After two intensive days of researching about what effective curriculum planning is, participants were asked to design a unit of work that would reflect what they had learnt. The following statements have been taken from the reflective journals individuals completed that will form part of the learning portfolio being put together to showcase hub learning.

What have I come to understand over the past two days?

“How important it is to give the students a voice when constructing curriculum.”

“I love the return to the ideals of education. The networking with gun teachers and their wealth of knowledge was beneficial.”

“I understand that learning and future direction of teaching needs to change and for that to happen we, as teachers, need to work as a team. People need to be given a reason to change.”

“I am very happy with the planning I have undertaken and look forward to implementing the unit.”

“At first I thought I wasn't grasping anything. The session was slow to me and nothing was attaching to pegs in my head. The next session started to build up and this continued so by dinner I was able to reflect and grasp the idea that planning for planning was needed and a deep understanding of why and how we do what we do is what it's all about.”

“I understand that I am on a learning journey about planning and that I am well on the way but still going slowly. I better understand the process and have now experienced how to use planners. The time to work on them was invaluable.”

“That I was not planning thoroughly - planning was looking at activities not the purpose of what I would be teaching or how I would teach it.”

“How important the planning PROCESS is.” “I have come to understand the need for greater change in my school. I think I have a method for doing this now.”

“How to support change at the school level. Pre-planning is more important - don't skip the pre planning and planning stage. Graphic organisers are important for visual/tangible context.”

“I now realise I plan from the wrong end and hope to guide others to plan this way. However I know I will receive negative comments but will hopefully have ideas to combat these.”

“I realised I'd lost sight of what was important.”

“A deeper knowledge of planning.”

“I have come to understand the need to turn our kids into lifelong learners - learning for life, not just memorisers.”

“I understand to plan from the student's viewpoint - Questions tat would challenge and engage each student. Pre-planning and planning are important elements.”

“The importance of the pre-planning, planning and post-planning phases. A better knowledge of how to plan and how to purposely include thinking tools into my planning.”

“Gaining a better understanding on planning and essential and supporting questions.” “I have a much better idea of the curriculum planning process and how to make it meaningful and relevant for my students.”

“Clarified planning as a process not a ‘planner' and that there are many levels of understanding within a group of leaders.”

“Format for creating a unit/work plan that creates a deeper level of thinking and some ideas for sharing back at school.” “I understand the full scope of planning an engaging, effective, successful unit for students.”

“On right track but track has got a little bit longer, more challenging but very inspired.”

“I've come to learn that I CAN plan curriculum - all I needed was the right tools and guidance to get me there.”