schools, it was a fab experience. Karen Smale, Upton –by- Chester , UK

Must say the whole India experience was inspiring and extremely worthwhile.I enjoyed every minute of the whole trip and am looking forward to developing our links using the new skills.I have already been in contact with one of our cluster schools and we are planning our ways of communication. Rhian Mark Davis, UK

A follow-up workshop was organised by for the UKIERI cluster school partnership on 10 -11 April 09 and was attended by 11 Indian participants. The aim of the follow-up workshop was to reinforce the ICT technologies learnt previously and to provide opportunities for further clarification and guidance and also building on the skills learnt earlier. The participants of both cohorts will be showcasing their work on the elanguages allowing British Council to monitor and evaluate and provide support to the clusters as needed.