What are the directions for education?
What are the directions for education? An address by Mr Tony Mackay, Director of the Centre for Strategic Education and Deputy Chair of the National Curriculum Board informed Trinity and Ruyton staff members at the beginning of this school year about International and National educational developments.
He acknowledged the importance of the discipline areas in modern education, and stated that the curriculum must also contain features such as skills of problem solving, creativity and communication and collaboration in order to prepare our students to be:
• Successful learners
• Confident individuals
• Active and informed citizens
ICT Training
During the week leading up to the Staff Days at the beginning of the year many of the teachers new to Ruyton joined a workshop run by our ICT trainer Stuart Deane. Much of the learning was directed towards tablet computers and use of the software program ‘OneNote’. Stuart has continued supporting the use of digital features in education in training sessions for staff throughout the year.
Coaching
Another group of teachers took part in a course at the beginning of the year which introduced them to the model of GROWTH coaching and how to effectively use the process to support students and staff to achieve their potential.
Professional Learning Teams
Teachers from the Junior School and Senior School joined together to form Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) during 2009 and worked to explore and utilise the potential of digital communications and initiatives. The teams have divided into:
• Web 2.0
• Moodle
• CAS – Mathematics
• Tablet Technology
• Cyber Safety
• Interactive Whiteboards and
• e-learning and the global classroom.
Development of Communities of Learners
Sylvia Guidara, a digital learning and teaching consultant discussed the features of Web 2.0 and the development of communities of learners which is happening through this media. The participatory nature of this technology is very apparent when we consider the popularity and the ease with which students use Club Penguin, Sims online, Facebook and Twitter. Sylvia encouraged teachers to use the technology to develop the higher order thinking skills of analysis and evaluation, and to act as coaches and role models to move students forward, beyond the confines of traditional resource material, to the networked wealth of the digital learning community.
Using the Power of Emerging Technologies and Social Networking
Andrew Douch, a teacher from Wanganui Park Secondary College in Shepparton redefined the concept of ‘classroom’ for Ruyton staff. Over recent years Andrew has considered change in the ways we teach, and in the tools required to achieve change in teaching and learning. His school gave him a mandate to use new technologies while teaching Biology to VCE classes and Science to middle school students.
Predominantly using podcasts, he created lessons that students download and listen to as they journey to and from school, while out walking or during study times at home. Most importantly, the individual delivery of this learning means that the lessons can be listened to over and over again. As well, MSN and Skype generated interactivity between Andrew and students as they asked questions and clarified their understanding of science. The success of his approach has been witnessed in improved student enthusiasm for learning and increased ENTER scores at VCE. The presentation created a great deal of interest amongst staff, and gave tangible directions for implementation of new technologies in their own classrooms.
Mrs Amanda Swaney, Director of Learning