From student voice to Student Empowerment...From student voice to Student Empowerment It is no...

From student voice to Student Empowerment It is no longer enough to just listen to students. We must engage and empower them if we are to co-create genuine learning communities that will prepare students for the future. Hear how one school was transformed from a 'school of last resort' to one of the most innovative in Australia. No bells, no year levels, no bullying, no compulsory subjects, 5 year learning plans and a place where students are supported to run their own for-profit businesses and many are employed to help run the school. Could this be the new model of education?

It’s time to let go!

Making school relevant again

From Student Voice to Student Empowerment

Peter Hutton Queensland

29JUN16

SCHOOLING

Can education still transform lives?

This is how education changes

lives

Can schools still transform lives? Yes here Not here

History of Schooling

• Schools in Egypt & China 3000BC

• Pre 1800AD schools/ male/ elite/ religious

• Industrial revolution 1780-1830

• French Revolution & Napoleonic Wars C. 1800

• 1788– Prussian Model began based on industrial model

• C. 1850 – Adopted by the USA

• Quickly spread around the developed world

• Only around 200yrs ago the idea of education for all

The Traditional Purposes of Schooling

• Social & political indoctrination

• Childminding to allow parents to work

• Teach the skills required for the workforce – Reading , Writing & Numeracy

– Respect for authority/ Obedience

– Work ethic

– Punctuality

– Conformity/ Docile Youth

– Interpersonal skills

• To keep the young powerless (You cant do anything that REALLY counts!)

What

The waste product of education

• 74% Completion Rate

• 30% Males miss out

• 44% Indigenous complete Yr 12

• About half remote (56%) & very remote (43%) reach Year 12

• 81,000 individual non Year 12 completion per year

Mitchell Report 2015

Mitchell Report 2015

“To improve the completion rate, school systems should focus efforts in the beginning of the middle years and earlier.

The key indicators that researchers have identified as indicative of who is most likely to not complete are: poor grades in core subjects, low attendance, and disengagement in the classroom, including behavioural problems.

What is needed for all students is more personalised teaching and learning approaches.”

The Future

• Sustainability/ Environmental Management/ Energy • Freedom of movement/ Open borders • Equality of opportunity - rich poor divide • Aging population/ Euthanasia • Genetic Engineering • Corporate Giants • Religion • Corruption and international crime • One world government/ Citizen participatory democracy • Pandemics • ????

To add to the situation…

• We are living longer • The world is becoming far more complex • Workforce is becoming more specialised and diversified, • Artificial Intelligence & Robots • Information & knowledge is growing like never before, and all this is • Changing at a rate faster than ever before

And yet we still think we can identify all you really need to know to cope with the next 80 years and cram this into 12 years of education.

Clearly we need to become learners for life.

The

ROAD

The TC story so far

Students have far more capacity than we give

them credit for.

@ TC we had this opportunity

• 10 Years of declining enrolment

• 286 local students

• 23 Year 7s

• Poor reputation

• School of last resort, but

• A committed core

• School is a fun place where ALL people enjoy learning

• One person policy – We treat people equally

– Respect, Names, Access to areas, Facilities

• High expectations of each other

• Students have choice in who they work with

• Parents must “Resolve to be involved”

• No Bullying

• There can be no failures…not even one

Making school relevant again - People

What’s different @ TC - Relationships

• The idea that “The student is in control”

• “Yes” is the default

• Strengths rather than a deficit model

• One person policy – We treat people equally

– Respect, Names, Access to areas, Facilities

• Parents must “Resolve to be involved”

• Forget tolerance we like “acceptance”

• No Bullying

• Students Take Control of their own learning

…supported by quality advice and guidance

• Individual Learning Plans – 5 year time horizon

• Strengths rather than a deficit model - Develop deep skills and interests

• Authentic learning products - Learning through doing

• Flip Education

• HomeLearning at a Pre VCE level

• Elite Development Programs, Sport, Art, Music,

• Internal Gap Year

Making school relevant again – Learning

• “Yes” is the default

• Education is flexible & continuous. There is no end point.

• No Year Levels, no bells, no 9.00 to 3.30pm

• No compulsory subjects once Literacy & Numeracy are established

• “Choice within structure” >150 Subject Options

• Rapid academic acceleration is possible – even VCE & Uni

• We allow students to change subjects if it is not working

• A mini community where students share in the running of the school Students on staff selection panels, Curriculum Committee & Leadership Group

• >80 Student employees and students run their own businesses

• School opening & teaching times based on demand

• Smart phones and BYO devices are strongly encouraged

Making school relevant again – Organisation

Paid Employment Opportunities @TC

• School Newsletter Editors • Social Media Managers • Photographers • 1:1 Afterschool Tutoring ($16 per

session) • IT help desk • Activities Leaders($10-20 per session) • Office Administration • Animal carers • After school tutoring • Classroom Assistants/ Tutors • English Conversation Tutors • Graphic Designers

• Gardeners • Maintenance services • Canteen Assistants • Sound & Lighting technicians • Catering Assistants • Primary School Reading tutors • Sports coaches • Umpires • Baristas • Computer gaming teacher • TC educational consultants …the list is growing

School Businesses @TC

• Crab Apple Café

• Snake Breeding

• Catering Services

• DJ Services

• Pop up shops

• Selling Excess School Equipment on Gumtree

• Activities & Excursions

• Conference Planning

• Bespoke Furniture production

• Handmade Guitar Production

• Graphic Design Service

• Custom Film Production

• Laser Cutting

• Name Badges and Door Signage

• Performing Arts Centre Hire

• Party Photographers

• Art Sales and Rental

• Custom Clothing

• Cupcake Art

• Tennis Coaching

• Bands and Busking

• Computer Gaming

Coffee Club

We do have some rules @TC

Ensuring a positive learning environment is essential for

students to reach their potential.

No yelling rule 10 minute rule 2 minute rule No work - no stay YES is the default

The future of education @ TC

• No one fails without a fight – everyone matters

• Extend school day 7.15am – 9pm

• Virtual Classrooms

• Find ways for students to make a genuine contribution

• Maintain links for 3 years after leaving

• Emphasise the success formula

Sticking points

University selection

VCE/HSC

Thank you

Professional

Reading & Research

Professional

Reading & Research

2

Professional

Reading & Research

3

Prof Yong Zhao

“I have visited schools in more than 30 countries and TC is the most advanced example of a school structure that supports individualised learning that I have seen.” Yong Zhao

Section 82. If a school proposes for any student an individual learning program that departs from the provision model set out in the whole-school curriculum plan… that decision should be made in conjunction with the student and the student’s parents/ carers, and must be approved by the school principal.