The Question for ARP

Edited Big Question brings together key elements of the NPDL (New pedagogies, Learning Environments, Leveraging Digital and Partnerships

To establish a regular community learning evening that brings together 'adult learning program- inter-generational family school partnership', homework club and IT skill share.
To model and lead our colleagues to adopt a more learner centred pedagogical approach leveraging access to new digital devices and learning opportunities.

Reflection on 'Learning at Work' and Staff enagement

Hello Kerron,

am cutting and pasting from my Professional Journal.

Would be great to have a phone conversation soon - my mobile is 0428248143

As evidenced by the challenges of getting on board and connected to the Bastow program I have reread my notes from a Harvard on line program (2013) that looked at ‘Integrating Learning and Work’.

In 2013 (at Preshil at this time) the Leadership Team discussed and identified a range of hinderances or obstacles to leaders being learners.

·      Lack of process – privileging the informal

·      Cultural habits

·      Operational requirements

·      Poor systems that lose rather than save time

·      Relationships that are not values or process based

·      Perceptions in regard to time (notions of free time, preparation time as opposed to integrating learning at work)

At Lavers Hill now in 2015 it timely to be facing the challenge of Learning at Work :  timely also as we have identified a framework for our Leadership Meetings to include a balance of:

1.     operational

2.     strategic and

3.     learning focused sections

On reflection we are still privileging 1 over 2 and 3, while the Strategic has been dominant recently as we progressed through Priority Review, VRQA, Design Team, Implementation Plan, AIP and then a Strategic Planning Process.

If it were not for a brilliant NPDL workshop of ‘agile strategy’ our Leadership team may have gone under when it was apparent there would be no extension to develop the College’s strategic plan.

That was the conclusion of Term 1 and week 1 Term 2 we are informed on an Audit to be held (first in the state on April 20).

In context I recognise these are ‘obstacles’, privileging of strategy and operational over ‘learning’ – and the challenge is to open up space to progress our PL.

Engaging staff in the ARP

A next element in thinking about the Project

We want more staff to engage and have a voice. This can be an effective process for genuinely trying to understand staff points of view.

We are interested in using a language of enquiry and reflecting on how we ask staff, students and parents to identify areas of digital learning they are enjoying, curious about and those areas they would like to learn more about.

We are interested in inviting feedback in a range of forms –and sharing the  feedback – large noticeboard accessible to students, parents  and staff.

This process  also aligns with staff developing the PDPs –including at IT goal.

this consultation can also inform how we develop the homework- intergenerational evenings - one of our options for the ARP.

Big Question exploration

My colleague, Tony and I have had discussions in regard to our ARP.
We are exploring a number of focus areas

Some aspects of the context include:

We are introducing new devices but risk not changing teacher pedagogical approaches.

We desperately need to complete and plan the ICT strategy

We have major obstacles in regard to aging devices, limited bandwidth, high SFO and resistance from some staff quarters

Middle Year 5-8 program is highly adaptive within context of NPDL

Early and Later years are using teacher directed and content driven practices

Project based learning has been introduced at year 9-10 and buddy based learning at P-6

PBL at Year 9-10 are developing 1. Outdoor Learning Program using development of multi media skills (student selected project interest)

NPDL teachers are developing vision to bring year 5-8 students into year 9-10 in 2016-7

There is scope to progress 5-8 approach into 9-10

A challenge is to adapt practice in 2. Years P-4  - this is a big challenge

There is an inquiry unit operating but it has limited time – with a dominant focus on long literacy and numeracy learning sessions – and teacher directed instruction

There is a risk that P-4 students are not engaging and developing curiosity

How to enable the younger students to experiment with more self directed reggio and integrated approaches when the teachers are highly focussed on literacy and numeracy outcomes

3. Evening weekly community meal : intergenerational IT adult learning program and homework club

Our Big Question brings to key elements of the NPDL (New pedagogies, Learning Environments, Leveraging Digital and Partnerships

To model and lead our colleagues to adopt a more learner centred pedagogical approach, trusting in, creating space, and supporting learners capacity to explore, experiment, improvise, make mistakes, lose and find time, find their own pace and rhythms,  and work collaboratively

To create a learning environment that is flexible adaptive and supports the learner centred pedagogy

To develop family, inter-generational and community based partnerships leveraging access to new digital devices and learning opportunities

Next Steps

What is the Project we work with as the developing context

Reviewing and confirming project focus – select from 1-3 see above

How do we as leaders model this approach

How do we build on current work in Year 9-10 : is already underway and students have dedicated time : this does not directly involve many teachers

Work with P-4 – involves working with the PLT

The intergenerational evening is a new initiative aligned to a funding application around family school partnerships, students working at IT mentors and adult learning.

IT Plan and Audit: Where we are at this stage

Where we are currently 

Reflections on Leveraging Digital 
How New Pedagogies Find Deep Learning
The Middle Years team at the College has implemented aspects of NPDL with Year 5-8 team.

Ipads were purchased for the 16 students - Term 4 2014.
Initial set up of apps and system access was challenging

Term 1
Students progressed POU using a range of applications to share ILPs with parents at progress report evening.
Issues is accessing internet and log ins - need for stronger ICT support.
Staff PD is vital as they are making great progress with little PD.

Student protocols for increased access to devices is in place.
Students understanding of and signing of protocol
managing specific incidents with misuse and involving parents in learning process to manages concerns.


Planning for ICT Strategy at Lavers Hill College 

There is a high priority for the College to establish ICT Plan
the current strategic steps we are working on include:

Establish IT Planning Team - this has not been in place

Establish Learning Platform - research into Office365 and conclusion to go ahead with Google Docs as preferred platform.
Research re Reporting Package, Timetabling package, Platform for ILPs and Administration Platform.
Proposal after research to go ahead with Xuno and First Class.

Moving to a 6-8 week reporting cycle to replace semester based reports. Planning for this significant shift in practice is being embedded first in PDP structures for 2015

Review of IT staffing provision.
This is a major challenge as we need to bring in new skills base.
Scope to employ Apollo Bay IT support staff - AB have implemented Xuno and First Class and this could help in our transition to these programs.
Work Placement from West Vic staffing is also an option being utilised in Colac schools.

Introduction of Chrome Books for Year 9-10 students and for Adult Learning Program.

Development of College Library capacity to provide internet access to parents. Otways area has high SFO and limited digital access for many families.


Possible focuses for our Research Project 
All of the above have been considered and we are looking at pros and cons.
along with :

1. supporting staff to build their capacity and confidence 
2. build IT student wizard team - to provide a pool of IT coaches 
3. project based approach : establish Outdoor Learning Program promotions strategy - using social media, multi media, leaflet and video production and program planning