A Knowledge Sharing Resource for Victorians in Education

• What's On
• Research eLert
• Rich Picture Case Studies
• Browse Case Studies
  • Teacher Professional Leave
  • Student Learning
  • Building Leadership
  • Professional Learning
  • Whole School Improvement
  • Community Involvement and Partnerships
• How to Contribute

2006 Knowledge Bank Rich Picture Case Studies
Gisborne Secondary College - Implementation of Learning Neighbourhoods

 

 

Name: Janet Di Pilla
School: Gisborne Secondary College
Postal address: PO Box 540, Gisborne, 3437
Telephone no: 5428 3691
Email: di.pilla.janet.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

 

Opening up learning spaces at Gisborne Secondary College

The aim of our proposal is to have all teachers operating as the best teachers to ensure educational equity within our school; we will reconnect our teachers in Professional Learning Teams, open up our learning spaces and develop innovative, dynamic curriculum in partnership with our students.

 

Case study focus

How one school went about preparing for the changes to teaching pedagogy in line with changes to the teaching and learning space being planned through the Leading Schools Fund. We will focus on how the College teaching staff take up the challenge to move from ‘silo-style’, traditional classroom teaching to the notion of teams of five teachers working with 120 students in a radically different learning environment. Particular emphasis will be on the development, implementation and evaluation of the first integrated unit and the use of PoLT to inform curriculum development and evaluate change.

 

 

What aspect of best practice will be the focus of the case study?

This change in teaching practice is seen as necessary to promote engagement of students with the College and their learning, and is firmly based on school data over the last three years.

We are using a Comprehensive School Reform Model which promotes research as the basis of significantly improving student outcomes; providing high quality professional development (PD); meaningful integration with the community and relevant interactive lessons. This is directly in line with the Victorian Government’s Blueprint on Education which is based on high quality research and theory on best practice.

How does the case study intend to showcase or demonstrate best practice?

Researchers suggest that in order to develop sustainable change, that teacher learning must be embedded into the everyday "fabric of school life". This involves the teachers working in collaborative, autonomous groups.

We will show the implementation of a Professional Learning Team working on the development of Student centered learning, while providing in-house PD through team teaching and through their enrolment in an on line Harvard course , focused on the embedding of Information and Communications Technology into the curriculum to enhance understanding.

The form of the case study

Website: Gisborne Secondary College Pilot Learning Neighbourhood

What multimedia and/or online tools have been used?

The final presentation will be an online Multimedia presentation that utilises a picture story, audio and video.

A digital camera will be used to capture images for the picture story.

Mini discs will be used to interview all participants in the study to ensure that their voices and opinions are expressed.

Digital video will also be used to capture the teaching environment and collaborative group work as the project is trailed this year.

The use of cameras, audio and laptops will provide real stimulation for the teachers, some of whom are wary of the technology, to improve their technology skills and provide them with insights as to how they could be used effectively with the “learning neighbourhood”

We will have a Macromedia Flash presentation embedded in an html website. Planning documents will be attached as Pdf files.

Engagement and benefits

The website interface will be clean, accessible and interactive.

We will reduce the amount of text, increase visual interest and use voice and video.

We will ensure that the content is real, relevant, and shows what we have tried, the successes and the risks that we have taken. It will not be just about the successes but an authentic journey.

The teachers at Gisborne Secondary College will benefit from having a ‘real’ audience for their findings as it will instil a higher level of rigor to their documentation and engender pride in their work. It will encourage these teachers to use the technology they want the students to use. They will then model the use of technology to the whole staff and become staff mentors.

Teachers and Principals at other schools:
A number of LSFs being given at the moment include the changing of learning spaces to enhance student learning. Therefore this presentation will be relevant to schools that are looking at this option. By showing the pitfalls and successes it enables other schools to build on our experience and extends the notion of collaboration among teachers.

This case study is under pinned by VELS, PoLT, P&D

 

Back to Top