The iCatalyst pedagogical interventions: Sprint and Insight

This MESHGuide is focusing on the pedagogy used for the Continuing Professional Development(CPD) programmes developed by the MirandaNet Fellowship that demonstrate the application of practice-based learning to CPD. The MirandaNet professional organisation (1992-2023) has had a unique reputation in the market for independence, credibility and market leading research into technology and innovation.MirandaNet Fellows who are all educators and researchers offer an innovative qualitative research programme, called iCatalyst: in this programme  teachers in the classroom themselves become co-researchers in order to to define, measure and report on the impact of innovation on learning. Working with all key stakeholders, the MirandaNet researchers and co-researchers identify what they want to gain from their investment in digital technologies in terms of evidence of learning. Crucial to success is the methodology of collecting evidence of learning in the classroom and developing the  ability to measure the impact of implementation.

As co-researchers the participants build a professional community in order to amass the evidence they need to underpin the changes they want to make. Publishing case studies on the MirandaNet website built our Knowledge Hub where professionals shared and drove  knowledge to a global audience of like-minded professionals. The MirandaNet website has now been archived by the British Library in perpetuity so that other professionals can benefit from the MirandaNet Fellows commitment.

iCatalyst consists of two programmes: Sprint and Insight. Participants in Sprint work towards a short research report, developed in about one term, focusing on the value of one digital product or service. The study is undertaken by key teachers as co-researchers with the support of selected advisors and researchers from the professional communities. Insight  is a longer project where school leaders collaborate over a year to look in depth at how they are using digital products and services and how they can boost achievement.  A group of staff leaders define innovation strategy, review implementation and measure the impact on learning over the long term.