News
Innovation funding for Self Awareness Ltd.
£60k Grant Set to Boost Learning for Sixth Form Students
01 March 2007. Two Derbyshire companies are working together to develop a new service that could revolutionise the way sixth form pupils learn. The new classroom tool will help teachers understand the way that individual pupils prefer to work and learn, allowing more effective interaction between teacher and student.
The two companies, The Business Advice Team Ltd and Self Awareness Ltd have secured a £60k grant from the DTI to develop the product that in live school trials has shown advantages such as significant time savings for teachers and pupils alike. Nearly 50 schools have already used the service with over 80% of the teachers claiming a positive impact on lessons.
Sam Stephens, Innovation Director of The Business Advice Team Ltd, said, “We were delighted when we secured the grant for Self Awareness. With careful planning we hope the finished product will be revolutionising sixth forms across the country from Easter this year.”
Mr Colin Stoker, the man responsible for developing the service, said, “Thanks to Sam and the DTI we are now able to fully develop our idea. Live trials are ongoing, with great success, and we are now developing an online method of delivering the product.”
The model works by using a series of working style assessment tools to measure how a pupil interacts naturally with his environment. Once teachers understand the way individual pupils absorb and process information they can develop near bespoke lesson plans that play to the student’s learning strengths. Pupils learn more effectively saving teacher’s time and maximising learning outcomes.
The Business Advice Team Ltd helped Self Awareness secure the grant as well as assisting with the business plan that will see the money used to best effect.
Mr Stoker, concluded; “We have developed a world leading product but without the type of assistance offered by The Business Advice Team we would have struggled to fund its development and plan the most efficient route to market. We are delighted and looking forward to rolling it out in the New Year.”
Notes to editors:
The Business Advice Team Ltd is the Midlands premier consultancy for grant funding and all things business.
Re-Validation Granted from Cambridge University
Research Project
The aim of the project was to examine and validate the a reliable and effective measure of DISC (Driver / Influencer / Steadier / Calculator) types by the footprint assessment.
Based on a sample of 317 students, the items used in the footprint form were concluded as “reliable and consistent” and that the assessment is “capturing the different styles of learning”.
The research was lead by Dr. Paula Cruise of the Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge.
Self Awareness and TQ at the AoC 18-20 November 2008
Self Awareness will be at the AoC this November (18th - 20th, foyer number G52 - working with TQ Education and Training).
The theme for 2008, Changing Landscapes, reflects a changing sector and encompasses the big issues such as regulation, funding, international issues and organisational change. This year’s programme will include a number of new elements including ‘How to…’, ‘Master Class’, ‘Sector Network’ and ’Policy Forum’ sessions. We have extended the sessions to allow for more interaction and Q&A and the event will also start earlier on the Tuesday in order to offer more to members and non-members alike.