Assistant Principal / Leader of Pedagogy
Mr Stephen Chapman
Rich Tasks
Over the past two weeks, I have seen some really engaged classes working on exciting projects. These tasks are what we call “Rich Tasks”. They bring together the learning from various topics and sometimes even different subjects. Students can work at their own level as they complete these open-ended tasks. Most of these tasks can also be called Project Based Learning (or PBL) as the end result is a project completed by each student.
The first one I’ll mention is the Year 10 iStem class’s Co2 racers. This task consisted of each student designing and trialling a small race car that is powered by a carbon dioxide canister. These canisters are usually used to inflate bicycle tyres. The project culminates in a showcase where each of the students competes against each other in races. It is a real spectacle with lots of noise and speed. Thanks to Mr Hawthorn, Mr Fittler, Mr Fulloon and all the Year 10 iStem students for putting this project together.
Off and racing! Two of the Year 10's Co2 cars go head to head.
Next, Mr Tonkin’s Year 10 Elective Line 3 Maths class have been working on their Desmos Art projects. Desmos is a maths graphing program where students can write the equation of a function and the program graphs it. By restricting the graph into sections, and putting combinations of different functions together, artwork can take shape. By adding a parameter that varies in value, these artworks can move and become animations. The best part is all of this content is part of Stage 5 5.3 Maths and Year 11 and 12 Maths Advanced and Ext 1 and 2.
In Miss Bell’s Year 7 Geography class, I had the pleasure to see them working on a cool little project. They have been learning about livability in different communities. The end result is that they were asked to design their own town. The features of this town were chosen by the students to make the citizens comfortable and have a high level of livability. Solar power and batteries, Ubers, solar passive houses, affordable houses, free wifi, schools, sporting facilities and cultural facilities were everywhere.
On Wednesday this week, in the last two classes of this term, Year 10 were showing off their learning. In period 4, my Year 10 Maths class ran a Casino for the other Yr 10 classes. This was the final lesson of the probability unit. Here are the Learning Intention and Success Criteria for the unit:
Learning Intention: We are learning that if you gamble, you will lose!
Success Criteria: I can create a casino game that punters will want to play and will make the house a profit.
Of course, the end result of having these students plan and play these games is to discourage them from gambling when they are out in the real world as they learn the odds are stacked against them.
The key to achieving the success criteria is to work out the theoretical probability of a punter winning your game, and then pay them just under a fair amount. Yes, the games are all rigged in favour of the house (the Casino). But only just. If they were too unfair, punters wouldn’t want to play. Each student designed an original game, worked out the fair odds of a punter winning, adjusted their pay-out figures accordingly, trialled their game 50 times, and then ran their game on Casino Day. Each student kept track of their profit/loss to see if the Casino made a profit. In the end, the Casino made a profit of 560 counters from the unlucky punters (the other Yr 10 students and visiting teachers). It just goes to show. If you gamble, you will lose!
Mia running her “First down the mountain” race at the Casino
Harry ran his version of Keno at the Casino.
In period 5 on the same day, Mr Trinh’s class of Year 10 History showed off their Year 10 Research Projects. These projects entailed students researching a historical person, event, period, etc and writing a detailed report on it. It was great to hear the students talking about their learning with such enthusiasm. On the previous day, the other Yr 10 classes ran their showcase about their history projects. Well done to all these students, and thanks to Mrs Stoessel (HSIE Leader of Learning) and her team of teachers for giving the students this opportunity.
Liam and his History Research Project on the Airforce
Sophie’s very impressive and detailed History Research Project
These rich tasks are just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the learning opportunities at O’Connor. Every class regularly has opportunities like these to get enthused about their learning. It’s a way to authentically apply their skills to a project of their interest.
On a final note, the Semester 1 reports for all students in Year 7 to 10 were released at 3.30 pm yesterday (Thursday) via Compass. Parents and guardians are invited to go to Compass and click on the Reports tab to see these reports. Each student will be participating in Student-Lead Conferences with their parents/guardians and PAC teachers in Week 3 or Week 4 in Term 3.
I hope everyone enjoys their two-week holiday, staying warm and safe.
Mr Stephen Chapman
Assistant Principal - Leader of Pedagogy
Never stop learning; for when we stop learning, we stop growing - Jack Lewman
