Action Research Team Presentations: Parkdale Secondary College, Warren Road Mordialloc
A bit of background: -
Parkdale has five building blocks, expectations or principles;
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Punctuality – present at school and on time for Form Assembly, present on time to classes, work completed and submitted on time and homework completed and submitted on time.
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Preparation – ready to learn, prepared for class with appropriate equipment/materials, appropriate use of College Organiser/Planner, appropriate uniform for school and sport.
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Purpose – focused on learning in the classroom, a consistently high work ethic
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Participation – active and positive participation in the classroom, active and positive participation in a variety of co curricular activities and supporting positive contributions of all students, staff and parents.
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Probity – exhibiting good manners to all class members and teachers, active and positive relationships with all members of the Parkdale College Community and showing respect to all.
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(See page 4 of promotional booklet)
Key terms: encouragement, enhancement, enrichment, acceleration and support = success.
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What the research is about and how it fits into the Strategic Plan and improving student learning outcomes.
Our research was about improving VET, VCAL and about general transition. Why is there data better than ours in some areas?
% Satisfactor y Completion Parkdale 100% Mckinnon 100% PRSC 99%
VET
VCAL
MEDIAN
% over 40
Number of students
VET numbers
VCAL numbers
99
100
30
5.4
195
87
35
83-85?
90
33
19.0
375
19
0
85
0
29
2.7
139
124
53
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Discuss manipulation of data
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Strategies – unenrol students, unscored VCE not sitting exams
*programs are documented, well researched and foster challenges in both performance and participation
*culture of the college is such that performance is improved when students are exposed to and encouraged to engage in enhancement and enrichment activities.
*this is achieved by a consistency in approach, by building aspirations and fostering an environment where success is expected.
* This is achieved by being well organized, by having structured pathways in which to operate and by offering a differentiated curriculum.
*There are six key elements – an engaging classroom or learning environment, knowledge of students through effective use of data, staff teaching in their formal areas of expertise, an agreed list of skills and competencies required by students at each level of learning, tiered common assessment tasks which are agreed across all classes and pedagogy used to enhance understandings. (See diagram on Page 3 of booklet)
Physical Surroundings:
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Parkdale Secondary College is still in the process of building. As a result many of the outside areas have not been maintained including the newer established areas. Ours are better – at this stage anyway.
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Once new facilities are completed – we will come second in what is available to students.
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Parkdale has access to shared facilities across the road, including swimming pool etc.
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In the morning, there was no rubbish. This was different in the afternoon when another group visited the college.
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Carpeted areas were bubble gum free and well maintained.
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Walls looked freshly painted, except for the older section which faces demolition in the near future.
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Paint colours were crisp and fresh.
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Buildings divided into Junior, Middle and Senior School – designated areas/separation.
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Extensive play areas – reduced evidence of crowding at recess and lunchtime
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Parkdale’s 5 P’s in every classroom above the whiteboard.
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Promotional information on TV in foyer
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Student Honour Board
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Parkdale has 32 Smart/Interactive white boards
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Many rooms have Data Projectors.
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Wireless coverage.
ICT:
PLT: -
Accessible data on every child from Years 7-9 – Skeins Data??? Read only. Used to individualize learning programs.
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Transition Tutorial Groups
Organization of Teaching and Learning:
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Senior staff including the Principal have a teaching allotment AND take extras
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Senior staff rostered to patrol corridors and play areas all day
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Knowledge of each student impressive
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Timetable – similar to ours
Findings in relation to our research topic:
Small Cost- Immediate Impact:
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TV in foyer – use it to self promote
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All staff talk/confront students not in class
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Consistency – uniform, personal presentation, manners, quiet movement of students between classes, earphones, phones, classes appeared to be engaged
Medium Term Ideas:
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No uniform = no classes – sent home
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Time Out Room – supervised, isolated, use of CRT, 8 spaces with corralled study spaces.
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Data on all students – literacy, numeracy, flagged issues to consider without breeching confidentiality – teacher access only
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Self Promotion – need to sell ourselves well – obvious enthusiasm at Parkdale
Long Term Goal:
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Need to establish what we stand for as a school
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What is our philosophy – establish what we stand for as a school
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Look at our profile
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Students reported against values, assessed against values
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Values measurable