ANSN enews vol 4 no 9
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
Mon Dec 14 13:36:21 EST 2009
enews header
*14th December, E-News Vol 4, No 9*
**
*Edited by Keith Redman*
*BUMPER CHRISTMAS EDITION*
Topics covered in this edition include:
* In Memoriam: Theodore (Ted) Sizer
* A report from one session at ANSN's 4th National Forum, held
in November
* John Hogan's journal from the USA: the Coalition and more
* Interested in a Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) study
tour in 2010?
* ANSN's 2009 Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub completes its program
* Register NOW for the 2010 Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub
(Victoria)
* Dimensions of Learning (DoL) Hub for 2010
* 2010 Setting the Stage for Learning Hub -- professional
learning opportunities
* Report from the Mooloolaba Advanced DoL Hub's final (showcase) day
* 1:1 Laptop Learning Hub in 2010
* Cognitive Coaching -- Research Circle
* Report on an external event: Annual Oration to Australian
Psychological Society (APS), delivered by Professor Barry McGaw
* Brief report on Hanan Harrison's 2009 work with the national
project: /Integrating ICT pedagogy in School Community/
* Some interesting reading
* Some interesting listening
*In Memoriam: Theodore (Ted) Sizer*
We were deeply saddened to hear that Theodore (Ted) Sizer, founder
of the Coalition of Essential Schools in the USA, passed away on
October 21, 2009.
Ted Sizer was a major influence on the Australian National Schools
Network and Big Picture Education. He launched the ANSN and
continued to work closely with us over the years. An excerpt from
the Coalition of Essential Schools' tribute reads as follows.
/'A New England native, Ted Sizer is widely recognized as a giant in
the modern educational reform movement in the United States. His
life and work has greatly influenced the instructional practices of
schools, districts, states, and educators across the country and
abroad for decades. His eloquent and fervent championing of
progressive educational ideals has had a profound effect on hundreds
of thousands of educators and students.'/
To read more about the life and work of Ted Sizer, go to
http://www.essentialschools.org/pub/ces_docs/about/org/execboard/ted_page.html
<http://e2ma.net/go/6531100199/208031377/209178385/34621/goto:http:/www.essentialschools.org/pub/ces_docs/about/org/execboard/ted_page.html>.
To see a sample of a speech he gave to the ANSN go to our website here:
http://www.ansn.edu.au/in_memoriam_theodore_ryland_sizer
* *
*A report from one session at ANSN's 4th National Forum, held in
November*
ANSN's fourth national forum was held on Tuesday 17 November, at the
Old Parliament House in Canberra. Participants reflected on the
first two years of the Federal Government's /Education Revolution/,
discussing its impact and implications for school education. There
was also consideration of some of the work that ANSN has undertaken
with schools in the same period. One related session was presented
by Andrea Federico (below, left), Victorian-based networker for
ANSN's Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) hubs and Assistant Principal at
St Albans South Primary School.
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Andrea outlined the work of the ANSN hubs, describing techniques and
protocols used in delivering the program (above, centre and right),
and identified some of the outcomes that have emerged, both for the
400+ participants in schools and the program designers/presenters.
Reflecting on the process and what has been learnt along the way, at
one stage in her paper she said:
/The success of these projects was not to overwhelm teachers and try
to give them too much too soon. We learnt that if we broke down the
program to manageable sections of ICT skills, supported by readings
and the bigger picture of how IWBs could be used in classrooms and
where they fitted into that big picture, then teachers felt
supported and their practice changed to varying degrees. So, it has
been a pretty exciting thing to do. *Grow an idea and watch what
teachers can do with it*//./
She also reflected on the impact of the Education Revolution in the
last two years at her own school, where she is Assistant Principal.
The full text of Andrea's paper will be available in the new year.
Watch ANSN E-News for details of its publication, as well as reports
from other areas covered during the Forum.
* *
*John Hogan's journal from the USA: the Coalition and more*
John Hogan, from WA, has just returned from the USA, where he
attended the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) Fall Forum and
visited a number of CES and Big Picture schools across the States.
(See, as examples, below left and centre, the Met School in
Providence, RI (the original Big Picture School) and, below right,
the Monte del Sol Charter School in Santa Fe.
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You can find out more about these schools at
http://www.themetschool.org/Metcenter/home.html and
http://www.montedelsol.org/pages/624.html
Some readers of ANSN E-News will have received at least parts of
John's journal, emailed periodically during his November trip. Apart
from reporting and reflecting on the Forum sessions that he attended
-- including topics such as: US federal policy in education; the
work of Met School Advisors; educating for sustainability; the
launch of a book on small schools/big ideas; and the role of play in
learning -- John wrote informally about meeting with leading
educators. One of these, Dennis Littky, introduced the session on
the Small Schools book and made a couple of comments that resonated
with John for ANSN.
/"... the theory is drawn from the practice. We need to keep doing
this."/
and, about the importance of networks like CES (and ANSN):
/"... when I was Principal and alone, and needed support, I felt I
had more strength to cope because of the CES. I could count on help
from the network."/
Once over his jet lag, John plans to make available
materials/resources that he gathered along the way, including
details of a remarkable mentoring program in Santa Fe and ideas from
a 3-day National Community Education Conference that he attended on
the west coast. The latter included successful use of the World Café
process, which is designed to help a large group persist and deal
with hard questions (see www.theworldcafe.com/hosting.htm
<http://www.theworldcafe.com/hosting.htm>).
For further details, email John.Hogan at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:John.Hogan at ansn.edu.au>
*Interested in a Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) study tour in
2010?*
John Hogan has also drawn attention to a study tour offered by CES
in early 2010. The tour locations and dates are
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 25-26 February, 2010
New York, New York, 1-2 March, 2010
The summary provided says the following: /"CES is offering a school
study tour of several exemplary CES small schools located in both
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and New York City. The tours are open to
educators, parents, students, and anyone interested in experiencing
Essential Schools in action. You will gain new insight into CES best
practices and take back tools and skills to share with your own
schools. Take advantage of having an inside look at some of the most
powerful innovative educational programs CES schools have to offer."/
The costs quoted for the tour are as follows (in US dollars)
CES Affiliate Fee: $375.00 Non Affiliate Fee: $425.00 Youth
fee: $250
For further details, email John.Hogan at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:John.Hogan at ansn.edu.au>
* *
*ANSN's 2009 Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub completes its program*
The three IWB Hubs that started in Victoria in Term 1, 2009, held
their final sessions in mid to late November and there has been very
positive feedback For further details, contact
andrea.federico at ansn.edu.au <mailto:andrea.federico at ansn.edu.au>
Keith Redman, E-News Editor, is currently working with some of the
participants to develop ANSN Snapshots based on their experience
with the Hub and the outcomes for their classroom practice. Watch
E-News early in the New Year for details.
*Register NOW for the 2010 Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub (Victoria)*
Now, before the end of the year, is the time to book a place for
yourself or a school team in the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hub
that will start in March 2010. Demand for places is high, so act
quickly. Don't wait till schools return after the holidays.
The aim of the hub is to enable teachers to use IWBs in designing
engaging and implementing rigorous learning experiences for their
students. The hub deliberately caters for teachers in primary,
secondary and special settings. Membership of an IWB Hub provides
five days of intensive training (spread over the year) in the
classroom uses of IWBs. The program includes opportunities for
collaborative design and development of programs and materials, for
sharing of ideas, for classroom trials and evaluation, and for
peer-based exhibitions of work completed during the year. It also
gives schools the opportunity to purchase packages, including the
Promethean ACTIVboard (below, left), at reduced prices negotiated by
the ANSN.
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Dates already finalised for the IWB Hub in 2010 are Friday 12 March,
Friday 19 March, Friday 23 April, Friday 23 July and Friday 3
September. Sessions for this Hub will all be held at St Albans South
PS, Lister Street, St Albans.
For further details or to register, *_click here_*
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/ansn_interactive_whiteboard_hub_2010_victoria_now_open>.*//*
*Dimensions of Learning (DoL) Hub for 2010*
In recent years ANSN has provided professional learning
opportunities in the 'Dimensions of Learning', based on research by
the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)
organisation and related practical experience. In 2010, teachers and
school leaders -- as individuals and teams -- will again be able to
join an ANSN DoL Hub, where they will explore instructional design
models related to the five types of thinking (DoL) that are
essential to successful learning.
Work in the Hub is based on the premise that all learning takes
place against the backdrop of learners' attitudes and perceptions
(Dimension 1) and their use (or lack of use) of productive habits of
mind (Dimension 5). Dimensions 2, 3 and 4 examine ways of viewing
instructional strategies and assessment as types of thinking that
allow students to take accountability for their own learning. There
is an emphasis on collaborative work in DoL programs (below left),
which are led by ANSN national networkers Hanan Harrison (below
centre) and Tina Doe (below right).
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For further details on the Dimensions of Learning and the five days
of Hub activities, *_click here_*
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/hubs/dimensions_of_learning_hub>. */ /*
In addition to the introductory Hub work, ANSN also offers three-day
Advanced Workshops in Dimension of Learning. These are designed for
educators who currently use DoL as their learning design framework,
to help them enhance their classroom practice further, through an
alignment of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment For details,
*_click here_*.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/hubs/dimensions_of_learning_hub> */
/*
*//*Proposed locations for the introductory Hub and also for the
Advanced Workshops in 2010, include Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns,
Canberra, Darwin, Lismore, Melbourne, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Sydney
and Tasmania.
To express your interest in joining an introductory Hub at one of
these locations *_click here_*
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/hubs/dimensions_of_learning_hub>. *//*
To express your interest in joining an Advanced Workshop at one of
these locations *_click here_*.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/hubs/dimensions_of_learning_hub> *//*
You can follow the same links if you wish to explore the possibility
of organising sessions in an alternative location. Alternatively,
you can contact Tina Doe at *tina.doe at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au>* or by mobile at 0421 440 725.
Dates scheduled at this stage for DoL-related work are as follows:
Northern Territory, Introductory Hub, 18 and 19 February, 10 and 11
May, 9 August
Northern Territory, Advanced Workshops, 12 and 13 May, 10 August
Mooloolaba, Advanced Workshops (#1), 22 and 23 February, 4 May
Mooloolaba, Advanced Workshops (#2), 19 and 20 July, 19 October
Mooloolaba, Introductory Hub (#1), 1 and 2 March, 19 and 20 April,
31 May
Mooloolaba, Introductory Hub (#2), 26 and 27 July, 6 and 7
September, 20 October
Toowoomba, Introductory Hub, 17 and 18 March, 27 and 28 April, 19 August
Toowoomba, Advanced Workshops, 29 and 30 April, 20 August
Gold Coast, Introductory Hub, 24 and 25 May, 23 and 24 August, 11
October
Gold Coast, Advanced Workshops, 26 and 27 May, 12 October
* *
*2010 Setting the Stage for Learning Hub -- professional learning
opportunities*
In 2010, ANSN will continue to offer the program "Setting the Stage
for Learning" which has the subtitle "Learning to learn -- building
positive attitudes and perceptions (DoL Dimension 1), through
productive Habits of Mind (Dimension 5)". This action learning
program provides tools that will help schools build the citizenship
skills, knowledge, capabilities and values that equip our students
as independent thinkers for the 21st century knowledge economy.
Initially, hub participants experience a range of opportunities to
introduce or reacquaint them with productive Habits of Mind
(Dimension 5) and the establishment of positive Attitudes and
Perceptions (Dimension 1) for learning. Progressively, the focus on
action learning challenges and supports individual understanding,
through professional dialogue and reflection strategies.
Locations and dates for Setting the Stage, already scheduled for
2010, are:
Mooloolaba, Setting the Stage (#1) 3 and 4 March
Mooloolaba, Setting the Stage (#2) 21 and 22 July
Participants may choose only to undertake these two days of Setting
the Stage or, if they choose to continue and explore the whole DoL
framework, they may do so at the same location, on the dates listed
in the previous news item.
For further details, to register, or to express interest in
participating in the Hub at this or other locations across
Australia, *_click here_*
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/habits_of_mind_hub>. */ /*Alternatively,
contact Tina Doe at *tina.doe at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au>* or by mobile at 0421 440 725.
*Report from the Mooloolaba Advanced DoL Hub's final (showcase) day*
Readers who are considering participation in a DoL Hub might be
interested to hear about the range of projects undertaken by members
of the 2009 Hub. In November, the 2009 Mooloolaba Advanced DoL Hub
held its final session, where schools showcased and shared what they
had been doing.
Team members from Trinity Lutheran College reflected on how they had
worked to get staff onside by demonstrating the value of DoL. Key
features of their project related to leadership for systemic reform,
teacher efficacy and improved student outcomes. See below (left and
centre) for images from their presentation.
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Kenmore SHS team members (above, right) reported on how they had
used DoL to put together a comprehensive planning schema that seeks
to add value to the school's present pedagogical practices. Tina Doe
reports that this presentation was a clear example of articulating
the DoL framework to bridge the theory/practice divide.
The team from Narangba Valley SHS (below, left) had sought to embed
DoL to improve student outcomes. They had developed a five-year
plan, using the framework as an explicit learning design. Tina
comments that how they used the Habits of Mind (HoM) symbols as a
visual cue to embed the HoMs was an impressive and simple strategy.
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David Turner (above, centre, with Tina Doe) is Principal of
Mooloolaba SS and an ANSN Board member. He reflected on the supports
that school leaders can put in place to improve the quality of
teaching. He focused on 'raising capital to improve the school',
what research shows to work best, and the transferability of
strategies and practice between school contexts.
The team at Sunshine Coast Grammar School (above, right) had worked
to improve learning outcomes through staff engagement with and
commitment to the DoL framework. They had modelled a collaborative
approach to developing a learning community.
Tina Doe, as program facilitator, expressed her particular thanks to
David Turner for hosting a series of hubs at Mooloolaba SS, which is
one of ANSN's partner schools.
*1:1 Laptop Learning Hub in 2010*
This new ANSN hub is designed to enable groups of teachers from
interested schools to design engaging and rigorous learning
experiences for their students, whilst supporting one another in the
learning.
The hub, which will explore essential questions about 1:1 learning,
the integration of laptops and other technologies in the classroom,
and the implications for teaching practice, caters for teachers in
primary, secondary and special settings.
Other aims for the hub are to:
* build a learning and sharing community, where ideas and good
practice can be shared in supportive environment;
* deliver a comprehensive training program, so participants will
have confidence teaching where very student has access to a
laptop;
* support student learning needs, by exploring the opportunities
for innovative teaching and learning using laptops;
* share and develop resources with other teachers to use back at
school
The Hub will run over 4 days in Terms 1 and 2 in 2010, at
Williamstown Primary School in Melbourne, Victoria. The dates are
Tuesday 16 March, Wednesday 5 May, Wednesday 2 June and Wednesday 28
July.
To find out more, including details of activities on each of the
days, or to register a team, click here
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/1_1_laptop_learning_hub_2010>.
Alternatively, email joe.wickert at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:joe.wickert at ansn.edu.au> or call Joe on (02) 9590 5341.*
*
*Cognitive Coaching -- Research Circle*
The ANSN Cognitive Coaching Research Circle has operated throughout
2009, helping member schools build reflective communities. The
Circle uses action learning and cognitive coaching to support
changes in teacher pedagogy and will be continuing in 2010, focusing
particularly on its series of workshops in Western Australia. More
details are at http://www.ansn.edu.au/projects/cognitive_coaching
To enquire about opportunities for participating in Cognitive
Coaching programs, email the Research Circle Co-ordinator:
*gavin.grift at ansn.edu.au <mailto:gavin.grift at ansn.edu.au>*
* *
*Report on an external event: Annual Oration to Australian
Psychological Society (APS), delivered by Professor Barry McGaw*
In November Professor Barry McGaw (below) delivered the annual
Australian Psychological Society (APS) oration to APS members in
Melbourne. ANSN E-News editor Keith Redman attended. Formerly CEO of
ACER, Barry /is now Chair of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment
and Reporting Authority/. Prior to returning to Australia at the end
of 2005, he was Director for Education at the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in Paris.
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Barry's topic was "Psychology and the National Curriculum". He set a
context for his audience by discussing the nature of psychology and
focused in his presentation on psychological measurement (including
its development over time from norms to standards) and its role in
education:
* for shaping ways in which student performance is represented;
* for building a quantitative basis for policy and practice, in
terms of quality and equity; and
* for applying these insights in reporting on school performance
in Australia.
He then reflected on the role of research on learning -- with
particular reference to learning to read and the development of
expertise. He made extensive use of data from the OECD's PISA
research to consider the performance of Australian children in
reading literacy, comparison with the results from other countries.
A pdf version of Barry's PowerPoint presentation, with annotations,
is accessible on the APS website at
http://www.psychology.org.au/news/news_updates/ There is also an
option to listen to a recording of the oration. Readers might find
interest in slides 15 (trends in Australian reading performance), 19
and 20 (social gradients for reading literacy, in PISA 2000), and 21
(lessons to be learnt). Slides 26-23 relate to reporting on school
performance in Australia, including the new 'My School' report
format, comparisons of NAPLAN results with those of other schools,
and the portrayal of a school's distribution of results.
*Brief report on Hanan Harrison's 2009 work with the national
project: **/Integrating ICT pedagogy in School Community/** ***
Throughout 2009, ANSN national networker Hanan Harrison has been
working with the DEEWR-funded project /Integrating ICT pedagogy in
School Community/. Among other things, this has involved designing,
organising and presenting seminars and workshops (below left and
centre) around the country. (Note: Photos for this item have been
'captured' as stills from video shot at workshops by Mark
Richardson, state-based ICT coordinator for the project in Victoria.)
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The aim of the project has been to explore teaching through the use
of ICT, focusing on related enhancement of pedagogy for
regional/rural school teachers (primary and secondary and across
sectors). There have been 3 phases: *Phase 1*, on-line self
reflection and preparation; *Phase 2*, a seminar for professional
conversation and learning; *Phase 3*, school-based action learning
research projects -- each one supported with on-line resources and,
for up to three months, by a Learning Mentor -- culminating in a
shared celebration of learning.
As 2009 ends, the project has reached Phase 3 and will extend in
2010 to the building of networks. Reaction from participants has
been very positive. Examples from video interviews at project
workshops include the following. */
/*
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It's been inspiring to think about how the technology can be used in
a classroom and for a purpose.
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It's been fantastic. We're lucky that two of us have been able to
come ... we've had so many ideas from the sessions at the workshop
and, because we're here together, we can talk to each other, bounce
ideas, and pin down what we can put into practice when we go back to
school.
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Our first thoughts are about how we support teachers to use on-line
opportunities to collaborate with each other -- particularly beyond
their own particular school, going across schools, across networks
and across the state.
For a more detailed report from Hanan on the 2009 work of the
project, *_click here_*
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/work_in_2009_with_the_national_project_integrating_ict_pedagogy_in_school_community>. *//*
*Some interesting reading*
Finally, if you are looking for some light reading over the holiday
period, here is a selection of recent education-related items
accessible via Australian Policy Online.
Digital quality of life: understanding the personal and
social benefits of the information technology revolution
<http://apo.org.au/research/digital-quality-life-understanding-personal-and-social-benefits-information-technology-revo>
Robert D Atkinson & Daniel D Castro, (Information Technology
and Innovation Foundation), argue that IT is the key enabler
of many, if not most, of today's key innovations and
improvements -- including better education.
How arts training improves attention and cognition
<http://apo.org.au/research/how-arts-training-improves-attention-and-cognition>
US Researchers Brenda Patoine and Michael I Posner (Dana
Foundation) are finding evidence that education in the arts
transfers to seemingly unrelated cognitive abilities.
A market model of education?
<http://apo.org.au/research/market-model-education> In an
AEU paper, Anthony Ashbolt discusses the push for voucher
funding in schools and argues that it would be a disaster
for public education, teachers and students.
Informing mathematics pedagogy: TIMSS 07, Australia and the world
<http://apo.org.au/research/informing-mathematics-pedagogy-timss-07-australia-and-world>
Sue Thomson and Sarah Buckley (ACER) analyse a selection of maths
items from the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS 2007), illustrating areas of strength and, particularly
weaknesses, for Australian students.
Doing better for children
<http://apo.org.au/research/doing-better-children> This OECD
publication explores how much governments are spending on children
and whether they are they spending it at the right times.
Building an international research collaboration in early childhood
education and care
<http://apo.org.au/research/building-international-research-collaboration-early-childhood-education-and-care>
Deborah Brennan (Social Policy Research Centre
<http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/>_) _explores the surge of policy
initiatives in early childhood education and care in recent years
and reflects on the relative lack of related comparative research.
*Some interesting listening*
ABC Radio National's Life Matters, on Tuesday 24 November included
author and educational commentator, Chris Bonnor, a former school
principal. In his session, Chris questioned the supposedly sustained
success of reforms introduced in New York City schools -- reforms
that are influencing educational policy in Australia. The session is
available to listen to or download as a podcast, at
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/
Have a great break everybody!
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