On Tuesday 17th November, 2009 The Australian National Schools Network (ANSN) hosted a national forum to discuss the Federal Government’s Education Revolution two years into its term in office, and its impact on school education.

The Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Julia Gillard launched the forum and delivered a précis on the Governments progress and accomplishments to date.

Tina Doe, August 2009

To conclude its 3-day program, the Nudgee Dimensions of Learning (DoL) Advanced Hub held its Showcase day on Monday 27 July.

The following short reports of presentations during the day illustrate the breadth and depth of work that the participants undertook, and which they presented to their peers. Conceptualised and elaborated during the initial two days of this action learning Hub, the projects were individual or school team-based, and contextualised to the learning site and the relevant DoL priority/incentive.

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

Successful schools work continually to develop a culture of student, teacher and leadership learning success. Cognitive Coaching(sm) is integral to this.

Participation in this intensive workshop will equip you and/or members of your team with a set of strategies, a way of thinking and a way of working that invites self and others to shape and reshape their thinking and problem solving capacities to achieve learning success.

Edited by Keith Redman

Topics covered in this edition include:

• The Intergenerational Youth Compact: An update
• New ANSN Snapshot from Research
• Introducing a new ANSN Networker
• Report from the Embedding IWBs into the Curriculum HUB
• Curriculum Planning/Coaching program: report on progress
• Curriculum Design: Breaking Down the Walls
• Bee Bots and Wonderful Readers workshops
• Dimensions of Learning (DoL) Brisbane
• Dimensions of Learning (DoL) Advanced Hub workshop report
• Report on Dimensions of Learning in the Northern Territory
• Further opportunities in Dimensions of Learning (DoL)
• Some interesting reading
• Reminders of ANSN activities, introduced in previous editions of E-News

Dr Julianne Lynch, a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, is a member of the Gender and Information Technology (GaIT) 1 national project research team.

In this ANSN Snapshot from Research, Dr Lynch refers to findings from the GaIT study, to draw our attention to:

• the declining student interest in studying Information Technology (IT) subjects;
• the persistent gender gap in enrolments in IT subjects at school and university; and
• issues related to school IT education that might contribute to the gender gap and to the more general decline in participation in this area of study.

Please note this course has been postponed: click here to register your interest and we will contact you when the new dates have been scheduled.

 This course is also available on demand - if you would like to discuss the possibility of bringing this course to your school or region please click here

This three day professional learning opportunity has been specifically designed to support teachers to develop deeper levels of understanding on how curriculum that involves community partnerships can be utilised to strengthen teaching and learning. This work draws from the 2007 ANSN Curriculum Planning Action Research Hub.

Edited by Keith Redman

Topics covered in this edition include:

• ANSN workshops – far and near
• Report on a Dimensions of Learning (DoL) workshop in Queensland
• Report of a DoL workshop focusing on Habits of Mind (Dimensions 1 & 5)
• Hanan a critical friend, as St Stephens College extends its work with DoL
• Summary of Term 2 and 3 opportunities in 2009, for ANSN Dimensions of Learning and Setting the Stage
• Embedding Interactive Whiteboards in the curriculum: New IWB Hub, for advanced users, starts Term 2
• Developing Wonderful Readers – a workshop for early years educators (QLD)
• Two Bee Bots workshops in Tasmania – Register now
• Big Picture Education Australia – Programs in Tasmania
• New report from the Brotherhood of St Laurence
• Some further interesting reading
• Reminders of ANSN activities, introduced in previous editions of E-News

First words must mean something to a child. First words must have an intense meaning for a child. They must be part of his being

Sylvia Ashton-Warner (1963)

Edited by Keith Redman

Topics covered in this edition include:

• Action Learning with Cognitive Coaching hits the road
• Hanan Harrison in Melbourne for workshops and meetings
• Making the right choice for your professional learning
• Upcoming dates for Dimensions of Learning and Setting the Stage workshops
• Register NOW for Dimensions of Learning Hubs in Brisbane and Cairns – starting in April
• Dimensions of Learning: Ongoing work with St Stephens College (Qld)
• Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) – New Hub in Victoria, starting in April
• An IWB Hub for more experienced users, starting in Victoria in May
• First IWB Hub for NSW, starting in April
• Introducing Big Picture Schools
• ANSN technology update and invitation for expressions of interest
• Early Childhood and Technology: Digi Kids Hub for Tasmania
• Two Bee Bots workshops in Tasmania
• Some interesting reading
• Reminders of ANSN activities, covered in previous editions of E-News