How to make the most of your visit

From experience over many visits we have learnt that there are some key things which participants can do to make the most of their TIPD experience. These include:

• Make sure you have wide support from your school
  You must have permission from your headteacher before you apply. In order to spread understanding of the visit further, see if it is possible to do a brief presentation to other colleagues and to governors. Explain the educational objectives of the visit and what you hope to get out of it to benefit of your children.
• Research as much as you can about the destination
  We will provide you with access to websites and other information, particularly about education. See if you can find novels and other material about the country you are going to visit, so that you understand something of the cultural and historical context of the country you are to visit. Learn at least a few words of the language, so that – at an absolute minimum - you are able to say “thank you”.
• Reflect on your objectives for the visit
  It is important that your objectives are realistic, otherwise you are likely to be disappointed. Talk to your group leader and, if you feel it would be helpful, seek advice from us: we know our destination countries well.
• If you want to make a longer term link, research ideas and funding sources before you go
  We are able to provide help and advice on this. Try to be as clear as possible in your own mind of what it is you want to achieve, and how it will help the young people in your own school.
• Take some small presents relevant to your locality in the UK, or even better, your school
  As well as this, you could take information about your school (photos, a prospectus, messages from young people) and about how the theme of your visit is dealt with in your school
• Get to know other group members
  You will find the experience much more rewarding if you make an effort to work with other members of your group.
• Work out how you are going to disseminate your experience as early as possible
  You should start to plan this before the visit, and then think about it as the visit proceeds.
• Write up notes as you go along
  Although writing notes each evening may seem hard, it is surprising how quickly all the new experiences start to merge together, and some start to be forgotten.
• Write thank you notes to your host schools as soon as you get back
  Although this may seem an obvious courtesy, it is surprising how many people forget, once the pressures of day to day life return!
• Write up your contribution to the visit report quickly
  Your group leader will expect some contribution to the group report, and you will discuss the format of this before your visit.
• Have a personal action plan for outcomes
  Set yourself some realistic targets for action points arising from the visit, and then check the plan to keep yourself on track.