2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

The Microsoft Partners in Learning Schools Program (PiLS) Expression of Interest for 2011-2012

The Microsoft Innovative Schools Program is a collaborative partnership between Microsoft Australia, Australian State Governments and Australian schools, to explore how ‘Innovative Schools’ can better enable innovative learners.

Schools who participate will form part of a global program to enable schools to design, explore and embrace reform that makes education more engaging, collaborative and relevant to 21st-century economic and social needs.

The Partners in Learning Schools Program worldwide is designed to harness the expertise, knowledge and experience of local, national and international networks to create conditions in which successful transformation is possible, and to build this as a valuable, evolving body of knowledge. Mentors, coaches and internationally recognised educational thought leaders will be involved in the program to bring a richness of support to the schools. The program will also have a structured research / evaluation component.

There are five levels of the program worldwide:

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Partners in Learning Schools Program

2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

Join the program via becoming a Pilot School

Each year, Australian State and Territory Departments of Education select 20 schools from across Australia to work with the Partners in Learning experts and community of innovative schools in an intensive process of reform.

Schools may be selected for the program if they:

• Are a government owned school in Australia;• Are commencing a journey of transformation/school reform;• Are able to release and subsidise in part the same 3 people from their school (a team

comprising Principal, HOD/HOC/Coordinator, and Classroom teacher) to attend each of the face-to-face events held over a 12 month period;

• Have a demonstrated history of innovation and commitment to pioneering the use of technology to improve student learning;

• Will participate fully in any Microsoft marketing activities such as contributing to online forums, blogs, newsletters, PR, case studies and associated marketing events;

• Commit to working with Microsoft to deliver outputs, including case studies, curriculum examples and learning journals;

• Have a commitment and history of sharing expertise, experiences and resources with schools locally or nationally and a willingness to share your experiences with schools in your region(s) as a partner / critical friend; and

• Operate largely in a PC environment, with a willingness to explore how Microsoft software can improve student learning opportunities.

Schools are also selected as Pilot Schools for their potential to create scalable and replicable reforms that can influence schools within their own community and country as well as globally. The program offers technology expertise, development tools and education models, as well as online and in-person training to support education leaders in creating holistic change.

The first phase of the Pilot program runs for 12 months from November of each year. In the second phase, schools can graduate to “Leading School” status. This phase runs for up to 3 years provided schools continue to meet the commitments of the program and the selection criteria outlined above. Leading Schools will commit to an annual alumni face-to-face Forum, as well as participate in selected product trials, and other optional professional learning offerings.

Throughout the Pilot School and Leading School programs, schools are eligible to apply for Worldwide Pathfinder or Worldwide Mentor Status. Worldwide Pathfinder and Worldwide Mentor Schools, selected by an international panel of experienced educators, join an exclusive elite group of schools from around the globe including access to several international conferences and learning experiences.

You can see some more information about the Innovative Schools Program here:http://www.microsoft.com/australia/education/schools/partners-in-learning/innovative-schools.aspx

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2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

What it means to be a Pilot School

Microsoft will commit to: Providing support for the school including

• Providing financial support for the principal of each school by way of the Partners in Learning Memorandum of Understanding to attend the introductory session in Sydney (November);

• Funding and managing three world class Innovative School ‘In Action’ sessions throughout 2012;

• Providing financial support for the three face-to-face Partners in Learning Schools Forums by way of the Partners in Learning Memorandum of Understanding (including support for schools to bring three people to each of the forums);

• Providing a software donation to the school of up to $1,500;• Providing access to Microsoft pre-release software where appropriate;• Providing support to access Dreamspark, • Participate in possible device trials• Providing Peer Coaching training to one person per school;• Providing exclusive branding and promotion as a Pilot school;• Provision and hosting of Virtual Universities that will be run as webcasts. These training

sessions will be hosted by leading educators from a variety of fields relating to innovation and school transformation; and

• Access to the Partners in Learning schools research tool if appropriate to your School development.

Pilot Schools will commit to: • Participating fully in any Microsoft marketing activities related to the program including

newsletters, PR, case studies and associated marketing events where appropriate;• Regularly contributing to online forums in the Partners in Learning Network;• Regularly contributing to a school blog (minimum weekly blog entry) outlining their

journey of transformation through the program;• Releasing and subsidising in part the same 3 people from your school (a team

comprising Principal, HOD/HOC/Coordinator, and Classroom teacher) to attend each of the face-to-face events held over a 12 month period, during calendar year 2011 (NOTE: some funding will be provided from Microsoft per person to subsidise costs associated with these events. This funding is not aimed to fund the total cost of the 3 staff members attending these events.);

• Completing three case studies (bullet points only) related to the integration of Microsoft technologies into the classroom; and

• Sending 1 person to the Peer Coaching training program. This person will work with a minimum of three people in the school as part of their peer coaching training.

• Participating fully in any Microsoft marketing activities related to the program including newsletters, PR, case studies and associated marketing events where appropriate;

• Sharing relevant contact details with other schools in the various Innovative Schools Communities (you agree to share your school contact details including phone numbers)

Some NSW DEC Specific Information:

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2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

The NSW Department of Education and Communities has been allocated a place in the program for four schools across K-12 teaching and learning environments

We will notify all applicants of these schools by Term 4, Week 1 Schools will receive some funding relief for staff to attend PiLS associated events. Please contact Phillippa.Cleaves@det.nsw.edu.au (Microsoft School Liaison Officer) for

further information.

Your Expression of Interest to become a Pilot School will be complete when you have:

Completed your Expression of Interest Form below in no more than 2 and a half pages length

Submitted your evidence required in Question 2 in a zipped folder to: http://www.dropitto.me/phillippacleaves (password: innovate)

Emailed your EOI to Phillippa.Cleaves@det.nsw.edu.au and your relevant School Education Director (via cc on the same email is fine)

By close of business on Friday 16th September, 2011

Expression of Interest Form

School Name:

Region:

Project Team Members x 3 (including Principal):

1.

2.

3.

Focus Area for Innovation in your School:

1. Describe what innovation looks and feels like in your school.

2. Describe an innovative program you have engaged in successfully in the past 2 years. Please provide evidence of this project via uploading to: http://www.dropitto.me/phillippacleaves (password: innovation)

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2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

3. How did you engage your staff and/or community with this project?

4. Describe an innovative project (or extension) you would like to engage in over the next 18 months.

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2011-12 Microsoft Partners in Learning Pilot School Program

5. How might your involvement in this program help to share your work across the NSWDEC and Australia?

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