Professional Learning Community Sessions

This week, all learning diversity and teaching staff presented their inquiry research project. This was a celebration of a semester’s work, where staff identified a need in their practice, researched best practice and implemented, refined and evaluated their impact on student learning and outcomes. Staff have researched, explored and been challenged in their approach and implementation of strategies. It was inspiring to hear staff discuss how they embraced new insights to ‘nurture’ their minds. As noted by one staff member, “after thirty years of teaching it was wonderful to continue to learn and explore different ways of engaging in the curriculum and enhancing student learning and outcomes”.  

Staff explored many topics such as: Cognitive Load Theory and High Impact Teaching Strategies including Worked Examples, Multiple Exposures, Explicit Teaching, Feedback, Questioning and Metacognition Strategies. Discussions also took place investigating the High Impact Wellbeing Strategies, Review and Revision Strategies, Thinking Routines, and a common language across Domains to highlight context, the issue and skills needed.

Staff discussed the data collected and measured where they stood on a continuum of practice. They discussed how their strategies enabled students to gain greater understanding of the knowledge and skills required to achieve success in their subject area. Staff also acknowledged areas to continue to refine and implement to suit the changing needs of their students and enhance the impact on student learning.

All that attended were able reflect on the plethora of strategies presented but also consider how they could put into place these new insights to enhance student learning and outcomes in their classes.

It was a privilege to have worked with staff this semester and an absolute pleasure to listen to their progress.

Clare Kelly
Assistant Principal: Performance and Development