Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending a graduation ceremony at The University of Notre Dame and witnessed 100 young student teachers graduate. Other than feeling very old, I was amazed by their enthusiasm and energy which was clearly evident in their demeanour. To see this gave me great hope in the future of … More Looking back on 2011
Our system has been very fortunate to have been working with Michael Fullan over a period of five years. Given Fullan’s vast experience and the demands on his time, it never ceases to amaze me how generous he is with his time when he is present. To sit around the table and explore issues in … More Make learning the work
I caught an interview on CNN with Bill Gates reflecting on what he would do to change the education system in America. Gates said if he could change something about the system, he would ‘hire the best teachers’ and get them to learn from each other because the research on the influence of good teaching … More Our biggest investment
Last Friday, Australia celebrated World Teachers’ Day. As much as it is important for us to acknowledge the work of teachers, I still believe teachers themselves are the best advocates for their profession. There is much good work happening every day in classrooms around the country and too often we never hear about. Teachers are often reluctant … More Touching the future
There has been a lot of discussion around the topic of creativity. Educators and society in general seem to agree on the importance of creativity – but do our schools provide a fertile ground for our teachers and students to develop and cultivate this attribute? In Will Richardson’s blog, he argues that on the whole … More Creativity crisis
Another school year has ended with some great results in the Higher School Certificate. Well done to the teachers who have laid the foundations on which our departing Year 12 students will build upon next year. Behind every successful student is a great teacher supported by a collaborative team of other professionals and instructional leaders. … More Just a teacher
In this TED2010 clip, Ken Robinson talks about the ideological/cultural barriers to transforming schooling. As educators, what assumptions do we make about learners and schooling? Why do we assume what we do? What do we need to do to ‘dis-enthrall’ ourselves from the industrial model of schooling?
I’ve been following discussion of the Federal Government’s proposed mandatory internet filter initiative. Support seems to be fading for the program as the public ironically gathers more information about which sites could be blocked. With the rise of social networking sites, the net has become a kind of bastion of democracy where free speech and freedom of information reigns. Yet even in … More Is censorship sensible?
I’ve just finished reading Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom by Matthew Fraser and Soumitra Dutta. This is an insightful exploration of the Web 2.0 revolution – its current and future impact on individuals, communities and organisations. Building on the foundation of social interaction, Fraser and Dutta examine three fundamental themes of social networking: identity, status … More Throwing sheep
I’ve just finished reading Tom O’Donoghue and Simon Clarke’s ‘Leading Learning: process, themes and issues in international contexts’ – a great book for reflective practioners. O’Donoghue and Clarke map the territory for learning and leading with brief descriptions of the significant themes, trends and innovations from around the world. The real strength of this book is … More Leading learning
bluyonder.wordpress.com 