Microsoft/Futurelab launch Enquiring Minds programme

A curriculum designed to explore personalised learning is being piloted in two Bristol secondary schools.

Led by Futurelab in partnership with Microsoft, the Enquiring Minds programme is designed to allow Year 7 and 8 pupils to gradually take more control over how they learn by drawing on their own experiences to produce knowledge meaningful to them. Ashton Park School in Bower Ashton and Gordano School in Portishead will work from the new curriculum for up to three hours per fortnight.

Ross Martland, assistant head for key stage 3 at Gordano School, said: “I am excited that we are establishing space in the curriculum for students to co-create their learning with teachers without traditional subject constraints. Our aim is to use a mosaic of students’ lives as a basis for extended questioning and enquiry. We want students to ask big questions and to come up with rich answers and solid reasoning.”

Enquiring Minds supports young learners to take responsibility for their own learning and equips them with the skills and tools, including digital technologies, required for effective learning. This approach allows children to act as researchers and innovators, rather than simply as recipients of knowledge, and so better prepares them for life and work in the 21st Century.

The new curriculum, along with a draft handbook for educators who would like to see how this approach could be implemented in practice, is available to download from the Enquiring Minds website, www.enquiringminds.org.uk

Researchers are now looking for UK secondary schools that are interested in taking part in this project. To get involved, email enquiringminds@futurelab.org.uk.