Kambala Institute of Teaching Excellence

Welcome Back, Professor Ron Ritchhart

“When we recognize that true understanding of a discipline involves learning its processes and ways of thinking as well as its content knowledge, then we naturally create opportunities for developing those abilities.”

Ritchhart, 2015

Professor Ron Ritchhart, Kambala’s inaugural Academic in Residence returned to Kambala last week to work with teachers in workshops, and in classrooms. His framework for understanding group culture, ‘Creating Cultures of Thinking’, has influenced education and schools worldwide. Professor Ritchhart has been a Senior Research Associate at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education since 1994 and we are so fortunate to host him here at Kambala, learning through his mentorship and wise facilitation.    

Professor Ritchhart led sessions with our new staff and our learning leaders across the School. He also spent time with teachers in a Year 2 classroom and in a Year 9 Mathematics classroom. Professor Ritchhart’s visit culminated in a workshop with all staff on Wednesday afternoon, where we delved into the ways understanding is built. You may like to read about this further here, or by exploring the ‘Understanding Map’ below. 

Ms Samatha Gooch

Executive Director of Kambala Institute for Teaching Excellence (KITE)

Taking Action with Action Research

A group of KITE teacher researchers travelled to Ruyton Girls’ School last week to continue their research into girls education. Samantha Nahum, Hattie Wilson and Greta Beaumont have been investigating topic areas associated with pedagogies for girls, hoping to further develop their own practice and our curriculum programs more broadly. Affecting change in this way is important to us; as a leading school for girls, we must continually strive to better understand and respond to our learners. Action research is a powerful means by which our teachers can look for opportunities to enrich learning and we look forward to sharing our research with the community as it progresses. 

Ms Samantha Gooch

Executive Director of Kambala Institute for Teaching Excellence (KITE)