Night of the Notables Programme (Trademark)

Inservice Outline for The Night of the Notables Programme

DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Introduction: origin, history, details, mechanics

2. Running of video of 1997 Night of the Notables

3. Points about the program:

- key criteria: choice and challenge

- some case studies, examples of student work

- making the choice of notable; a family commitment

- role modelling for the gifted person

- transfer of life-long skills across the curriculum

- why best for Year 8 age group

- teachers' experience teaching gifted as gifted; focusing the virtual with real self

- variety of assessment tasks (Reports of Research) cater for the variety of abilities

- required self and parent assessments are novel

- volunteer teacher and parent assessment teams

- key benefits:

- action identification - giftedness is a coalescence of influences

- unifies the Year 8 cohort early in its school career on an academic focus

- introduces parents into school work

- parents, grandparents, siblings, previous (primary) school teachers, other staff attend.

1. Calendar planning

Selecting a date for the Night

Setting a timeline

Interim deadlines

Assessment tasks and dates

2. Planning your Program

the Student Workbook

Assessment requirements

Aims; Advice & Models

3. Coordination of Night of the Notables™

School calendar

Inclusion within School policy

Letters to parents - models

Possible excursions

Preparation of a Guests' Programme

Marshalling resources; purchasing biographies, props

Internal Notables newsletter

Venue, pinboards, procession

Publicity: photographer, School Annual editor, video?

Certificates ceremony

3. Relevant Resources

Links to subject areas

Booking library and computing services

Accessing Internet services

4. For teachers of Notables Program

Providing a range of choices; Local school community personalities

Making the choice stick

Interview methods

Plagiarism

5. Starting Out

Biography genre; Marconi video; our heroes; "Was it possible?"

What is eminence/success? Notable or notorious?

Temporary stars and genius

Banned choices: assassins, genocides, teachers, cartoon characters, drug takers

Gender balance in the choices

Authorising the choices: local policy/procedures

©G.B. Smith 1996

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