ANSN enews vol 4 no 5
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
Fri Jul 10 17:00:50 EST 2009
enews header
*10th July, E-News 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:
* personalised learning -- identifying student interests;
* 'adult world emersion' -- learning through internship and
mentoring; and
* designing learning to ensure academic rigour.
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.
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.
Leith Hoganlorraine and snake
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
<mailto:leith.hogan at ansn.edu.au>.
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.
JaquitaJacquita 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 at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:jacquita.miller at 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),
gavinbreak down the walls
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
<http://ansn.edu.au/curriculum_design_breaking_down_the_walls>.
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.
Lyndabb1bb2bb3
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.
bb race1bb race 2
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.
readers header
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.
<http://ansn.edu.au/developing_wonderful_readers_workshop_for_early_years_educators>
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.
<http://ansn.edu.au/developing_wonderful_readers_workshop_for_early_years_educators>
To express interest in participating in one of the new workshops, or
to register, click here to email Lynda <mailto:lynda.page at ansn.edu.au>.
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 at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:lynda.page at 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
<http://www.bigpicture.org.au/big-picture-education-tasmania-professional-development>.
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.
tinaThis 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.
<http://ansn.edu.au/2009_dates_for_queensland_setting_the_stage_through_habits_of_mind>
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.
setting the stage
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.
Pdolarticipants 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.
chopsticksIn 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. <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au>
Hanan changes role, travels overseas and gets closer to
publication
hananHanan 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.
<http://ansn.edu.au/kidsmart_snapshots_set_of_11_printed_brochures>
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
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/cognitive_coaching_research_circle> or
email the Research Circle Co-ordinator at gavin.grift at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:gavin.grift at 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 at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:andrea.federico at ansn.edu.au>
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