Mission: Teaching and Learning Headspace

Teaching and learning. Professional learning. Leading learning. All of this means nothing without achieving better student learning. And so I begin the challenge of developing a Teaching & Learning (TL) Professional Learning program to develop staff at my school to better support student learning at my school. Simple, right?

Missing Key to PD?

I’ve become very disillusioned with many opportunities for professional development (PD) and professional learning.

Let me rephrase that – I’ve become very disillusioned with some people’s views of professional development and how it should be delivered. The expectation of attending a PD session just to be a passive sponge is no longer relevant to many of us for professional learning. Just as this is no longer accepted as effective or engaging classroom teaching and learning strategy.

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Turning, Falling, Hurting, Learning! #tmsydney #tmhills

I am attending a TeachMeet Sydney event this afternoon at Gilroy Catholic College.. Teachmeets are a fantastic space for educators from all sectors and settings to share ideas via Pecha Kucha presentations, 2-minute mini presentations and inspiring informal discussions. One of the best things about Teachmeets are the fantastic backchannels via the #tmsydney  or #tmhills tags Here is my mini presentation on how I recently found myself learning how to snowboard and what the experience taught be about Turning, Falling, Hurting and Learning!*

Not all by myself #tmsydney #FTW

I am attending a TeachMeet Sydney event this afternoon at Crestwood High School. Those of you on Twitter, you can follow or catch up later on the backchannel via the #tmsydney tag. This will be my fourth TeachMeet. They are a fantastic space for educators from all sectors and settings to share ideas via Pecha Kucha presentations, 2-minute mini presentations and inspiring informal discussions. Here is my mini presentation on a few things, that I am very proud to say, I am no longer doing all by myself.

October Halo-Halo

We are finally now getting into halo-halo weather! Halo-halo means “mix-mix”. So here is my monthly mix of my favourite sites, tools and ideas which are definitely quite random this month – a trend that I’m sure will continue as we head towards the end of the year.

Pecha Kucha Finale – Part #5

This post is unbelievably behind schedule but explores the final part of the Pecha Kucha journey undertaken by my class. After four lessons of preparation, pondering and photographing – the day had arrived where my class would be presenting their Pecha Kucha presentations.

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So we have arrived at PechaKucha day. Have my students actively engaged with this unit? Has the Pecha Kucha experience been beneficial? Have I provided an opportunity for the construction of deep knowledge and meaningful learning? Or, have I simply created another vehicle for angst about speeches, bullet points and PowerPoint?

September Halo-Halo

Another month, another halo-halo. Halo-halo means “mix-mix”. So here is my monthly mix of my favourite sites, tools and ideas with a definite light-hearted and fun tone this month in celebration of holidays. Warning – procrastination tools ahead!

August Halo-Halo

Another month, another halo-halo. Halo-halo means “mix-mix”. So here is my next monthly mix of my favourite sites, tools and ideas!

July Halo-Halo

Halo-halo  is a popular Philippine dessert consisting of shaved ice and a delicious combination of young shredded coconut, beans, steamed banana, macapuno, sago, kaong (sugar palm fruit), nato de coco (coconut jelly) and topped with crispy toasted rice, ice cream and leche flan (creme caramel). But why a halo-halo themed post? Halo-halo means “mix-mix”. This will be a monthly mix of my favourite sites, tools and ideas.

Pecha Kucha Powers On – Part #4

This post is little behind schedule but later on today my class will be giving their PechaKucha presentations. Our final lesson of preparation began with a feeling of lethargy and blank looks.

So we went back to why are we doing this?

We needed to refocus, reflect and recharge.