Voices and Visions Conference - Celebrating 100 Years of Learning
The School of Education’s centenary conference, Voices and Visions, took place on Friday 17 September 2010.
Photographs and stories from the past featured during the day-long conference ‘Voices and Visions’, marking 100 years of learning in the University of Brighton’s School of Education.
See more photos from the Voices and Visions Conference...
More than 150 people including past and present students, staff members and teachers from schools and organisations across the South attended the event at the university’s new £24m Checkland Building at Falmer.
Keynote speakers were Professor Andrew Pollard, Teaching and Learning Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, and Professor Sir David Watson, Professor of Higher Education Management at the Institute of Education, and formerly Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The conference marked the culmination of a year of celebrations and documented how teacher training in the School of Education had reached its 100-year milestone.
Learning conversations
‘A learning conversation is a planned and systematic approach to professional dialogue’ (GTCE, 2004) that enables and facilitates personal and collective reflection, analysis and commitment to action.
Following the morning’s keynote address, the 'learning conversations' provided an opportunity for delegates to meet in small groups. Each group included appointed facilitators who provided the structure and support of a collaborative professional dialogue about professionalism and reflective practice.
Conference workshops
A series of workshops took place during the conference where particpants were split into groups to work within the areas of creative writing, digital story telling, film, music, photography, poetry, sculpture, theatre and visual arts. Find out more information and see photo's from the conference workshops.
Conference illustrations
Corporate artist, Graham Ogilvie illustrated the days events with his unique style of corporate artwork. See Grahams artwork from the conference.
Conference poet
We were thrilled to welcome Gareth Calway as the official conference poet. Gareth has had a long career in the classroom as well as being a writer, performer and generally multi-talented guy. As well as running one of the afternoon workshops, Gareth provided his own unique reflection of the conference in the poem ‘Impressions of the Day’.
Research
Centenary Research Fellow Suzanne Hyde has been researching the School’s history over the last century and has uncovered a wealth of artefacts and photographs documenting the growth of teacher training, from its roots on Brighton seafront to it's move to Falmer.
Suzanne has also filmed many oral history interviews where current and previous students and staff have reflected on ‘how it was in their day, current relationships with the School and hopes for the Schools future'. A selection of this material was on display during the conference in an exhibition specially curated for the special anniversary.
Words from Lorraine Harrison, Head of the School of Education
The School has had several different names over the years: Lorraine said: “It was in 1909, in Richmond Terrace, Brighton, that Brighton Municipal Training College, was opened – with 38 female, 19 male students and five staff.
“Today, we have more than 2,000 students enrolled on a variety of courses from undergraduate, masters-level and professional doctoral programmes. We now employ more than 150 academic and research staff, plus administrators and technicians.
“We also work with hundreds of schools and colleges and a host of other institutions and local authorities with the aim of improving the learning experiences and achievements of children and young people.”
Download the Centenary Conference Commemorative programme.
Find out more about the events that have taken place during the year of our centenary celebration.