When you are climbing the ladder of success, make sure it is leaning against the right wall. Education is on the political agenda this week in Australia. In the media our PM, Julia Gillard has been quoted as championing: A national crusade, a chance for change, education transforming the life of every child. This can be achieved,ContinueContinue reading “Australia’s educational reform: Becoming the Creative Country and the Clever Country #my5pointplan”
Category Archives: Education
Kids just need space. Room to move, to play and explore.
I attended a great school site visit today and it struck me, that all kids need their schools to have space and freedom to move. All kids. Giant Steps is a school in Sydney for high needs children and young people with autism. It is located in heritage listed buildings on the former asylum onContinueContinue reading “Kids just need space. Room to move, to play and explore.”
I think the time has come to stop using the term 21st Century [education context] & become authentic #RIP21stC
It has been the passionate rallying call for change in education for more than a decade and has challenged many of us to rethink the context and culture of learning in this century as significantly different from the previous one. Now that we are more than 10% into it, our use of 21st Century in terms ofContinueContinue reading “I think the time has come to stop using the term 21st Century [education context] & become authentic #RIP21stC”
“We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” (Churchill) Rethinking spaces to learn & work
Churchill was well-known for his classic quotes at a time of crisis: “We shall fight them on the beaches” “Never Give In” His humorous retorts: Lady Astor: “If I were married to you, I’d put poison in your coffee.” Churchill: “If I were married to you, I’d drink it.” On the rebuilding of the HouseContinueContinue reading ““We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” (Churchill) Rethinking spaces to learn & work”
Why Blog? A blog about blogging inspired by first timer @Jessica_Dubois #leadershipday12
This week a Twitter-Colleague @Jessica_Dubois tweeted: My 1st post on my 1st blog – Starting action bit.ly/QYiOvA – beginning the journey I’ve never actually met Jessica, but we have communicated over Twitter, she is “a primary teacher in a remote, Indigenous community in far-west South Australia”. Her blog is appropriately called Teaching Remotely. Jessica decided toContinueContinue reading “Why Blog? A blog about blogging inspired by first timer @Jessica_Dubois #leadershipday12”
Libraries for today and tomorrow: How is yours RELATIONAL, AUTHENTIC, FUTURE-FOCUSED, PERSONALISED, CREATIVE?
How does a school ensure that it is significantly resourced to provide for the learning and research needs of students, yet maintaining the relevance of the library? Learning communities need to have: The ‘place’ that fulfils the need for communal work, learning, connection and play Accessibility to resources Personnel to manage the collection A realisticContinueContinue reading “Libraries for today and tomorrow: How is yours RELATIONAL, AUTHENTIC, FUTURE-FOCUSED, PERSONALISED, CREATIVE?”
Becoming an innovative school? My top 10 ideas
Northern Beaches Christian School: one of the most innovative in the world. Thanks to everyone for great day of discussion …from @wethink When one of the world’s leading authorities on innovation described Northern Beaches Christian School as “one of the most innovative in the world” we were amazed and honoured. Charlie Leadbeater (@wethink), is aContinueContinue reading “Becoming an innovative school? My top 10 ideas”
Is collaboration part of your working and learning DNA? Get people working together. See the culture change
Who would have thought this would work… I’m going to segment Star Wars into 15 sec parts Ask the world to recreate the scenes with their own creative flair. Then put it back together as a movie. That is what Casey Pugh did in 2009 because he wanted to use the internet as a toolContinueContinue reading “Is collaboration part of your working and learning DNA? Get people working together. See the culture change”
Reclaiming the physical space: Face-to-face or shoulder-to-shoulder? What happens in the #spacematters
Reclaiming spaces for learning is more than the physical environment and its fit out. Left to its own devices, human nature will default to known and comfortable behaviour. No matter how funky and open plan the learning space and furniture may be, there are a few key considerations to ensure that new spaces don’t justContinueContinue reading “Reclaiming the physical space: Face-to-face or shoulder-to-shoulder? What happens in the #spacematters”
Space matters. Why must high school students endure bland, ugly, boring classrooms?
When I walk into a classroom the physical environment shouts at me. It tells me what is valued, how students learn and where the power is. What would this tell you? desks in fixed rows teacher’s desk at the front of the room windows covered with black plastic on both sides to stop lightContinueContinue reading “Space matters. Why must high school students endure bland, ugly, boring classrooms?”
culture | learning | design 