Conference in Scotland Highlights Cooperative Learning

Thanks to Bill Sadler of SSLA for the information in this report.

November 6-8, 2003, the Scottish Support for Learning Association (SSLA) sponsored a conference which highlighted three themes:

• Co-operation and Partnership in Learning
• Citizenship and universal participation
• Multiple Intelligence - linking the mind and body

Actually, the more than 100 conference participants enjoyed three conferences in one. The three conferences were free-standing but inter-related, designed to celebrate, share and explore the best ways of working together to promote participation, good citizenship and effective learning for all our learners. Each day, the conference was held in a different location to take advantage of the natural beauty for which Scotland is famous.

Conference activities promoted positive teamwork and the development of strategies for an education system that is inclusive, welcomes diversity and provides an equal opportunity for all children to develop their personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.

Among the keynote speakers was Mervyn Wilson, a featured speaker at the 2002 IASCE conference and Head of the Co-operative College in Manchester. Mervyn enthused delegates with an optimistic picture of a Co-operative future based on 150 years of successful co-operative educational activity.

For more information on the conference and on SSLA, go to http://www.ssla.org.uk and then click on the conference report.