Creating Opportunities
for Pedagogical
Exploration
Presented by Megan Crewe
Information
Saturated
Society
Unique
Vocations and
Careers
Technologically
Directed World
Today’s
Students
Diverse and
Complex Family
Dynamics
Knowledge
Economy
Unique Global
and Australian
Challenges
Where I grew up, learning was a
collective activity. But when I got to
school and tried to share learning with
other students that was called cheating.
The curriculum sent the clear message to
me that learning was a highly
individualistic, almost secretive,
endeavour.
Henry A Giroux
Programs V’s
Pedagogy and Curriculum
TASK:
 Make a list of the programs that your
school has implemented in the past 5
years.
 Now make a list of those you have
discontinued within the same time
frame.
How do we define what works
and why?
Revisit Vision and Mission Statements
Review Strategic Plans
Begin the process of critically analysing
all programs currently implemented
RETURN TO YOUR ROOTS
“The curriculum sets out a learning
entitlement for all young Australians but is
written on the assumption that teachers
and schools are best placed to decide
how to organise learning for young
people, taking account of their individual
needs and interests.”
Implementing the Australia Curriculum 2011
Levels of Perspective (Kim)
Vision
Mental Models
Systems and Structures
Patterns of Behaviour
Events
L
E
V
E
R
A
G
E
Engagement
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explains
engagement in terms of FLOW…
“Flow does not happen without the
application of skilled performance - it is
not effortless, but requires strenuous
physical exertion, or highly disciplined
mental activity.”
Making Time
Review staff meeting structures
Explore varying modes of
communication that would free up
valuable shared time
Explore different groupings of staff
A Return to Our Roots ~
How did we get here?
 An open sharing time about what brought
each staff member to teaching.
 An open sharing time about each staff
member’s passion for teaching.
 Acknowledging and celebrating gifts and
talents – individual and collective
Gifts and Talents
Common Understandings
 What does it mean to be a
 Critical Thinker?
 Life Long Learner?
 21st C Learner?
Adaptive Learner
Transference of Skills
Collaboration
Reflection
Risk Taking
Global Awareness
Analysis
Resilience
Discriminating
Educational Theory
1. De Bono
A.
Useful strategy teachers can use to get students to
develop their questioning techniques. It helps teachers
to get an understanding of the students knowledge on a
particular topic.

2. Dewey
B. Theorist is renowned for his contribution to the field of
ethics. This remains a commonly used tool in discussions, and
is a type of pedagogy in which a series of questions are asked
not only to draw individual answers, but also to encourage
fundamental insight.

3.Gardner
C. Intelligence develops in a series of stages that are related to
age and are progressive because one stage must be
accomplished before the next can occur. For each stage of
development the child forms a view of reality for that age
period.

4. Ryan
D.
Inventor of the term ‘lateral thinking’. This theorist has
developed a range of 'deliberate thinking techniques' - which
emphasize thinking as a
deliberate act.

Educational Theory
Education should emphasize selfdirected activity to stress the importance
of adapting the child’s learning
environment to their developmental
level.
Education is to teach worthwhile issues
through knowledge of different subjects.
Each child builds on the previous stage
of cognitive development, increasing
the child’s ability to solve more complex
problems.
Education and teaching are always
about an object and should have
content.
Maria Montessori
Thomas Aquinas
Jan Piaget
Aristotle
Further Ideas
Pedagogical reflection journal
Further Ideas
The Great Debate
Topics to consider…
 Traditional V’s mixed age groupings
 The school day should be extended
 Social media should be banned in schools
Further Ideas
Staff book club
Further Ideas
Hot Spots
 Values are essential to education because…
 What/Who inspires you? Why?
 Name 3 things you wish for your students.
 Name 3 essential life skills.
Further Ideas
Action Research project
Goals
Professional
Conversations
and
Reflections
Evidence
Teaching
Actions
What gives you a
sense of life in your
work?
What is your
passion?
Megan Crewe
megan.crewe@synergisticeducation.com.au
Ph: 0422 894 608