A Curiosity and Wonder INSET Day

All good teachers know about the power of curiosity and wonder to engage and motivate even the most reluctant of learners.

But do you know about the neuroscience behind it?

How it fits in to the curriculum?

How you can build it into the fabric of school itself?

And how you can create moments of awe and discovery throughout the whole school to tremendous effect?

That's exactly what schools have been learning across the UK thanks to a unique, entertaining and inspiring INSET day from two Associates who know their stuff when it comes to tapping into the power of curiosity and wonder.

Headteacher Employs The World's First School-Based Agent of Wonder

As a headteacher, Dave Harris understood the impact curiosity and discovery had in his school – in staff as well as students. Then a chance meeting at Nottingham University took things to the next level.

Dr Matthew McFall was at the university working on his doctoral thesis (his second) looking at the power of wonder for learning. Dave immediately brought him to work at his inner-city school as the world's first school-based 'Agent of Wonder'.

From those early days, setting up wonder rooms and curiosity trails around the school and building mazes, Dave and Matthew have shared with countless teachers and leaders in all sorts of schools how any educators can use curiosity and wonder to raise achievement, improve behaviour and motivation and inspire children and young people to be truly fascinated by the world around them.

The Impact on Staff

The day after a recent session with Dave and Matthew, the headteacher who had booked them shared the following with us from a member of staff:

"Those men made me realise why I am here, why I love my job. I feel like I have a purpose and I belong. It took a lot for me to speak out my ideas. I'm very passionate about what I do and as long as I'm there I will always be the voice for our students

PS My brain will not switch off with all the ideas. Can't wait to start our tunnel."

We feel it sums up perfectly the impact of our work.

Talking of which, take a look at this intriguing video of 'Magic Matthew' in action:

A Curiosity and Wonder INSET Day

In the morning, Dave and Matthew share with the whole staff over 100 different objects and curios in an interactive, hands-on and highly enjoyable session. As they do, they discuss the overlap between curiosity and learning as well as help staff understand how to emply the three great traditions of wonder:

1. The Cabinet of Curiosities
2. The Quest
3. The Labyrinth

In the afternoon, working with smaller groups, they will help staff think plan for introducing curiosity and wonder into their lessons and embed it not only into the curriculum but also school itself. 

Curiosity For All

Dave and Matthew have successful delivered this inspiring and unique day in all phases and in all settings*. Some schools use it as a traditional INSET day. Others have combined a day for staff with a follow-up day with children and young people themselves. 

To explore how we can create the perfect Curiosity and Wonder INSET Day for your school or college, just give us a ring on 01267 211432 (it will probably be Dave who answers the phone) or email us and we'll get back to you reassuringly quickly.

Curiosity and wonder have the power to transform learning, not only raising achievement and improving engagement and motivation but also helping us all, young and old, be fascinated by everything around us.

We feel that is an education in its truest sense. [ITL]

*As we type, Dave is delivering a 'wonder day' to members of the prison service in Wales.