Just spent over an hour with Liz as we fine tuned our report.
Looking back on our trip with the benefit of a week 'back in school', it was certainly a positive experience and we seem to have achieved the objectives we planned at that first meeting in Dryden.
Best read with a glass of red wine (Spanish of course) and Iberian ham and cheese.
Some of the links form We're famous seem to have died. However, don't despair, we've found some fresh ones!
http://www.regiondigital.com/modulos/mod_periodico/pub/mostrar_noticia.php?id=74592
http://www.linex.org/joomlaex/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=423&Itemid=72
Time to brush up on your Spanish!
Final lot of photos have finally arrived from David, so watch this space for the full works!
We've a report to write - well finish writing and submit to TIPD (one of the questions concerns dissemination of information - think we've managed that quite well and on an international scale)
We've over 400 photos to sort out. The plan is to make them into a video for display at Dryden or on the blog - last attempt halfway through the trip, it was running at 14 mins long)
I plan to add to the blog as we finally collect in all the photos, so please keep reading and commenting. When I have changed things, I'll post where the changes are.
Hopefully a return visit... who knows!
Had a Google and found these articles about our visit - obviously they'll need translating!
http://www.hoy.es/20080412/prov-badajoz/profesores-ingleses-estudian-nuevas-20080412.html
http://www.educarex.es/montador/noticias_usu.php?op=ver&id=458
http://www2.extremadura.com/general/noticias/ver_pagina_noticia.vhtml/14731
http://www.radiointerior.net/index.php?op=noticia&id=3868
http://www.softwarelibre.net/profesores_ingleses_en_extremadura
Haven't found anything on film so if anyone comes across anything, please let us know via the comments.
Friday 11 April
We arrived in Madrid slightly ahead of schedule and, at least, this time we knew the way to our hotel. Most of us were on the same floor and as the hotel didn't have a restaurant and we were feeling slightly peckish we went round the corner to the local tapas. This was far more cosmopolitan that the one in Badajoz - no bull fighting on the TV for starters and had a good range of sandwiches and nibbles (where did we put all the food).
Several of the group tried out a local club (very expensive 18 euros and a bit seedy) whilst a couple of others went to chat to some local kids who were gathered near the station - obviously a regular hang out.
Saturday 12 April
Not the crisp start of previous days but there again, there was no need. It was a cse of be ready to go by 11.00am.
Although check in wasn't until 12.50 pm, Liz felt that plenty of time was needed to get to the airport via the metro then face the long walk to terminal 1.
We managed to go wrong at the first hurdle - correct train, wrong direction. However, as it just comes back on itself we stayed put and changed trains for the airport.
As remembered the walk from the metro to the terminal was a long one and there were lots of queues for Easyjet but none indicating Edinburgh - or anywhere else for that matter. It was just a free for all so we stayed put in our queue. As we got nearer the chck in people were deciding what they would do if we were charged for excess weight. However, no worries as no one was despite a few being over the 20kg limit. We decided that between us all we averaged 20kg.
A quick bite to eat and it was time to board for a fairly uneventful flight back to Edinburgh. The weather was atrocious and you could here the rain bouncing down on the plane. Being 20 mins early meant we had to stay in the taxi area until our gate became free.
Passport cleared, luggage quickly picked up, nothing to declare and we were on our way to Edinburgh on the bus.
Our early arrival meant we had time to spare at the station so Burger King it was - Colin was finally getting the burger he'd wanted the night before in Madrid. Some of the girls couldn't resist a quick trip into M&S Simply food for further supplies for the journey south.
Thankfully we had our seats reserved and the carriage was very noisy. Full of loud Scotsmen and one rather foul mouthed Frenchman pretending he was Scottish (ever heard 'flower of Scotland' in French before). We rather hoped they were getting off north of the brder but were stuck with them to Newcastle. Again we arrived ahead of schedule.
This time we left Colin on the train as he was getting off in Durham. We all said our farewells in the traditional Spanish way.
So that was it ... our little trip to Badajoz, Spain.
What next?
Friday 11 April dawned as dull as all the orevious days - despite Antonio saying it would be bright and sunny on our last day.
After breakfast, and lugging our cases into the minibus we set off for our final trip to Merida. Liz and I finished the presentation about ICT in Gateshead just as we were going through the gates of the car park. Talk about cutting it fine!
Merida is the main city for the southern area of Extremadura and has some fantastic Roman ruins. We had planned to visit these ruins but due to the recent wet weather and as time was short, these had to be cancelled.
Instead we were invited into the TRC and met up again with a number of people we had met during the week. We were all now getting very good at the traditional Spanish greeting of a kiss on either cheek (not sure if this was how two men greeted each other but Colin was giving it a go)!
Prior to coffee, we were given a talk about the Glen Doman Method.
Visit 1 - Merida Teacher's Resource Centre (Rachel Heaney)
The Glenn Doman programme is used to introduce and develop reading skills in young children.
This method of teaching is introduced to children at 18 months old and continued throughout the childhood development stages. The programme involves using a series of vocabulary flashcards to familiarise children with word recognition. The cards must be shown to the child at a fast speed and the vocabulary read clearly. This is rehearsed 3 times a day, 5 times a week. Repetition is a key factor in this process for it to be delivered correctly and successfully. The following stages include an increase in the vocabulary lists and then the introduction to short simple sentences. Parents and carers are also encouraged to continue the process at home with their children.
The Children's Resource Centre in Merida has researched this programme and have created and adapted a programme application to show the flashcards on an interactive whiteboard with audio resources for use in primary schools. A support website for this programme can be viewed at www.cprmerida.juntaextremadura.net. There is a forum available to read and write comments concerning the Doman Method.
The Children's Resource Centre has worked on this programme for 3 years and are continually adding new resources to develop it further. For example, adding picture books, poems, short stories, videos etc. Adaptations of the programme have also been developed for the introduction to reading a modern foreign language using a word flashcard accompanied with a picture flashcard for complete comprehension.
More information on the Glenn Doman process can be found through a websearch on www.google.com and videos showing the process in use can be found on www.youtube.com.
For once, coffee was not in a local cafe/bar but just across in another buidling in the TRC. Here, we had a range of local cakes and biscuits along with coffee and fruit juice. During this time, we ran through our presentation and the plans for the rest of the morning wihich included the press and TV!
Time for our presentation!
We hadn't planned for this and earlier in the week had had to send an emergency email request for the offical raising achievment presentation bacground. We'd also scoured the net looking for suitable iconic Gateshead images (not the car park)! Anyway, we were raring to go and being filmed!
Liz started off explaining the education system in England and Gateshead and how compulsory education has its keystages. Although we'd planned for a brief presentation, we hadn't taken translatin time and questions into account so kept trying to speed up.
Kelly and Susan Holmes explained the basis of early years and primary school whilst I eexpalined about secondary and post 16. This led Liz onto explaining about testing, Dryden and CPD. I rounded things off with an explanation of the CLCs and ICT in education in general. There was certainly interest in the Functional Skills:ICT aspect.
The audience were then shown the blog, relevant weblinks and the EeePC. We could have spent all day showing what we were doing in Gateshead but things had to be curtailed for the final, formal closing speeches.
The entire speech was filmed and for a large part of that, the ICTGateshead homepage was visible in the background - hey guys, you're internationally famous.
Liz made her final speech of the visit and received her final official two kisses on the check before we sound things up and madeour way to lunch.
Lunch, as always, never failed to impress. Local Iberian ham, chorizo, cheese, etc for starters, fish for main (except I had pork steaks and chips!) and followed by a range of local desserts. It was interesting to see how this was divided between groups - the men carefully sectioing and separating the portions whilst the girls just dived in with their spoons! Everything followed by coffee.
It was time to say our goodbyes. Antonio and the bus driver were taking us to Merida station so we made our farewells in the middle of the street. We had met a lot of interesting and very enthusiastic teachers, everyone had done their utmost to make us feel welcome and our visit memorable. We may not have had the weather we were expecting, but everyone else was pleased with the rain we had brought with us (at least it wasn't the snow and minus 2 degrees back home).
Panic set in on the way to the station (much to Colin's disgust as he was sat in front of LIz and I) as a number of wrong turns were taken and signposts ignored. Liz and I knew where we should be but no one seemed to be taking any notice. The problem was that the train we were catching was the last one to Madrid. If we missed this, it was a 350km minibus drive to Madrid for tomorrow's flight.
We arrived with about 5 mins to spare but weren't sure of the platform. Even when the train arrived it said to Badajoz so we weren't going to get on it. However, someone confirmed that it was going to Madrid and we bundled our belongings up some incredible steep steps onto the train. Time to wave goodbye ...
The return train to Madrid was much busier than the one on the way to Badajoz - lots of students going home for the weekend. As regards refreshments, we were better planned and it was a good thing as the vending machine was completely empty on arrival at Merida.
No photos available as yet ... watch this blog)
At 9.30 pm on the Thursday evening we all met up in the hotel foyer for the farewell dinner hosted by the Badajoz TRC.
All the Gateshead teachers had taken this as an opportunity to prove that we did in fact scrub up quite well.
The meal was held in the same room as before and the table settings looked sumptuous - all set for a banquet.
Liz was guest of honour at the top table with the key people from the TRC including Antonio (how could we manage without him).
The meal started with a range of fish canapes (Liz tried to explain that we called them blini). This was followed by more canapes that were delicious. The next course was crepes stuffed with pork in a cream sauce and the crepes were topped with a sweet pepper and tomato sauce. The main course was fish on a bed of mushrooms and onions. Not being a fish eater, I was given steak with julienne of carrots and courgettes. Dessert was layers of pastry with creme anglais and a caramel sauce. All this was rounded off with coffee.
When the waiters came round with liqueurs (including a lovely local one made from acorns) it was the sign for speeches to begin.
Antonio continued to be an excellent translator for those not confident enough to give their speech in English. However, he must have been tiring as a number of times he translated Spanish into Spanish.
After everyone, including Liz had made all the official thank yous and presentation of gifts, she had the chance to pass on all of our thanks to Antonio. He had seen us passing the gifts out to different people during the week and was now the recipient of one of each including gifts from individual schools and the Millennium Bridge glass paperweight. However, there were a few personal gifts - David gave a large bar of Cadbury's Chocolate stating these were his emergency rations that he hadn't needed and didn't want the excess weight on the way home. Colin, (a softie underneath) gave his Sunderland tie. This wasn't just any tie but one of only 500 made as gifts. Definitely something money can't buy.
After everything was fiished and despite our very good intentions of a not too late night, we were whisked off in a variety of cars to a local bar just over the river. Guess what ... it was of a slight Irish theme and sold Guiness.
Most stayed for just one drink then took offers of lifts to return to the hotel. It was going to be along couple of days travel back to the UK
We're all feeling a little under the weather today. Guess the long journeys, huge meals and partaking of the local alcoholic hospitality has taken their toll.
Colin's breakfast consumption at the begiining of the week was cereal, fruit juice, few slices of toast and coffee. Today he was down to one slice of toast and a cup of coffee.
Note to Ken - we need some professional development time to get some exercise to get rid of the excess weight we've all put on!!
We're also worrying about excess baggage weight (everyone has been SO generous with their gifts), however, since we have hardly spent any money it shouldn't be too much of a hardship!
Again, we were picked up at 8.00 am and taken via a very scenic route to Burguillos del Cerro - 84 km south east of Badajoz. A number of us were feeling decidedly fragile by the time we arrived. Lee had given out an emergency request for a plastic bag. Fortunately, it wasn't needed. Antonio promised that we would return by a more direct and straight route!
The countryside around here is more like the north of England with rolling hills and lots of trees. There are more animals such as sheep in this area. However, the trees are olive rather than our native species.
Visit 1 - IES Matias Ramon Martinez (Colin Carr)
The school which opened in 2002 is in very rural area and provides education to 122 12-16 age range only due to the socio-economic background of the area. Students wishing to proceed past compulsory education have to travel to other towns. The head teacher explained that due to the type of students in this rural part of the country their education is focused on vocational rather than academic education.
This software allows the teacher to have full control of individual computers within a room from a cemtralised PC. An upgrade is due shortly that will enable even greater coverage/access including the Internet.
After a wonderful reception in the staff room (this was the first one that closely resembled a UK staff room) we were given a full description by the head teacher about the use of GNULinex 2006.
The school is working very closely with the local council to establish a WiFi link with the community so that pupils who have or borrow a computer can access their school folders enabling them to carry out their set work and it will also give parents the opportunity to view the results and be able to have contact with the teachers.
This whole project is available through Moodle and will greatly enhance the distance learning programs available to students.
We finished the visit with a very detailed discussion comparing the Gateshead schools systems and the systems available to schools in
The headteacher was very interested in the ICT facilities available in Whickham School, the software used, the access to the system via Ranger and the VLE.
As with all the schools, the teacher's were very interested in the Ees PC, it's cost and software. Their next step is to provide a pupil:computer ratio of 1:1 but current plans indicate that this will be achieved by attaching two keyboards and two mice to each CPU unit rather than each student having a computer to themselves.
The school is a light and airy two storey building holding 56 pupils, 15 teachers, 13 assistants and many physiotherapists and other specialists. 
Our final visit was to an SEN school for children aged between 6 and 21 years.
The facilities included a high-tech multi-sensory room, a library, ICT suite, vegetable garden, gym and a transition room where children learn life skills to encourage independent living, as well as a number of ordinary classrooms.
Between the ages of 6 and 16 the children's learning is dictated by the curriculum. Older students spend the last 5 years at school developing skills for independent living and inclusion within society. Once a week children enjoy the facilities of the local swimming pool to improve their fine and gross motor skills as well as their posture. It also gives student the opportunity to mix with people outside their school life.
In the ICT suite we were shown a presentation of poetry by a student, using Open Office, a tool used to improve reading, writing and communication skills. Presentations were also shown displaying the skills of the physiotherapists, communication technologies and interactions between the special school and other local schools.
The Linex run computer system is adapted for the children's abilities and levels ie large, colourful icons and appropriate literature. JClic was also demonstrated indicating the use of icons to assist children's phonics, reading, writing and typing skills.
We finally had experience of a 'Spanish school dinner'. The traditional fish and pasta soup, roast pork and potatoes followed by strawberries and cream.
The school had a very child-centred and family orientated ethos with all staff working as a team towards a common goal - including the kitchen staff!
After our return from Burguillos del Cerro, we were given the opportunity to take a quick trip into Portugal. As a number of the group were in need of a siesta ahead of this evening's farewell meal the remainder (David, Susan T and Liz, Rachel and Emma) accompanied Antonio and Imam (apologies if this is incorrect - please use comment to show me correct spelling) to Elvas in Portugal.
The border is only 5km from Badajoz and very like the Scotland/England border - blink and you'll miss it!
Elvas was amazing and well worth visiting. It is a 17th century heavily fortified frontier town and surrounded by star-shaped fortifications with gates, curtain walls, moats and bastions, along with two fortresses. All roads lead to the top (well some of them did because we managed to get lost). If this town was in the UK, there'd be no cars allowed within the walls at all. You could see where the cobbled streets had been damaged (Antonio did suggest taking one of the cobbles with us as a souvenir).
There was a beautiful and large square surrounded by 16th and 17 century churches and buildings (photos to follow when we get them off our cameras). There was also a smaller square with a pillory with four metal hooks supposedly used to shackle prisoners during the Spanish Inquisition (cue Monty Python take offs from everyone).
The icing on the cake was a huge aqueduct (Amoreira Aqueduct) which 7km (4.5miles) in length and took over 100 years to complete. With a total of 843 arches, and at places rising to over 30m (100ft), it still brings water to town.
We were only in the twon for about 40 mins but it certainly made its mark on us.
A quick trip back to the hotel to prepare for our farewell dinner and to start packing.
In response to numerous requests, please find photo of Lee! Please feel free to leave a comment!
After a very restful night, everyone was on time for breakfast and left for Castuera 145 km north east of
We were taken to the Teachers Resource Centre to meet the local adv isors then onto our first visit.
Visit 1 - CP Pedro de Valdivia (Lee Connor)
Our first visit of the day was to a primary school which was built after the Spanish civil war. Castuera was basically flattened as it formed the boundary between two conflicting factions. Set in a town with a population of 7000, the school had approximately 200 children on its roll, with 61 in the Nursery section and 130 in the Primary range. Within the town itself there were several other schools, with a pre-Primary, two Primaries, two Secondary schools, an adult school, and one SEN school.
This school was involved in a European project with schools from
Our first visit was to a class of 5 year olds who had been learning English since they were 3 years old. They had very enthusiastic teachers and we were treated to renditions of English nursery rhymes. They stared in wonder when we broke into 'Head, shoulders, knees and toes". Kelly and Katherine also performed a song they use with their early years classes.
In terms of ICT use within the school, we observed a Year 6 English lesson which used ICT throughout. The class consisted of 12 children, and had 19 computers, with a portable Interactive Whiteboard also in use. The teacher was using the JClic program, focusing on irregular verbs in English, and learning about the Geographical aspects of the
Children were invited to the front of the class to highlight particular rivers, lakes, and countries on the IWB, which was closely followed by independent work on their individual computers (word searches and labelling maps). There seemed to be a much more structured lesson in place today, with similar features such as oral starters and a plenary recognisable.
The teacher then introduced a new unit of work to the children - Basketball. Using the IWB, he presented a basketball court to the children and also a list of the rules and how to play it properly.
He went through the zones of the court with the children, and invited children to the front to label it on the IWB. All the children were very engaged and on task, with no problems in terms of beh
aviour and discipline.
The children were motivated by the use of the IWB and it was put to effective use throughout the lesson.
A very productive morning for all!
We returned to the Teachers Resource Centre and had a demonstration of their VLE with various fre
There followed a shared discussion explaining how ICT was used in schools across all keystages in
By now it was 14.30 and time for lunch so we adjourned to a nearby restaurant.
We had yet another fantastic three course banquet (except the first course was 3 courses in itself) for lunch. We started with the local cheese (La Serena) along with a range of local Iberian cooked meats. This was followed by a Portuguese fish delicacy - cod cooked with eggs and grated potatoes. The main course was a choice of fish (bream or halibut) or meat (pork fillet in a cheese sauce or lamb chops). Dessert choices included custard, rice pudding, crème caramel, ice cream or fruit. All this was accompanied by homemade rolls, bottles of red wine (excellent quality) and water. The meal was rounded off with coffee.
Two hours later we set off for our final visit of the day in Zalmea de la Serena - 10 km from Castuera. No rest for the wicked!
Visit 2 - IES Antonio de Nebrija (Colin Carr)
After lunch we visited the Antonio de Nebrija Secondary school at Zalmea de la Serena.
The age range of the pupils is 12-16 and 16-18 (600 in total) the school was completed in 2006 with European funding and covers a large country area with pupils travelling by bus from all parts of the district. Pupils have the option of weekly booster classes and we were invited to view an ICT Design lesson.
The teacher controls the class computers using gnulinex and set an appropriate task in computer design using a QCAD on Windows and Linex. This is a multifunction program which enabled pupils to design in layers and included line, shape, space, colour and measurement.
The pupils were set an appropriate task and worked in pairs to complete.
The second part of the visit included a school pupil and teacher ICT video production. The subject was the local region over the last 2000 years and was excellent both in content and production.
Finally we were all given a school produced calendar which was the latest ICT led multi subject production. Once again the final product was excellent.
Unfortunately our visit to the Roman ruins had to be cancelled as it was too muddy underfoot.
However, we were invited to have coffee and cream puffs in their cafeteria. This facility is unusual in the school and came complete with a proper espresso machine.
International relations were enhanced when the female students spotted Lee from afar. As he walked passed there were cries of "Lee we like you!" and within 20 mins he left to a chorus of "Lee we love you!".
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