Barcombe Progress Report

On 13th July the class focussed on the notion of what Knowledge Forum calls 'rise above' notes. The pupils were encouraged to select those entries already made into the database that they felt were significant and worthy of taking further. These were marked and then posted as rise above notes. This activity lasted 75 minutes without a break and the pupils were surprised when we announced that it was time for a break.

The final day was a mix of providing the class with further information regarding the future of the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve (see www.railwaylandproject.org) and gathering final data in the form of pupil group interviews, a class forum and a stuctured teacher interview.

We are very grateful to Barcombe School for their co-operation and help in this first stage of the research.

A whirlwind start has been made with two very successful days. The first was a familiarisation of some, although not all, of the software. This was done by inviting the pupils to respond to their own original questions that resulted from their visit to the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve.

The second day involved Professor Derek Lamport responding to some of the pupil questions through the software and then sahring insights and knowledge about the reeds that the pupils have been studying. A short skim of the pupil blogs will give a feel of how they responded to his input.

This is a very intense week punctuated by a Sports Day and it will provide just a snapshot of what is possible. Early signs confirm that this approach could run over many, many weeks (as indeed it has done in Canada).

Two visits have been made to the Railway Land Local Nature Reserve and initial work has been directed towards the production of pupil-influenced teaching materials linked to another project called Living on the Edge. This foundation work, along with initial questions asked by the pupils, will underpin the Pupils as Scientists project which will be conducted during an intense week starting on 10th July.