The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
On Wednesday 26 July, Federal Deputy Opposition Leader, Mrs Tanya Plibersek visited the College. Mrs Plibersek and Shadow Minister for Education and the Shadow Minister for Women. The purpose of her visit was to hear from educational thought leaders about ‘the how and the why of school transformation’ for a changing world. Executive Director of CEDP Schools Greg Whitby was joined by local CEDP principals and
Stephen Dinham, Associate Dean (Strategic Partnerships) and a Professor of Instructional Leadership at Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Stephen Dinham is a well respected educator with experience both in government secondary schools and at tertiary level. He has conducted a wide range of research projects in the areas of educational leadership and change, effective pedagogy/quality teaching, student teaching, professional teaching standards and teachers professional development.
Stephen Heppell, internationally renowned educational leader and expert in learning spaces, new media and technology. He holds various positions such as CEO of Heppell.net, and has worked with governments around the world, international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, schools and communities on innovative and transformative education projects.
Yong Zhao, Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas. He is also a professorial fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Victoria University in Australia. He previously served as the Presidential Chair and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education, University of Oregon, where he was also a Professor in the Department of Educational Measurement, Policy, and Leadership. Zhao is known for his research and in many key areas including creativity and entrepreneurship education, globalization and education, and, technology in schools.
It was an absolute privilege to be a part of educational conversation with such educational luminaries all together in the one room. Some key points which emerged from the conversation included:
Best practice learning and teaching is student-centred, personalised and involves authentic engagement with families and the community partnerships.
Teachers are now course designers not content delivers because they are now asked to be researchers, designers, learners, analysts and collaborators.
Educational assessment needs to measure what we value, not value what we measure by using data and broader assessment to support each child’s growth as a learner.
Looking ahead there is a need for :
policy that supports learning is student-centered, personalised and shaped by real life experiences through inquiry.
new thinking required to fund a preschool to post school education model that will support learning communities enrol students from age three, and transform traditional before and after school care to instead be part of a coherent schooling experience for children. St luke’s is leading the way here!
much stronger and meaningful links between community, business and schools.
In conclusion, in listening to people like Stephen, Yong and Stephen, it is most apparent that St Luke’s is vindicated in its pursuit of establishing the new normal for preschool to post school learning. Mrs Plibersek’s encouragement of us to ensure we educate in a way which assist students to meet the needs of our students was well received.