Learning and Teaching @ MFG

Teacher Learning Communities (TLCs) 2018

Each of our teachers has developed their formative assessment focus through collaboration with the other teachers in their TLC. Figure 1 captures the Strategies we are zooming in on. Our teachers have had two formal meetings with a 3rd one in June – the space between meetings is time for them to:

Experiment and trial a technique they haven’t used before
Stop something they have been doing and make time / place emphasis on a new approach / technique

For example, one technique that is related to the Strategy: Engineering Effective Discussions is called the ‘hinge question’. We have a number of teachers who have chosen to focus on this strategy and use this technique as part of their teaching and learning agenda.

For further information on 'hinge questions' please watch the following short video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh5SZZt207k

Digital Technologies Start Up Grant

We have spent the $10,000 we received from the DET as part of this grant – this is very exciting and our new equipment has arrived!

This includes 2 x Occulus Rift Virtual Reality headsets and gear which we will trial this year in the Arts, Science and other learning areas. This will enable us to explore some of the potential applications of Virtual Reality and student learning and engagement.

Year 9 Curriculum

Background:

2016-2017

As part of the 2016 Curriculum Review the decision was made to increase English from 4 periods to 5 periods at Year 9 in 2018. This change achieved a balance of time in all levels of English (5 periods) from Years 7-12 and supported our priority to improve literacy in line with our Strategic Plan.

During these discussions in 2016 the Curriculum Committee identified that this decision would create two periods a week in Year 9 that would need to be re-distributed. Each Learning Area had the opportunity to consider, discuss and design curriculum proposals to ensure the best use of these two periods. Discussions at both a Learning Area level and at Curriculum Committee meetings resulted in some exciting ideas and opportunities for our students.

The process:

2016

Changes recommended in 2016 and shared with all staff in the Curriculum Review paper which was emailed to all staff and shared through a Staff Update

2017

Discussions at Curriculum Committee
Proposals and ideas tabled at Curriculum Committee
Further discussions at Curriculum Committee
Learning Areas discussion about ideas and proposals
Curriculum Committee received all Learning Area feedback and additional submissions
Final proposals and feedback to the Executive Team for a final decision.

2017 Executive Team decision

Allocate 2 periods all year, for one year only, to Visual Art in 2018 at Year 9 as the current Year 8 cohort has not yet done Visual Art. This would be an interim decision – Curriculum Committee will need to consider the questions/actions below during 2018 for 2019.

A future action in 2018 by the Curriculum Committee was to again consider the use of the 2 periods at Year 9 for 2019.

Curriculum Review 2018: changes for 2019

The process:

Some initial possibilities were generated by the Curriculum Committee at the meeting on 19/2/18. The discussion included the parameters (see below):

Parameters for allocation of the 2 periods at Year 9 2019:

2 periods, all year
Taught by the same teacher
Could be a new stand-alone subject or the expansion of an existing subject
Lead and owned by a specific Learning Area (not split between 2 or more).
The criteria to be used by the Executive Team for final decision making was shared with Learning Area Leaders in the week of 19/2/18.

Criteria used by the Executive Team for decision making:

Connection with MFG Strategic direction and our school’s priorities
Creates or maintains curriculum balance (ie time; Victorian Curriculum emphases)
Addresses the learning needs of Year 9 students especially student interest, student motivation, student voice and agency
Can be sustained and resourced.

The Learning Area Leaders took the ‘2 periods at Year 9 2019’ agenda item to their teams to discuss at the meetings on 22/2/18
Learning Areas submitted formal proposals which needed to include a complete ‘New subject’ form and a UbD relating to their 2 period proposal
These formal proposals were then tabled at the Curriculum Committee Meeting on 19/3/18.

Summary of the 'Year 9 x 2 Floating Periods' proposals for 2019

Additional 2 periods at Year 9 for STEAM project based focus – extension of Science time; 2 times a week for the whole year
Arts for a 2 period increase in time across all Arts electives
Additional 2 periods at Year 9 Humanities (to 5 periods in Humanities each week) with a Geography Focus
Additional 2 periods at Year 9 Humanities (to 5 periods in Humanities each week) with a focus on ‘Women of the World’

Executive Team decision 2018

Allocate 2 periods all year to Year 9 Humanities (5 periods in Humanities each week) for a Geography Focus. This decision will create a new direction for the Humanities at our school and a new direction for our students’ learning. In 2019, we will also be offering a Year 10 Geography Elective called ‘People, Places and Change’.

Attitudes to School Survey 2018

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality teaching. The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our students in Years 7-12 recently completed this survey which we will use the results to plan programs and activities to improve our students’ schooling experience.

The survey results will be reported back to the school before the end of term 2. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified. We will communicate the survey results to our students and to parents/carers through our Newsletter and through discussion at School Council. Last year we used the survey results to plan and run some student forums with our Year 9 and 10 students and then worked with our teachers to address some of the issues raised by our students.

Next year MFG will be involved in an independent review so the views and experiences of our students collected through this survey will be important for our future planning.

Education Week 2018 at MFGSC

Now in its 74th year, Education Week aims to positively profile and celebrate the strengths and achievements of Victoria’s government education sector.

Education Week 2018 is all about celebrating the arts and is an opportunity for all primary and secondary schools, and early childhood services to showcase the work they are doing for students in arts subjects including dance, drama, music, visual arts and media arts.

We will be celebrating Education Week by offering a range of activities from the different Arts disciplines during the week, at recess and lunchtimes.

Mr Damien Toussaint, Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching