East Lothian Council are doing interesting things in Education and because they have established a blog culture it is easy to keep track of developments. The latest on Don Ledingham’s blog is about teacher exchanges – giving teachers the chance to try out something new in another school.

I think this is such a good idea. Getting experience in another part of any business can make such a difference to both individual and organisation performance. Teachers I have met tell me how much of a challenge it is to get the opportunity to network outside their own school but how much they gain by doing so.

One of the biggest issues for any employer who facilitates learning for one of their employees somewhere else in that business is how to support the continuing development of their learning and enhanced personal awareness.

Some time ago I met with an engineer who had been sent overseas  by his employer for a 2 year secondment to set up a new machine and train local employees to operate it. In that time he learned a great deal about his leadership, got excellent results from the new workforce and experienced and adapted to a completely different culture – both in business and the country in which he was working.

When I met him he was very disillusioned. On return to his original workplace at the end of the secondment he was expected to go back to do the same job he left – with none of the other responsibilities he had thrived on while he was away. Not surprisingly he ditched that job and moved to an employer he considered would value his learning more.

From Don’s blog entry it sounds like East Lothian have taken this very seriously and I am sure that the teachers who do take advantage of the opportunity will greatly enhance their own performance and that of both the host and home schools. I am looking forward to reading more about it.

http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2007/04/18/voluntary-teacher-exchange-taking-a-chance/