Assistant Principal's Update
Learning and Teaching
Future-Focused Learning
Classrooms of the 21st century are changing at a rapid rate. Developing technologies, and the ease with which information is available, impacts the way that we teach and learn. So how do we respond to the world in which we find ourselves? How do we teach and prepare students to be ready for a world that will be different from the one in which we grew up? That is the challenge that faces every parent and educator today.
At the College, we want to prepare students to engage with the world and inspire a passion for learning, justice and stewardship. To live their lives with a spirit of Strength and Kindliness. We don’t want our girls to only be consumers of their world, we desire for them to be contributors to society and 'world-shapers'. Learning to utilise technology effectively, for the benefit of their learning and positively influencing their world, is an important skill for them to acquire.
Personal learning devices, such as laptops and tablets, are valuable tools and when utilised and supported by quality teachers within effective classrooms, are used to access content, communicate and creatively present learning. Students are able to collaborate on shared documents, promoting ‘anywhere, anytime’ learning. Multi-modal learning offers students a variety of instructional methods, allowing them to access information in a multitude of ways. Traditional classroom teaching is supported by online lessons, web sites, podcasts and small group follow-up, providing students with multiple opportunities to increase their understanding of the subject being studied.
“A 21st century view of learner success requires students to not only be thoughtful consumers of digital content, but effective and collaborative creators of digital media, demonstrating competencies and communicating ideas through dynamic storytelling, data visualisation and content curation.” (David Goodrum, Director of academic technology and information services, Oregon State University)
The key to using technology in the classroom is always going to be the teacher-student relationship, that’s where the real education happens. Technology can be a helpful tool, but we need to remember that’s all it is — a tool. It does not replace the teacher, but rather, it shifts the classroom experience to be a more collaborative learning environment. The success of technology implementation will ultimately depend upon how it is utilised in the classroom to engage students.
Opportunities to Engage with Community
Students at Kilbreda are afforded a plethora of opportunities to engage with community, both locally and further afield. This term has seen students participate in a range of activities designed to broaden their horizons and deepen their thinking. Here is a brief summary of just some of the recent experiences recently undertaken by Kilbreda girls.
Robogals
A select group of Year 7 and 8 students attended a 'Robogals' Robotic Workshop and Competition at the University of Melbourne. 'Robogals' aims to inspire tomorrow's engineers today. The students learnt about different types of engineering including civil, mechanical and chemical and in teams, they completed a series of difficult challenges programming EV3 robots.
SCSA Sports Leaders Breakfast
House Leaders attended the SCSA Sport Leaders Breakfast. The guest speaker was table tennis player, Melissa Tapper who is Australia’s only ever representative in both the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Melissa spoke to the girls about the challenges she had faced in her life, her career and the importance of never giving up!
Elevate Education Seminars
Year 9 students participated in workshops delivered by the team from Elevate Education. The presenters are recent top graduates and current university students who shared top study hints with the students at Kilbreda. Elevate is a socially aware organization who also sponsor worthwhile community projects to support education initiatives in remote and disadvantaged communities.
Year 12 Retreat
The opportunity to spend time together as a Year 12 cohort provides space for students to reflect on their journey as a learner and set goals for the year ahead. Workshops and presenters share insights into the journey that lies ahead and the importance of decision making and relationship building.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
At the College we value the opportunity to partner with families in the education of their daughters. One such opportunity to connect is through the participation in parent/teacher interviews. The girls are encouraged to attend and engage in conversation regarding their learning.
The interviews will take place on:
- Monday 23 March 2:45pm to 8:00pm
- Thursday 16 April 4:00pm to 8:30pm
Jane Ward
Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching