Tuesday, April 21, 2015

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.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Andrew,

    I can see there is a lot going on in your head. Some of what you mention above will relate to the school ICT Change Plan which is done collaboratively with the team attending BASTOW with you. You are starting to identify some clear directions and goals - I'm sure the Priority Review has helped you here (I went thorough this in March at my school so I know how time consuming it is). The part of your question that seems to relate more the ARP is this part:

    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.

    This question seems to be focused on being a role model. Remember the Action Research Project (ARP) is focused on your personal leadership and is a relatively short project of a couple of months duration. The ICT Change Plan is created collaboratively with your team and is designed to help you plot your school ICT strategy for several years. Many LSDA participants find it confusing to distinguish between these two projects.

    As for your ARP question, I think you need to simplify it significantly as it is way too big to explore before the end of May. Your project could be about being a role model and influencing others as you identify this as something to investigate or it could be about learning about strategies to gain parental and community support and buy in?

    My mobile is 0403 893 766 if you want to speak to me about this further.

    Kerron

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