Editor’s Note
A lot of Federal Government reform in Australia’s education sector has been flagged in various reports, and in this issue the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group’s Action Now: Classroom Ready Teachers report gets plenty of mention. This report into teacher education in Australia has called for an overhaul of the system amid concerns some teaching graduates are not ‘classroom ready’ and have poor literacy and numeracy skills. Inside you will read feedback on the report from leading academics Glenn Finger – Professor of Education and Dean (Learning and Teaching) of the Arts, Education and Law Group at Queensland’s Griffith University – and Stephen Dinham – National President of the Australian College of Educators and Chair of Teacher Education and Director of Learning and Teaching at the University of Melbourne. The Australian Council of Deans of Education’s Professor Tania Aspland also writes on the topic in-depth, saying that investing in quality professional experience for pre-service and professional mentor teachers is the best move governments can make towards immediate and sustainable improvements in teacher quality and student learning. Also inside I speak with Jo Mason, Director of Innovations and Professional Learning at the Principals Australia Institute about the importance of harnessing teacher and principal health and wellbeing in our schools. Academic and public education advocate Dr David Zyngier looks at what makes a good school and what makes a good teacher. Secondary school teacher Jeremy LeCornu shares his experiences of ‘flipping’ the classroom to improve teaching and learning outcomes. In our ‘spotlight on’ series science teacher Sarah Chapman gives us a glimpse into the secondary school science department. ICT teaching and learning leader Anthony Speranza talks about an innovative way students can provide valuable feedback to teachers. Finally, make sure you turn to page 34 to read about how school sustainability leader Cool Australia is meeting the learning needs of teachers – and find out more about your chance to win a professional development course by entering our exclusive competition! I’m delighted to bring you this edition of Education Matters – Secondary and we’d love to hear your feedback. Please feel free to pass on any comments or questions to me directly via email kathryn. edwards@primecreative.com.au or get in touch via Twitter @edumattersmag.
Editor: Kathryn Edwards kathryn.edwards@primecreative.com.au Art Director: Michelle Weston Designers: Blake Storey, Sarah Doyle Group Sales Manager: Brad Buchanan brad.buchanan@primecreative.com.au Advertising: Chelsea Daniel-Young chelsea.daniel@primecreative.com.au 0425 699 878 Production Coordinator: Michelle Weston Administration Assistant: Justine Nardone Education Matters is a division of Prime Creative Media Pty. Ltd. 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne 3205 Ph: (+61 3) 9690 8766 Fax: (+61 3) 9682 0044 Subscriptions Education Matters is available by subscription from the publisher. The rights of refusal are reserved by the publisher. Ph: (+61 3) 9690 8766 E: subscriptions@primecreative.com.au Articles All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.
Education Matters editor
EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION!
Each double pass is valued Education Matters readers have the exclusive opportunity to win one of four ‘double passes’ to Cool at $635! Australia’s online professional development courses. The double passes will allow you and a friend or colleague to enroll in a Cool Australia two hour or six hour course of your choice. Imagine what you could do with one double pass to participate in a Cool Australia online course. Upskill your curriculum knowledge? Enhance your teaching? Meet educators from across Australia? Rack up some more state accredited PD hours? Courses are hosted by Teacher Training Australia (TTA), learn at your own pace and in your own time. So tell us in 25 words or less what Cool Australia course you’d love to do and why! Step 1. Visit www.coolaustralia.org/onlinecourses to find your favourite Step 2. E nter at www.coolaustralia.org/emcomp by 5pm on Friday 26th June 2015. The four most persuasive answers win! Good luck!
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Publisher: John Murphy john.murphy@primecreative.com.au
education matters secondary
Copyright Education Matters is owned by Prime Creative Media Pty. Ltd. and published by John Murphy. All material in Education Matters is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequenses arising from information published. The opinions of the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated. All photographs of schools (including students) depicted in feature articles and advertisements throughout this magazine have been supplied to the publisher (and approved) by the contributing school. All material supplied by schools is done so with the understanding that such images will be published in Education Matters and may also appear on the our website: www.edumatters.com.au.