Enews 8th July - Vol 4 no 5
Edited by Keith Redman
Topics covered in this edition include:
- Gaining inspiration from a classroom visit
- Jacquita Miller reports on her venture into DoL workshopping
- Curriculum Design: Breaking Down the Walls
- Report from the Tasmanian Bee Bot workshops
- Developing Wonderful Readers in the 21st century
- Big Picture Education Australia offers July sessions in Tasmania
- Setting the Stage workshop coming up in July at Mooloolaba State School
- Setting the Stage workshop – report from NT
- Report on Setting the Stage in Lismore
- Dimensions of Learning (DoL) workshops – reports from NT
- Dimensions of Learning with Civics and Citizenship Education, in NT
- Hanan changes role, travels overseas and gets closer to publication
- Some interesting reading
- Reminders of ANSN activities, introduced in previous editions of E-News
Gaining inspiration
from a classroom visit
West Australian
Networker Leith Hogan (below, left), is involved in Big Picture Schools
work, as well as ANSN. Following a recent visit to a school, she has
written to E-News about what she learned there. Although somewhat
different from, and longer than, our usual E-News items, her story
speaks for itself.
In the Big Picture schools we talk of:
In one of those ‘marvellous experiences’ that you sometimes get when visiting student teachers on Practicum, I have just seen all of these elements in play, in Lorraine Chapman’s 5,6,7 classroom in a farming community out the back of Geraldton, in Western Australia.
- personalised learning – identifying student interests;
- ‘adult world emersion’ – learning through internship and mentoring; and
- designing learning to ensure academic rigour.
On this particular morning she had invited a local Conservation and Land Management representative, Kevin Marshall (pictured below right with Lorraine), into the classroom, to talk with her students.
He declared up front that he had a live snake in the white bag he held in one hand, and a dead feral cat in the other bag. He then proceeded to roll out story after story about feral pigs, feral cats, endangered species, snakes, rats, mice, lizards, roos, farming practices, trapping, shooting, weather patterns … stories, stories and more stories. He held us all spellbound for several hours. He had maps, photos, charts, and a way of speaking that made us all hang on to every word … and I thought ‘Why, oh why, can’t it always be like this? Why can’t all children get the chance to hear real life stories from real life people about things that matter to them?
I thought of the article by Martin Habberman about the ‘pedagogy of poverty’ vs ‘good teaching’, in which he says, amongst other things, that ‘whenever children are engaged in real life experiences … good teaching is going on’. And I knew that what I had seen here, in this classroom, was special … a beautiful example of ‘good teaching’!
Kevin saved the exhibits in the bags until last. By now, we were all hanging out to see what was in there. It was as if we were being rewarded for our engagement! Good teaching? This sure was it!
Thanks to Lorraine and her students for letting me join in their learning. In the photo, she is standing next to Kevin, with the snake, which the class had caught just last week near the school and frozen so he could help identify it. The examples of ‘good teaching’ just keep rolling on and on! What a celebration!
If you would like to comment to Leith about her story, click here.
Jacquita Miller reports
on her venture into DoL workshopping
As reported in the previous edition of ANSN E-News, Jacquita Miller
(below) is now working as an ANSN Networker. Based in Queensland, she
provides services Australia-wide.
Jacquita
has written to say that she recently presented a Dimensions of Learning
(DoL) workshop for teachers at St Bernadette’s Primary School, The
Basin. She reports that their professional learning day included an
introduction to the Five Dimensions of Learning, a focus session
applying Dimension Two and an analysis of student work, using a
protocol. Using a literacy frame, Jacquita led participants through a
series of practical strategies using Report, Narrative and Expository
Writing as the focus.
Teacher feedback on what they had learned from the day was very
positive. Asked to comment on learning they had found particularly
valuable, their comments included the following: "Wow! There are so
many things I’ve learnt today. BUT the most important is the simple 5
steps to utilising the DoL process."
If you would like to find out more about how to engage students through
meaningful literacy instruction, using the DoL framework, email
Jacquita at jacquita.miller@ansn.edu.au
Curriculum Design:
Breaking Down the Walls
In the previous edition
of E-News we introduced a new 3-day learning opportunity, Breaking Down
the Walls. This program is being delivered by Megan Parker, a Deputy
Principal and ANSN Networker, and Gavin Grift (below left), who is the
ANSN National Networker for Curriculum Planning. They aim to help
teachers develop deeper levels of understanding about how curriculum
can strengthen teaching and learning, in significant ways, when it
involves community partnerships and takes learning beyond the classroom
boundaries (symbolised in the image, below, from the program brochure),
The program reflects the six phases of the “Teaching to Learn, Learning
to Teach” curriculum planning process and emphasises methods that lead
to “depth of learning” rather than “coverage of material”. It is
designed to help manage tensions between negotiated curriculum and
teacher-directed instruction.
The inaugural presentation of the program will be at ANSN’s “work site”
in Williamstown Primary School, Victoria, on 17 and 18 August 2009,
with a final day on 9 November. For
further details, and to register, click here.
Report from the
Tasmanian Bee Bot workshops
Lynda Page (below left),
reports that her visit to Tasmania, to present her recent one-day Bee
Bot workshops, was her first time on the Apple Isle. Unable to take
photos of the early years robotics sessions herself, when both her
camera and her mobile died, she has sent in some shots (below) taken by
the participants – showing quite a “fashion parade” of their decorated
Bee Bots, ready for and participating in choreographed races.
Lynda ran two workshops, one in Launceston and one in Hobart, which
were the biggest and most successful she has yet run. They included a
new session on how to use the Bee Bots to tell a progressive story.
Participants got into the swing of the day and came up with original
ideas on how to use the Bee Bots in their classrooms.
The days were full of laughter and fun and participant feedback was
that it was great to have such a hands-on workshop, with so many ideas
shared, and so much to take back to the classroom and use straight away
with their children. Lynda was grateful for the work of the organisers
in setting up the workshops for their interstate visitor, and was
particularly appreciative of the enthusiastic participation of Catholic
education teachers who spent the first or second day of their holiday
in the workshops. She is now looking forward to coming back in
September to run a Developing Wonderful Readers workshop (see details
later in E-News).
Developing Wonderful
Readers in the 21st century
On June 5th and 19th,
Lynda Page
presented her 2-day Developing Wonderful Readers
workshop in Tasmania. Participants considered the reasons for tapping
into the children’s prior knowledge and enthusiasm when using ICTs, and
looked at ways of using technologies to develop their students’
literacy skills. The two days of the workshop are separated, to give
the participants time (homework between days) to develop literacies
that are relevant to the children in their own classrooms.
If you are interested in participating in a Developing Wonderful
Readers workshop, the next one Lynda is running will be in Melbourne on
24 and 27 July, at Williamstown Primary School. To
register, click here. Further dates for workshops have just been
finalised; These include the following.
Bee Bots
- late August, in Sydney, Marrickville Public School.
- 4 September, at Osbourne Primary School, in Mt Martha, Victoria.
Developing Wonderful Readers
- 18 and 21 September, in Sydney
- 25 and 28 September, in Hobart
- 1 and 2 October, in Launceston
For more information
about what these workshops can offer to you and your school, click
here. To express interest in participating in one of the new
workshops, or to register, click
here to email Lynda.
Lynda can also work with you to plan and deliver programs in your area.
If your school, or cluster of schools, is interested and has the space
and numbers to run either Wonderful Readers or Bee Bot workshops,
contact her on lynda.page@ansn.edu.au
and she will work out dates that suit.
Big Picture Education
Australia offers July sessions in Tasmania
Big Picture Education
Australia is about to launch a Three-Day Foundation Program in
Tasmania. This program is designed for those educators who want an
introduction to Big Picture in general, and to Big Picture principles
and practice in schools and communities. Day One of the Foundation
Program will be offered twice, on 28 July and again on 29 July. Day 2
will then be run twice, on 22 and 23 October, with Day 3 on 19 and 20
November. Participants can select the Day 1, 2 and 3 days that are most
convenient for them. For
more information, and to register, click here.
Setting the Stage
workshop coming up in July at Mooloolaba State School
Tina Doe (below) will be
presenting a Setting the Stage workshop at Mooloolaba State School, on
the Sunshine Coast, on 20 and 21 July.
This
workshop is designed for educators who have been implementing and
exploring the Habits of Mind or Dimensions of Learning. Tina’s aim is
to help participants find ways to enhance their pedagogical journeys
further, to develop a learning and teaching framework through a common
language, and to align their schools’ assessment, pedagogy and planning
through a "thinking" approach. For
further details, or to register for the workshop, click here. For a
taste of what this workshop program can offer, read the following two
reports.
Setting the Stage
workshop – report from NT
In June, Tina led a
one-day Setting the Stage workshop in NT, for teachers from three
Darwin Middle Schools and representatives from Teaching, Learning and
Standards (NT DET). Darwin Middle School hosted the event and Tina was
most impressed with their facilities and hospitality, thanking Ramon
Dixon, the assistant principal, for his work to make the day a
success.
Tina reports that the teachers, from the Darwin, Nightcliff and
Dripstone Middle Schools, worked with their NT DET colleagues to come
to collective understandings of how to work with staff at their
schools, or in their site-specific projects, to embed Dimensions 1 and
5 into their school cultures and pedagogy.
The best ‘takeaways’ for the day, Tina comments, ranged from the
benefit of working across school groups as a community of practice, to
the appreciation of having their voices and stories heard as part of
the professional learning. She wishes ‘good luck’ to our NT colleagues
with their separate and collective plans for Setting the Stage for
learning.
Report on Setting the
Stage in Lismore
Participants from
Trinity Catholic College, Lismore recently engaged in a 2-day Setting
the Stage program, led by Tina Doe. This Key Team has expanded its
members’ capacity to work with Dimensions 1 and 5 of the DoL
framework. They have explored the meaning of Attitudes and Perceptions
(Dimension 1) and the Habits of Mind (Dimension 5). Using action
learning they have formulated an initial project plan for Habits of
Mind as a thinking framework for their school community.
Participant feedback showed very positive responses, particularly in
terms of how empowered the participants felt to see alignments with
their current practice. Participants valued the time to learn, reflect,
think, plan and improve learning activities for students, and commented
that they liked:
- the fact that it was ‘engaging, enlightening and energising’;
- how they were able to familiarise themselves with the overriding concept and ideas for applying the concepts and practice, at a personal level
- the changing of pace/multiple approaches – noting that revisiting is confirming of knowledge;
- working in an enthusiastic group towards a common goal with shared enthusiasm; and
- that ‘a great deal was achieved in 2 days and, although there is a lot to take in, the HoM framework is much clearer’.
- In the future, Tina intends working with feeder schools and the wider community in Lismore, to spread the word about Setting the Stage for Learning.
Dimensions of Learning
(DoL) workshops – reports from NT
In June, Tina Doe worked
with the Charles Darwin University Teaching Schools key team – all
educators employed by the Dept of Education and Training (DET) – to
facilitate their co-construction of knowledge and practice with the
Dimensions of Learning (see diagram below, from David Lynch’s work in
this area). This is part of ongoing work to underpin the NT Teaching
and Learning Framework with DoL.
Participants
planned their own leadership project in the context of their
site-specific DoL journey and will gather later in the year with their
teams to present their project and analyse its findings. Feedback for
the workshop was that insights from this day, using an action research
model, had led participants, individually and collectively, towards
sustainable and embedded DoL practice. In particular, the opportunity
for reflective practice and collaborative planning through a common
language (provided by DoL), was seen to facilitate work with other
participants. Tina comments that through shared practice and
activities, and the use of protocols to reflect critically on each
other’s project planning, the group members pooled their efforts and
expertise. This allowed them to focus on leading their own teams in
project-based work specific to DoL – in particular the Habits of Mind
(HoMs) – as a thinking framework.
Dimensions of Learning
with Civics and Citizenship Education, in NT
Tina Doe reports that
the Strategic Priority Projects Team from Teaching, Learning and
Standards Division of the NT DET is coordinating a tri-sectoral project
in Civics and Citizenship Education.
Teachers from Girraween PS, Moil PS, Sanderson Middle School, Kormilda
College and Sacred Heart PS are using a draft Civics and Citizenship
Education Scope and Sequence document, developed in NT, to plan a unit
of work for their classes in Term 3. The focus for planning and
implementing this unit of work is on Design for Learning, so Tina was
enlisted to work with this group of teachers to develop their
understanding of the Eight Learning Management Questions and how the
Dimensions of Learning sit within this framework. For most of the
participants, it was the first foray into the Dimensions of Learning
and Tina found they were really keen to get into the professional
learning.
In this
photo, Danielle and Jasmine demonstrate how they learned to use
chopsticks as an activity focused on Dimension 2, which investigated
how we acquire and integrate new procedural knowledge.
For more detailed information about Tina’s work in NT, click here to email her.
Hanan changes role, travels overseas and gets closer to publication
Hanan
Harrison, ANSN National Networker, will doing less work on Dimensions
of Learning, Bee Bot and Digi Kids programs in the next few months. Her
colleagues, Tina Doe, Jacquita Miller and Lynda Page will be doing
more. Hanan is going to be co-ordinating a major ICT-related program,
which she will report on as it gets under way.
In the meantime, she travelled overseas in June, to present at an
international ICT conference in the UK, and will report on what she
learned there once she’s got her breath back in Australia. Her new book
– which encapsulates a lot of the ideas and experience that she
accumulated in her Digi Kids programs, and provides proven, practical
activities for classrooms – is currently in the final stages of
preparation for publication. More later.
If you haven’t yet caught up with the Snapshots that Hanan produced
from the ANSN-IBM KidSmart project (which led into developing the Digi
Kids program), you can order them now as a printed set. The eleven
Snapshots showcase the work of early childhood teachers, describing and
commenting on their varied journeys, as they integrated technology with
a play-based curriculum. The Snapshots are designed to celebrate and
share the teachers’ cumulative learning, as well provide examples of
innovative teaching practices that they have developed in their own
school contexts but which have wider relevance for teachers around
Australia. For
more information and to purchase the set, click here.
Some interesting reading
Tony Vinson, from the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has
produced a report on Social Exclusion and Early Childhood Development.
It explores one of the most decisive findings of behavioural and social
research, which has been the economic and social benefits of early
education. It outlines the scale of those benefits, after examining the
factors that enhance, or impede, a good beginning to children's
education. It emphasises that the common ground can be found in
children’s readiness to learn in their earliest years and the
disadvantageous consequences in educational and other terms of missing
that opportunity. To read or download the full text, go to the
Australian Policy Online website page at http://apo.org.au/node/14729
Reminders of ANSN
activities, introduced in previous editions of E-News
Cognitive Coaching
– Research Circle
The 2009 Cognitive Coaching Research Circle, now operating, is designed
to help schools build reflective communities, using action learning and
cognitive coaching to support changes in teacher pedagogy. For
further details, click here or email the Research Circle
Co-ordinator at gavin.grift@ansn.edu.au
Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub, Victoria – Reminder of dates
For the three IWB Hubs that started in Term 1, the remaining session
dates are:
Group 1: 27 August, 12 November 2009
Group 2: 3 September; 19 November 2009
Group 3: 10 September, 26 November 2009
For further details, contact andrea.federico@ansn.edu.au
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