About the Department

2008 Innovation Showcase

Friday, 16 May 2008, Melbourne Convention Centre

Join over 600 education and early childhood service providers at the Melbourne Convention Centre to explore how innovation is transforming learning.

This free event will showcase schools and early childhood providers who are identifying the great ideas of tomorrow and putting them into practice today.

What:      2008 Innovation Showcase

Date:        Friday, 16 May 2008

Time:       8:45 am to 3:30 pm

Location: Melbourne Convention Centre, Corner Spencer and Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Complete the online registration form now

Showcase participants will choose two workshops to attend with a choice of 15 unique sessions. Information about the workshops will be available here soon.

Keynote Presenters

Education Minister, Bronwyn Pike

 

Minister Pike will open the 2008 Innovation Showcase to participating innovative education and early childhood providers.

Greg Whiby, Executive Director of Schools, Paramatta Catholic Education Office

 

Greg will present the keynote address. He was named the most innovative and creative educator in Australia by the Bulletin Magazine in its annual SMART 100 awards in 2007.

Andrew Douch, ICT Innovations Leader, Wanganui Park Secondary School

 

Andrew will show how it is possible on a shoestring budget and with very little ICT know-how to redefine a classroom, connecting students with each other, and with teachers and others using technologies that are easy to adopt, and immediately engaging - such as podcats, discussion boards, MSN and mobile phones

 

Jason Clarke, founder of Minds at Work

 

Jason will facilitate the program. Jason believes everyone has the potential to think more creatively and to overcome the obstacles and blocks that get in the way of their good ideas.  Jason will make the links for the participants and carry the innovation theme through the day.

 

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Workshop Sessions

In addition to hearing from the above keynote speakers, Showcase participants will be able to choose two workshops from the following choice of 18 outstanding sessions. Each of these will be presented by practitioners who are leading innovation in their schools or centres.

To register complete the online registration form now.

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Building a learning community

Presented by: Kate Wynack, Sunshine Primary School

Participants will be given an overview of the inquiry process and how this process engages students and develops higher order thinking skills. They will learn about how Sunshine Primary School implemented inquiry over a two year process through an innovative teacher professional development program. The school double loops the learning so that teachers develop an action research into inquiry to become participant learners with students to develop a learning community.

 

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Implementation and integration of therapy and teaching into an arts based practice

Presented by: Bella Irlicht, Principal, and Robert Newall, Assistant Principal, Port Phillip Specialist School

This workshop will give participants a clear picture of the stages that need to be negotiated in order to bring to fruition arts-based practice that can be applied in any educational setting. From setting the scene with staff and developing a model to guide practice and implementation, to arranging funding to make it happen. If you are considering large scale cultural change in your school, this workshop will provide key pointers to help you develop a plan that can guide you to success. You will also learn about some of the innovative curriculum practices that have been developed as staff have worked to make the vision a reality.

 

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From classrooms to learning studios: where are the butterfly houses in schools?

Presented by: Joanne Roberts, Principal; Julie Clarke and Eilen Waters, Ascot Vale Primary School

This workshop will share the work undertaken to consulting with the whole school community culminating in a vision for a 21st century learning studio. The underlying philosophy and design rationale will also be presented. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and input their ideas about the design and to consider the workforce planning implications for future staff who might work in such a space. The design extends the educational discussion around community and school partnerships and joint responsibilities and opportunities for joint learning across the community.

 

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Peronalising learning for 21st century learners

Presented by: Jane Warren, Principal; and Chris Eddy, Assistant Principal, Bellaire Primary School

Bellaire Primary School has established the Senior Learning unit as a prototype, forming a community of 120 learners with five home group teachers in a flexible open learning space. The learning space encompasses a mini theatrette, science and art areas and has extensive ICT infrastructure. Each student negotiates his/her own timetable and has a weekly conference with their home group teacher to demonstrate progress in their learning goals. This workshop will explore the development of this community of learners model and will include how resources have been found and used, how adaptations to physical environments have been made and how coaching has been used to support teachers in effective practice. Participants will follow the journey and examine the many success indicators to this point.

 

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Inspiring young minds: the wonders of nanotechnology

Presented by: Mrs Francesca Calati, Outreach and Curriculum Development Officer, School of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University and Dr Peter Binks, CEO Nanotechnology Victoria Ltd

This session will excite and inform teachers about cutting-edge science and stimulate them to incorporate their new-found knowledge and skills into their curricula. Francesca will highlight how cool science applications engage students. She will give a brief overview of the SHINE Program; focussing on its uniqueness, how it evolved and the successful partnership that has developed between industry, universities and the school community. Most importantly, Francesca will share some of the successful outcomes of the program and introduce the newly developed resources available for teachers and students on the Shine website (www.shine.vic.gov.au)

 

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Community/health/education: breaking down the silos to make good people great

Presented by: Murray Geddes, Principal, Doveton North Primary School

Participants in this workshop will learn of the benefits of strong partnerships between health, education and a variety of other allied health and community agencies. The story of the Doveton North Family Resource Centre will provide participants with the information and motivation needed to provide an even better future for the children in their care and the families in their community.

 

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Cultural leadership: the journey and a formula

Presented by: Rosalie Moorfield, Assistant Principal and Jamie Mackieson, Timboon P-12 School

Participants will learn how a school culture can be developed and how values education can be infused rather than added to the curriculum. The presentation is about finding or creating a set of common principles upon which your school community can operate and then infusing these principles into the daily operation of the school. The presentation will address the 'how' component of the Cultural Leadership domain and the highs and lows of one school's journey.

 

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Virtual classrooms in a Web 2.0 world - a Knowledge Bank Online Event 2008

Presented by: Tamara Carpenter, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development; and Carole McCulloch, Macro Dimensions

The workshop is offered by Knowledge Bank Online Events, a program of online learning and professional development organised around a free online meeting space in Elluminate(http://knowledgebank.globalteacher.org.au/elluminate/). This hands-on session offers participants a chance to learn about and participate in a virtual classroom, and to talk to Web 2.0 educators about what they’re doing:

 

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Successful writers right across the network

Presented by: Loretta Hamilton Principal, Courtenay Gardens Primary School; Nicole Bottriell Principal, Bayles Regional Primary School; Peter Hanley, Senior Education Officer, Cranbourne Network; Georgina Wilson Assistant Principal, Courtenay Gardens Primary School; and Scott Balliet, Multi Media Teacher, Courtenay Gardens Primary School

The workshop will focus on how one school greatly improved whole school data through a team approach to non fiction writing. The presentation will feature an overview of the whole school implementation of non fiction writing. The model developed was then adopted by 17 schools in the Cranbourne Network. The sharing of strategies across the network will be examined. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on developing a framework for their school.

 

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Curriculum, space and pedagogy: an innovative school canvas

Presented by: Nicola Park, Lyndhurst Secondary College

This workshop will highlight the inter-relatedness of three factors that have lead to innovative practices in the Year 9 program at Lyndhurst Secondary College; Creative Curriculum Design, Use of Flexible Spaces, Effective Pedagogies. The Year 9 program consists of an integrated studies program with an authentic learning focus, and domain based subjects that follow an Inquiry Learning framework.

Participants will learn about strategies for developing creative curriculum design and assessment to meet the needs of specific student cohorts and the leadership and structures required to assist the development of these designs with teams of teachers.

 

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Developing a community of learners that personalises learning for the knowledge era - case study Year 9

Presented by: Jessica Sargeant, Principal Middle Years; John Bourke; and Stephen Kuhn, Ballarat High School

Participants will gain an understanding of how a learning framework inclusive of POLT and core values can help personalise learning. The workshop will focus on teaching the learner of the 21st century. We will show participants how this can be achieved with a specific case study of year 9 and the ‘ARCH’ program. This program focuses on building Active, Resilient, Connected and Happy students and the school’s student attitude data and reduced absenteeism is a testament that the approach is highly successful.

 

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Engaging students through multimedia

Presented by: Graeme Bottomley, Multimedia educator; Jodee Betheras, Curriculum Coordinator/AfL educator, Mt Beauty Secondary College

This workshop will introduce participants to how Mt Beauty Secondary College increased student engagement by developing a more diverse curriculum, particularly in the area of Performing Arts and Multimedia through the Leading Schools Fund. Mt Beauty Secondary College is an old school in an isolated, rural community with minimal facilities and student opinion was very low. The project started with the idea of a new music room and evolved into a 3 year professional development programme incorporating Assessment for Learning and Multimedia as well as the construction of a new Performing Arts facility and a major ICT and multimedia upgrade.

 

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Re-imaging the secondary teacher: a school-wide approach

Presented by: Angela Pollard, Assistant Principal, Karingal Park Secondary College

Workshop participants will hear how Karingal Park Secondary College has made the school a better place for its students. The construction of open learning centres has been used as the vehicle to introduce team based practices, to return the focus of decision making to being about the students, and to develop ongoing professional learning opportunities as part of the daily work of teachers. The workshop will include discussions about structures that support the innovations and consideration of the data that inform the process.

 

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Education and community partnerships for lifelong learning

Presented by: Clete Paige, Principal, Yuille Park P- 8 Community College

Wendouree West Community/Education Hub is an exceptional learning community. It aims to empower all members to actively discover and develop their unique blend of talents, skills and abilities in an environment that promotes confidence and lifelong learning skills.  The Wendouree West Community Learning Hub - Birth to Adult, lifelong learning, reflects the Wendouree West community's commitment to the learning of young children and adults. It is comprised of a broad range of services to families spanning separate disciplines such as education, health, childcare, recreation and family support.

Yuille Park P-8 Community College has an innovative model for the engagement of disconnected communities in learning. Participants in this workshop will hear about the journey this community has taken and engage in discussions about the relevance of the learnings to other settings.

 

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Best Start: transition to school

Presented by: Genevieve Frisby, Team Leader, and Katherine Cape, Senior Program Policy Advisor, Best Start Team, Office for Children and Early Childhood Development, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development; and Jane Spencer, Best Start Community Facilitator, Frankston City Council Children’s Services

Best Start is a statewide prevention and early intervention program, which develops partnerships between parents, communities, schools and service providers to improve outcomes for children. A total of 30 projects have been established across the State aimed at improving the health, development, learning and wellbeing of Victorian children from pregnancy through to school age (0-8). Workshop participants will be provided with an overview of the Best Start program as context to a case study focusing on transition to school in Frankston. The case study will lead into an interactive discussion about strategies for aiding the transition process from kindergarten to primary school.

 

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Integrated services: making it a reality

Presented by: Anthony Raitman, Manager, Universal Early Years, Partnerships and Services, Office for Children, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development; and Tim Moore, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital

This workshop will outline the growing movement to create better integrated service systems for children and families, and to build stronger links between schools and early childhood services. Participants will learn about why services need to be better integrated, and what evidence there is for the effectiveness of integrated service delivery. They will also hear about local efforts to integrate services and to link schools with early childhood services, and what initiatives DEECD is supporting. Finally, participants will explore what schools can do to strengthen links with early childhood and other family support services.

 

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Presenting artworks from the National Gallery of Victoria collection to school students using interactive whiteboards

Presented by: Jean-Pierre Chabrol, Head of Multimedia, National Gallery of Victoria

Participants will be introduced to a new project that will present artworks from the National Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) collection to school students and their teachers through interactive whiteboards. Two collection areas – indigenous art and Japanese woodblocks– have been chosen. This project, as a part of the Broadband Innovation Fund, aims to use online (broadband) technologies in innovative ways. This project is in partnership with the NGV, Multimedia Victoria, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

 

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Leading the way at Lowanna College

Presented by: Karen Lanyon, Kerry Timmins and Carol Rawson, Lowanna College

Workshop participants will hear how Lowanna College’s focus on personalised Learning and ICT enriched teaching and learning approach has resulted in better student engagement through a greater emphasis on student centred learning.

The College’s initial focus is on the year 7 program and its operation within the new open learning space that has recently been completed.  One of the key foci is building teacher capacity through the development of teaching teams that better understand and focus on, the needs of students in a holistic sense.  This has resulted in a radical departure from the school’s traditional junior school structure and a rethink of all curriculum and teaching and learning practice from 7-10.

 

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More Information

For more information, please contact Kymberlee Senior via email: kymberlee@wsm.com.au or phone: 03 9645 6311.

If there is something your school or centre would like to showcase at this event, or future events, please email innovation@edumail.vic.gov.au

 

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