ANSN enews vol 4 no 3
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
ansn_members at ansn.edu.au
Wed May 13 14:17:44 EST 2009
enews header
*13th May, E-News Vol 4, No 3*
*
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
ANSN workshops -- far and near
Viv White, ANSN National Coach, has just returned to Victoria after
running a workshop in Queensland. She reports that it is pleasing to
see so many of our members coming to the variety of programs that
ANSN offers. Sometimes this involves considerable travel by the
participants. In this case Viv's workshop was held at Mooloolaba
Primary School on the Sunshine Coast -- one of the schools that
provides an "action site" for our work. As well as attracting
participants from the local area, the workshop included teachers
from Corinda High in Brisbane and, from interstate, folks from
Wodonga Catholic Secondary College in Victoria, as well as from
Melbourne and Adelaide. That's a long way to go to build your
professional learning. Perhaps, as this workshop was scheduled with
school holidays in mind, there was the promise of mixing work with
pleasure. However, based on past experience, we also believe that
some teachers like to work nationally, while others are drawn by a
particular topic or workshop that suits their interests and needs.
However, Viv comments, some folk also say they wish that a
particular workshop of interest was not just being offered in
Mooloolaba, a state capital or some other specific location -- they
would like to go, but it's too far away. For those people, Viv has a
message:
"If you like the ideas or topic and can arrange for 20 or so local
colleagues to come, we can almost always (with enough lead time)
come to you. So, when you read of an upcoming event, want to attend
but can't go because of where it is, contact us and we'll see what
we can arrange. If you are interested in this possibility for your
school or group of schools, email viv.white at bigpicture.org.au
<mailto:viv.white at bigpicture.org.au>
Report on a Dimensions of Learning (DoL) workshop in Queensland
Tina Doe, ANSN Networker (below, left), reports that she has been
working with staff from the Senior Campus of Forest Lake College in
Brisbane (below, centre). Over two days, staff rotated through DoL
planning sessions (below, right) in eight faculty-based groups.
Tina DoeForest LakesForest Lakes teachers
The focus was to unpack the Dimensions of Learning as a pedagogical
framework for planning teaching and learning. Feedback included the
following.
/"It explained exactly what DoL means and why it is so important."/
/"It was hands on!! We could make it relevant as we went along."/
/"The session allowed us to take our units and make them working
DoL documents."/
/"Unpacking the Dimensions into simple forms that make sense
(helped us) to achieve a deeper understanding of the framework."/
Participants said they appreciated the "realistic hands-on help";
and personalised attention from the workshop facilitator, in both
their individual and group planning contexts. They reported that the
workshops were "engaging", "zippy", "not boring" and "relevant".
They made a point of thanking the Forest Lake College Head of
Science/Dean of Curriculum, Glenn Johnson, for his understanding of
"where they were at" in their DoL journey and helping to tailor this
opportunity for them to plan collaboratively, in their faculty
teams, under the guidance of a Critical Friend.
If you are interested in exploring the Dimensions of Learning with
Tina, please refer to the table of scheduled workshops, dates and
locations (Summary of Term 2 and 3 opportunities in 2009 ...), later
in this edition of ANSN E-News. Alternatively, contact
tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> to discuss the
possibility of organising sessions in your area.
Report of a DoL workshop focusing on Habits of Mind (Dimensions
1 & 5)
Tina Doe also reports that she worked with more than 100 staff
members at Kenmore SHS in Brisbane, on the Term 2 Student Free Day.
A variety of sessions made the day successful, reflecting
substantial pre-planning to provide a custom-designed package for
the school. Initial activities were led by the school's
administration team and DoL leadership members, who focused work on
Habits of Mind (HoM, Dimension 1) teaching and learning strategies
(see below). In the middle session Tina facilitated an in-depth
exploration of the HoM, where participants were offered
opportunities to share their stories through a series of activities.
Kenmore 1
The final session was dedicated to feedback and reflection in groups
(below, left) -- including teachers from all faculties, so different
perspectives could be shared about how the HoM strategies play out
in classrooms. Feedback showed that the most effective elements of
professional learning were:
/"sharing with colleagues -- getting involved, rather than just
sitting and listening";/
/"deepening my appreciation of the need to teach to the Habits
of Mind and my understanding of what they seek to achieve"; and/
/"opportunities to interact and listen to stories from around
the school and share experience about what works and what doesn't"/
Some participants particularly enjoyed a HoM "chain" activity where
participants had the opportunity to be creative with "jewellery"
design (below, right).
chain 1chain 2
Overall, however, the standout comments were about:
/"modelling of key ideas and links with research -- I like facts
and figures to support ideas"; and /
/"making links -- talking about HoM as a transdisciplinary
metalanguage for Kenmore SHS"./
Tina reports that Kenmore SHS continues to work, through its
Lighthouse Team, to explore and contextualise the Habits of Mind
specifically, and the Dimensions of Learning in general, as their
common school pedagogical framework. For further details or queries,
contact Tina at tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au>
Hanan a critical friend, as St Stephens College extends its work
with DoL
As reported in the previous edition of E-News, Hanan Harrison has
been delivering a customised DoL program for St Stephens College, a
P-12 campus in Queensland. Initially, she worked with the steering
team (a group of 20 curriculum leaders), helping them build their
capacity and a deeper knowledge of DoL, so they could lead future
discussion with their colleagues. She reports that on 20 April the
college used its student-free first day of term to broaden this
work, involving the whole staff. Hanan worked as a critical friend
alongside the team, helping the participants develop their awareness
of DoL as a framework for aligning curriculum, assessment and
curriculum. Below left, staff members share ideas at the session
and, right, complete their reflective journals.
st stephensst stephens 2
If your school is interested in finding out about working with Hanan
as a critical friend, or if you are interested in her designing a
tailor-made workshop for your school, email her at
hanan.harrison at ansn.edu.au. <mailto:hanan.harrison at ansn.edu.au>
Summary of Term 2 and 3 opportunities in 2009, for
ANSN Dimensions of Learning and Setting the Stage
Scan the following dates to see which of the scheduled sessions
might suit you. Note, by the way, that the Advanced DoL Hub sessions
at Nudgee College in Brisbane start in May, so if you want to
attend, you will need to act now and click here to register.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/advanced_2_day_dimensions_of_learning_workshop>
*Dates of sessions* *Dimensions of
Learning * *Setting the Stage
(Dimensions 1 & 5)*
*Term 2 *
19 & 20 May
& 27 July Advanced 3-Day Hub
Nudgee College, 2199 Sandgate Rd Boonadall, Brisbane, QLD
click here to register.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/advanced_2_day_dimensions_of_learning_workshop>
28 & 29 May
Darwin Middle School, Darwin, NT
click here for details
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/setting_the_stage_through_the_habits_of_mind_darwin>
02 & 03 June Introductory workshop
Professional Learning Institute Oxford St, Leederville, Perth, WA
click here for details
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/dimensions_of_learning_perth>
09 & 10 June Introductory workshop
Canberra, ACT, venue TBA
click here for details
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/dimensions_of_learning_setting_the_stage_canberra>
11 & 12 June
Introductory workshop
Canberra, ACT, venue TBA
click here for details
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/dimensions_of_learning_setting_the_stage_canberra>
16 & 17 June
04 & 05 Aug
25 Aug
5-Day Hub
Trinity Catholic College Lismore, NSW
click here for details
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/setting_the_stage_through_the_habits_of_mind_lismore>
*Term 3 *
20 & 21 July
Introductory workshop,
Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Email tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> for details
or to register
22 & 23 July
04 Sept Introductory hub
Nyanda, Brisbane QLD
Email tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> for details
or to register
28 & 29 July
17 & 18 Aug
06 Oct Introductory workshop
Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Email tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> for details
or to register
10 & 11 Aug
14 Sept
Advanced 3-Day Hub
Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Email tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> for details
or to register
12 & 13 Oct
11 Nov Advanced 3-Day Hub
Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Email tina.doe at ansn.edu.au <mailto:tina.doe at ansn.edu.au> for details
or to register
Embedding Interactive Whiteboards in the curriculum:
New IWB Hub, for advanced users, starts Term 2
Kate Cooper (below), ANSN National Networker for the ANSN
Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Hubs, reminds readers that a new Hub
for advanced users of IWBs is starting in Term 2 -- based at St
Albans South Primary School in Victoria. Kate will be co-presenter
for this Hub's activities with Deborah Vietri, who is author of The
Essentials -- A Series for Enhancing an Integrated Curriculum and
co-author of the Mathematical Developmental Framework.
kate Cooper
This Hub is designed for teachers who are already using a Promethean
IWB with students from Prep to Year 9, to help them develop their
skills and practices further. The Hub workshops will address ways to
design engaging and rigorous learning experiences for students. As
part of their work with the Hub, participants will develop a work
unit that incorporates rich IWB activities. You need to register
now, as an individual or a team, because the Term 2 Hub sessions are
on 14 and 15 May (with additional sessions in August and October).
Click here for more details and to register
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/embedding_iwbs_into_the_curriculum>
Developing Wonderful Readers -- a workshop for early years
educators (QLD and VIC)
ANSN is launching a new professional learning opportunity for early
childhood teachers, under the title Developing Wonderful Readers.
The presenter, Lynda Page (below, left), is an ANSN Networker who
has taught at all year levels from Pre-school/Prep to Year 7, has
led professional learning programs for Queensland's Negotiated
Curriculum program, and has been a tutor at Central Queensland
University. In 2008, she worked with Keith Redman (E-News Editor) to
produce Integrating Technology in the Early Years Classroom, an ANSN
Digi Kids Snapshot -- click here to read or download a copy
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/digi_kids_snapshot_no_1>. The illustrations
below, centre and right, are from that Snapshot
Lynda Pagereaders 1Reader 2
Lynda's two-day workshop (now being offered for the first time, in
Queensland and Victoria, with other states and territories to
follow) focuses on powerful strategies to engage readers with
purposeful and meaningful texts, to support and challenge their
literacy skills. During the two days, participants will develop
skills and knowledge in the use of technologies, to assist young
learners in developing their reading and writing skills.
Participants will share practice and reflect critically on their own
ideas and beliefs around imbedding technology into their current
language programs.
The inaugural two-day Queensland workshop will be held at Mooloolaba
SS on Friday 5 June and Friday 19 June, both days from 9.00am to
3.00pm. And in Melbourne on June 12th and June 15th at Williamstown
Primary, Cecil Street, Melbourne.
For further details and to register, click here.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/developing_wonderful_readers_workshop_for_early_years_educators>
Two Bee Bots workshops in Tasmania -- Register now
Regular readers of E-News will know that Bee Bots can introduce
young learners to simple robotics. Teachers who have attended ANSN
training sessions are using Bee Bots to engage children in contexts
ranging from creative story telling to simple dance routines.
Participants also report that, through their use of Bee Bots as a
learning tool, early years students are incidentally developing
spatial awareness and skills in sequencing, problem solving and
directional language. Below, left, students use Bee Bots as a tool
to learn and practise sight words. Below, centre, they use them to
help gather the pieces required for making various 3D shapes. Below
right, they develop problem solving skills and direction as they
navigate a racing track.
bee botsBee botsbee bots
Two workshops are coming up in May for Bee Bots in Tasmania -- one
in Launceston, on 25 May, and one in Hobart, on 26 May. To register
for either of these workshops, click here.
<http://www.ansn.edu.au/bee_bots_robotics_for_young_learners>
Big Picture Education Australia -- Programs across Australia
Big Picture Education Australia is offering several programs for
Australian educators.
* Big Picture foundation and intensive workshops Queensland
April 2009
* Big Picture advanced and intensive workshops South Australia
April 2009
* Big Picture introduction in Wodonga 27th May 2009
* Big Picture Foundation and Advanced programs - Tasmania
* Big Picture Two Day Personalised Learning Program - VIC
Programs will be led by Viv White (below left), Director of Big
Picture Education Australia and National Coach for ANSN.
VivBig Picture kids
The Programs range from foundation and introductory ones for those
interested in Big Picture in general -- from principles to practice
in schools (see example above, right) and communities to the
Advanced Program for educators who have experience in Big Picture
Education and see themselves as future candidates for training and
coaching in Big Picture practices. For details of dates and
registration, click here <http://www.bigpicture.org.au/profdevelop>
New report from the Brotherhood of St Laurence
Janet Taylor, from the research section at the Brotherhood of St
Laurence writes to say that they have a new publication relating to
the Brotherhood of St Laurence's longitudinal study of children born
in 1990. Entitled Stories of early school leaving: pointers for
policy and practice (PDF file, 329 KB), it's available on their
website, at
http://www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/Taylor_stories_of _early_school_leaving.pdf
<http://www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/Taylor_stories_of%20_early_school_leaving.pdf>
Janet comments that the stories of eight young people who left
school early, interviewed when aged 17, illustrate their complex
lives as they consider employment, training and other facets of
their future. Their experience leads to recommendations for policies
to ensure that young people are not excluded from appropriate
opportunities. Part 1 of the report discusses policy issues arising
from the case studies. Part 2 presents the eight stories in detail
and, Janet says, provides a useful source of qualitative data on the
experiences of young people in transition. Previous reports of the
study are also on the website. If you would like a hard copy of the
new report [A4, 75 pages, $12.00], contact publications at bsl.org.au
<mailto:publications at bsl.org.au>
Some further interesting reading
In the previous edition of E-News, Hanan Harrison noted that a
recent blog post by ASCD asked readers how they would rewrite
Classroom Instruction that Works today. If you want to be part of an
on-line discussion or forum, go to the ASCD site at
http://ascd.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/classroom-instruction-that-works-for-the-21st-century-learner.html
Keith Redman found Joanna Mendelssohn's article, Synergy and
Serendipity interesting. Writing in the Griffith Review, she argues
that as Australia inches towards a national curriculum, arts
education is being put in the too-hard box. She comments that the
challenge of designing a curriculum to cover the visual and
performing arts, music and screen at varying levels of skill and
analysis is daunting. Given the patchwork of different approaches
that has evolved in Australia -- some world leading -- she believes
that "the national curriculum needs to draw on the best, and find a
way to navigate the jealously protected differences between states".
To read or download the full 6-page article, via Australian Policy
Online, go to http://apo.org.au/node/1842
You might also be interested in Dean Ashenden's article for the
Inside Story site, entitled They Say They Want a Revolution. He
argues that while there's plenty of scope for the federal
government's "revolution" in schooling, there are few signs of the
ideas and resources that it would require. To download the article,
go to http://inside.org.au/they-say-they-want-a-revolution/
Reminders of ANSN activities, introduced in previous editions of
E-News
*Digi Kids Hubs planned for Darwin*
ANSN is inviting applications or expressions of interest for
participation in a Digi Kids Hub in the Northern Territory
(Darwin). If your school is interested, send an email to
hanan.harrison at ansn.edu.au <mailto:hanan.harrison at ansn.edu.au> or
call Hanan's mobile on 0407 464 472.
*New Hubs in 2009 for Improving Science Literacy*
ANSN Hubs are being planned for all states and territories across
Australia, to bring together research, theories of learning and
practical activities in the area of science literacy. For further
information, or to register your interest, click here and download
the flier. <http://www.ansn.edu.au/improving_science_literacy_hub>
*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_workshops_in_vic_and_wa_2009>
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: 21 May, 27 August, 12 November 2009
Group 2: 28 May 2009; 3 September; 19 November 2009
Group 3: 2 April, 4 June 2009; 10 September, 26 November 2009
For further details, contact andrea.federico at ansn.edu.au
<mailto:andrea.federico at ansn.edu.au>.
How to subscribe to E-News or unsuscribe
To complete a subscription application and receive E-News regularly,
or unsubscribe, click here.
<http://lists.ansn.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/ansn_members>
Send us your news
To send us information or reports about news and events in your
area, click here. <mailto:keith.redman at ansn.edu.au> If you do not
wish to receive future issues of ANSN E-News, click here
<http://lists.ansn.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/ansn_members>
ansn logoSubscription Information:
You have received this email because you have subscribed to the
Australian National Schools Network mailing list and have agreed to
receive e-mails. This email was brought to you by Australian National
Schools Network. ABN 22 057 975 355. PO Box 544, Strawberry Hills, NSW
2012. Tel: (02) 9590 5341.
Disclaimer: We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of
transmitting software viruses, but we advise you to carry out your own
virus checks on any attachment to this e-mail. We cannot accept
liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses.
-------------- next part --------------
Skipped content of type multipart/related
More information about the Ansn_members
mailing list