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Expenditure & Teacher Participation in Professional Learning
Expenditure and Teacher Participation in Professional Learning
All teachers at Mazenod College undertook a variety of professional learning activities in 2021, predominantly focused on our twin PL priorities, Visible Wellbeing and Visible Learning. Staff again worked in Professional Learning Teams (PLT) as part of the Staff Development Program and also participated in external professional learning activities that complemented the focus of their PLT.
The Visible Wellbeing Program addressed in a series of externally facilitated, whole staff PL sessions, drawing on the work of Professor Lea Waters. These sessions focused on introducing and applying the SEARCH framework. Staff also enjoyed 24 short sessions introducing each of the Character Strengths in the VIA framework.
The Visible Learning Program saw each teacher complete a range of personal learning activities to develop a working knowledge of the High Impact Teaching Strategies, which seek to operationalise Hattie’s evidencebased teaching practices into classroom ready principles. These activities included: • A self-evaluation survey rating current proficiency in each of the 10 HITS; • Self-nomination of one focus strategy; • Structured professional reading and reflection; • Peer observation of classroom practice (both internally and externally); • The application of new learning to classroom environments;
The flexibility enabled by this personal approach to the activities of Professional Learning saw teaching staff choose to focus on an area of pedagogy they identified as needing growth. These projects became the basis of an individual staff ARM in Term 3.
A highlight of the Visible Learning program is a full day peer sharing showcase day in Term 2 during which staff present exceptional practice in a range of seminar sessions.
As well as professional learning that had as its focus improved teaching practice and supporting staff in remote teaching, staff also completed a number of workshops and online training modules including: • Faith and Charism formation • First Aid level 2 • Anaphylaxis Training • Disability Standards for Education online e-learning modules • Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting and other obligations • Child Safe: Mandatory Reporting online modules • Safe School Implementation - becoming compliant with Ministerial Order 870 • Concussion Recognition Tool29 • Best Practice School Marketing and Reputation • Spring Fox Resilient Educators Program • NCCD briefing for leaders and training for all teachers • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (VET Teachers)
Many staff members again assessed VCAA examinations and the GAT and participated in the review and writing of VCE Study Designs. They also attended a range of subject association annual conferences and targeted PL. Such professional development provides genuine benefits, both to the teachers involved but also to other teachers at Mazenod College.
125 teachers participated in PL in 2021 for a total expenditure of $113,193 which is
approximately $905 per teaching staff member. This was higher than in 2020 but lower than typical years due to the COVID lockdowns and a greater proportion of internally delivered PL.
