Just like the shift from the factory model of schooling, leadership in education (and in life) is transitioning from command and control, centralised power to shared and collegial model. The innovation trajectory of Atlassian, originally an Australian start-up, is remarkable and it has topped the BRW best place to work. Atlassian understands the idea of change and agility:ContinueContinue reading “Innovating Education 101: From hierarchical to collegial leadership #innovatorsmindset”
Category Archives: Education
Innovating Education 101
(This has been prepared to share as a resource for a talk I recently gave.) The key to change is developing strategy by asking three simple questions… Where are we now? Where do we need to be? How do we get there? When I was in school it was like this: One teacher for each classContinueContinue reading “Innovating Education 101”
10 ideas to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset at school
There are immense opportunities for this generation of students. Demographer Bernard Salt found that the development of new technology also creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs: Connectivity will impact on all types of jobs, even those not strictly in the technology space – but they will make greater use of technology. According to Salt a cultureContinueContinue reading “10 ideas to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset at school”
Insight for schools: Trends in university learning space design, big shift from lectures to collaborative learning
For many school-based educators, one of the justifications for maintaining a traditional teacher and content focused culture is the need to prepare students for university. But what if universities are changing. There are many examples of tertiary institutions that understand the need for change. Information, lectures and resources can be accessed online, so why wouldContinueContinue reading “Insight for schools: Trends in university learning space design, big shift from lectures to collaborative learning”
Designing spaces for learning: 10 questions to STOP asking and 10 questions to START asking for choice, flexibility & connection
Currently I am reading Design for the Changing Educational Landscape: Space, Place and the Future of Learning (Harrison & Hutton). The book was published in 2014 and cites research and white papers dating back to the early 2000s. People were having the conversations then, the same ones that we are having now. A quote inContinueContinue reading “Designing spaces for learning: 10 questions to STOP asking and 10 questions to START asking for choice, flexibility & connection”
Happy teachers matter: Seven things school leaders can do to create the optimal culture
What are some of the things that make us happy in our work? A sense of a job well done Confidence in our abilities Great people to work with Feeling valued for our efforts Being heard and understood In March 2015 the OECD released a report from the International Summit on the Teaching Profession: SchoolsContinueContinue reading “Happy teachers matter: Seven things school leaders can do to create the optimal culture”
How do you lead innovation in schools? Step 1: Unlearn some old stuff & Step 2: Learn some new stuff
School leaders – here’s a quick quiz Are you prepared for disruption, mess and opposing viewpoints? Do you think you can successfully challenge the status quo? Can you throw out conventional approaches to leadership? Will you stick to it for the long haul? Yes? Then read on. Making It Mobile is the SCIL signature workshop for educators comingContinueContinue reading “How do you lead innovation in schools? Step 1: Unlearn some old stuff & Step 2: Learn some new stuff”
Innovating school: Mapping the change journey – 5 priorities identified by the OECD
According to the OECD, these are the three ingredients for innovating schools and systems: Leadership: strong leaders who establish optimal conditions in their schools Teachers: Confident and capable in their practice Culture: An openness to innovation OECD Report: Schools for 21st-Century Learners: Strong Leaders, Confident Teachers, Innovative Approaches (2015) by Andreas Schleicher, This document draws from three sources: evidenceContinueContinue reading “Innovating school: Mapping the change journey – 5 priorities identified by the OECD”
From the 3Rs to fast-tracking the 3Es: Entrepreneurial Educational Experience in 4 key steps
Each year on our national day, there are several categories of award for the Australian of the Year. It is an important event, highlighting significant Australians who have made a difference to the lives of others. The Local Hero Award was presented to Juliette Wright, who founded Givit: Goods for good causes. She is described as a socialContinueContinue reading “From the 3Rs to fast-tracking the 3Es: Entrepreneurial Educational Experience in 4 key steps”
Well-designed learning spaces can boost student academic performance: University of Salford, Manchester
The University of Salford in Manchester has gained a reputation for looking at the physical aspects of the learning space and their impact on the quality of learning. In 2013 the project on the sensory impacts on learning found (here): “almost three quarters of the variation in pupil performance could be attributed to design andContinueContinue reading “Well-designed learning spaces can boost student academic performance: University of Salford, Manchester”
culture | learning | design 