Anne Knock

There are only 2 things that a leader must do…

When Martin Luther King gave that famous speech, he didn’t start with “I have a plan” but “I have a dream”. Leaders’ undeniable dual-foci must be VISION and the ability to COMMUNICATE it. That’s it. This was one of my key take-homes from the opening keynote by Simon Sinek who is leading a movement toContinueContinue reading “There are only 2 things that a leader must do…”

Schools + change: the elephant is definitely in the room

In the Heath & Heath* metaphor for change the biggest thing to shift is the elephant. A very small rider atop a huge hulking elephant can direct it down the path, but the elephant must actually take the steps. The Heath brothers suggest a process ‘Motivate the Elephant’: – Find the feeling – Shrink theContinueContinue reading “Schools + change: the elephant is definitely in the room”

How can you help the elephant to change? Shape the path

Travel is one of my passions, especially cities. I love being where the people are, negotiating my way around a city, perhaps a in language I’m unfamiliar with (embarrassing my family in the process) and imagining what it would be like to live there. When I play this imagination game, life in the city, beContinueContinue reading “How can you help the elephant to change? Shape the path”

Schools + Change = How do you eat an elephant?

…One bite at a time. When I started school it was the mid-1960s. I remember the controversy over Miss Crackenthorpe’s mini-skirt and her overall personification of the fashion of the Swinging Sixties. As a little girl I was in awe. I also vividly remember school life, the way that the classroom was arranged, learning ‘socialContinueContinue reading “Schools + Change = How do you eat an elephant?”

Queensland Floods: One story, one couple, an inspiration

As a departure from my normal theme I thought I’d share the story of D1 and D2, salt-of-the-earth Aussie battlers who were hit by the ‘severe weather events’ that characterised summer in Australia this year. D1 moved to Queensland to start afresh about 20 years ago. D&D married later in life, a tough life,ContinueContinue reading “Queensland Floods: One story, one couple, an inspiration”

Professional development that gives voice

How do you engage more than 100 teachers, ranging from K-12 and across the faculties? The un-conference is the solution. There are no formal presenters, no PowerPoint presentations and no agenda, other than one big important question that is relevant to everyone. Here is what some teachers said at the end of the day: This is aContinueContinue reading “Professional development that gives voice”

Raising everybody’s game: Teacher quality essential for effective learning

The most significant impact on student achievement is teacher quality. From the many hundred of research studies focusing on the importance of teachers for student achievement, two key findings emerge*: Teachers are very important; no other aspect of schools is nearly as important in determining student achievement It has not been possible to identify anyContinueContinue reading “Raising everybody’s game: Teacher quality essential for effective learning”

Australian schools: From Good to Great…and then maybe Excellent! Learning from Singapore

“As the skills of educators rose, we needed to change our approach in how we managed them. We could no longer prescribe what they did, we had to treat them like professionals who had good judgement, knew the students well and could make their own decisions.” Encourage peer-led creativity and collaboration of professional educators throughContinueContinue reading “Australian schools: From Good to Great…and then maybe Excellent! Learning from Singapore”

Creating an [online] impression… its not all bad!

This blog is fun to write, as it gives me an outlet for my thoughts and ideas and I’m very grateful that you take the time to read it. I do get excited when I look at the stats. In December I had my most views to the blog in one day (30th) at 25ContinueContinue reading “Creating an [online] impression… its not all bad!”

A New Year commitment to professionalism: the 4 Ms of the ethical professional… from Gardner’s 5 Minds for the Future

What comes to mind when we think of the ‘professional’? Over Australian summer I am reading and contemplating Howard Gardner’s book 5 Minds for the Future. He asserts that there are five minds that we each need to master that the fast-paced future demands*: Disciplined mind Synthesising mind Creating mindContinueContinue reading “A New Year commitment to professionalism: the 4 Ms of the ethical professional… from Gardner’s 5 Minds for the Future”