The Girton eLink

Meet a Teacher

Mr Dean Langley

We welcome Mr Dean Langley to the position of Head of Student Futures in 2023

 

Life before Girton

  • This is a Girton reincarnation for me. My life before Girton, was mostly Girton! 
  • I’m a born and raised Bendigo boy, moving to the ‘big smoke’ to play district cricket for South Melbourne whilst completing my Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Teaching at La Trobe University in Bundoora.
  • I first taught at Numurkah Secondary College in 1995, and then onto Girton in 1996 as a Technology Studies and Maths teacher. 
  • For the next 20 or so years I wore many different hats at Girton teaching a range of disciplines in sciences, sport and Outdoor Education whilst leading the Science and Technology department and Student Futures in that time.
  • A short ‘sea-change’ to the Sunshine Coast for 12 months with my family took me out of teaching and into a health business. Returning to Bendigo for family reasons, the past four years I have been at Highview College in Maryborough as Head of Senior School. 
  • It’s now time to return to where it all began in 1996, and I look forward to managing VCE and Student Futures. 

 

What I love about teaching

I enjoy forging positive relationships with students and enhancing their leadership skills. To me teaching is about serving the school community with compassion and a will to help students grow to their full potential.

 

When I was a student, I had very little career pathway support, hence my passion for Student Futures. I don’t want to see students go through the career pathway ignorance I went through. This is what I love about teaching, you have the capacity to ‘give back’ to our youth and be a positive influence in their school life journey.

 

I have been a longtime Girton community member for the past 25 years. To re-join the team of educators here has been a goal since I left in 2016. To have the privilege to return and serve our school community once again in the capacity of VCE and Student Futures leadership is something I am most grateful for.

 

What do you like best about the subject/s you teach? 

I have taught many subjects over the years. My main one is VCE Physics. It is a logical subject and contributes to the scientific understandings of our world and beyond, that is, the laws of the universe. Students interested in Engineering, Sports Science and even Physiotherapy could benefit from learning Physics. Also, it would help you understand more clearly the ‘one-liner’ jokes made on the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’! 

 

My favourite classroom activity

For senior students, becoming exam ready is a crucial goal. An activity called ‘the expert jigsaw’ is one of the most effective revision activities I’ve used. It involves small group work where each member of the group becomes an ‘expert’ in the topic. It is then their responsibility to become the teacher and work through specific exam-style revision tasks with the group and develop a richer understanding of the exam content. I like to tell students, “You will learn something more deeply when you have to teach it to others”. 

 

What difference can good teaching make?

A key attribute in teaching is being able to instil belief. Help students see that they are capable and guide them through the learning landscape to hopefully arrive at the summit of success. Mentoring students through their learning needs and helping them develop into critical thinking independent learners is always the goal. It is most rewarding when that is achieved. 

 

I believe the best approach in teaching is to show students where to look, but don’t tell them what to see. This encourages inquiry, and hopefully an inquisitive mind that inspires the love of learning.

 

Other hats

One of my greatest legacies at Girton is the fact that I am the one that started the City to Surf co-curricular activity. It spawned from a casual conversation with the Headmaster Mr Jones way back in 1998. From there it started with 10 students venturing to Sydney for the epic 14km fun run event and built up to nearly 100 students attending the event in some years. 

 

I have three kids that keep my spare time occupied; they are an obvious passion. Fitness also is important to me. I enjoy starting my day with an early morning visit to the gym before work. I’m also artistic, and like to draw special portraits of dogs for pet owners. It’s most rewarding to see their emotional reaction to the finished portrait of their special animal companion.