From the Director
of Staff Development
Partnerships in learning
Teacher professional learning and teacher development are now recognised as a vital component of school policies to enhance the quality of teaching and learning within a school. The recent release of the Gonski Report Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools has again referred to the significant role teacher professional learning contributes to student learning and wellbeing.
The report also refers to effective school-community partnerships. These can take many forms and draw on a range of outside expertise and organisations. Since 2016 teachers at KWS have been in partnership with a number of Universities. The aim of these partnerships has been to build teacher capabilities, tailor teaching to maximise impact, support teacher life-long learning and for KWS staff to contribute meaningfully to current educational research.
Collaborative approaches to programming and teaching primary school science:
Opportunities and Impacts.
KWS and Charles Stuart University (CSU), Bathurst. This school based research has been presented at a number of conferences including AIS Educational Research Symposium; AIS Capabilities Future-Proofing Learners K-12 today and in July CONASTA (National Science Education Conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association.
Seeking to highlight the role of Mathematics in Society as motivation to engage our students in mathematical activities.
KWS and University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Both teacher and student research data has been presented at the launch of the UTS STEM Education Futures Research Centre and the Maths Inside: Project Launching New Resources.
Promoting Deep Understanding in Geography through Fieldwork: evaluate the effectiveness of fieldwork upon a student’s knowledge and understanding using a 5 phase cycle of research, teacher professional learning, reflection and modification of practice.
KWS and Macquarie University. This project involves seven staff from the Social Science Faculty and although in the early stages of the cycles, the research has already been presented at the GTANSW (Geography Teachers Association NSW) Conference.
I would invite you to view the following short video presentations providing further details of two projects.
Prep – Science Video
Maths Inside Video
In total these projects have involved over 40 teachers in embedded, sustained and research based professional learning. Our students are the beneficiaries of their dedication, commitment and willingness to reflect, learn and grow as professionals in the field of education.
Susan M Cameron
Director of Staff Development