Gareth Malone's Extraordinary School for Boys

This program was recently screened on the ABC.  The following article describes Gareth's approach to improving boys' literacy:

Extraordinary School for Boys

The responses to Gareth's Blog on this topic make for very interesting reading:

Gareth's Blog

Reinventing Schools from the Brain Up

Andrew Fuller is circulating the following discussion paper on how schools should operate if they are responding to how brains work best. 

Reinventing Schools from the Brain Up

He has also set up a Facebook discussion on this topic that can be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Learning-Brain/140411476069391

Spark: How Youth Thrive - Peter Benson

This is a brilliant TED talk by Peter Benson that picks up many of the ideas of Ken Robinson about students finding their individual 'spark.'  

 Spark: How Youth Thrive

Bridgewater Primary School, SA.

Download the following ABC podcast from Bridgewater PS and learn how one school is providing exceptional learning for its students.  If you go to the school website link, you will be able to download a very detailed outline of the school program.

Bridgewater Primary School Podcast  (hit Download Audio button on right)

Bridgewater Primary School Website

Students Demand Change in Their Own Education

It's disturbing when students have to demand changes to make their education relevant. Check out this clip http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/05/students-demand-change-in-their-own-education/

A Next Generation Digital Book

Mike Matas demonstrates an amazing use of technology for Al Gore's book, "Our Choice."

Our Choice

Studio Schools

Another great TED video on Studio Schools emerging in the UK - only 6 mins.  This concept aligns closely with Maurice Gibbons' seminal "Walkabout" paper (scroll down to "Walkabout" link).

Studio Schools

The following weblink has more details on this great initiative:

Studio Schools Trust

Re-thinking Maths Education

An excellent video presentation on new ways of presenting Maths education to get students more involved and interested.  A rather poignant comment follows the video: "I can honestly say I have learned more new things in the last seven years on my own than in my twelve years of public school. I spent my entire childhood thinking I was stupid, and lo and behold it turned out it was the education system itself that sucked".  I wonder how many other students would have similar school experiences.

Maths Class Needs a Makeover

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was a brilliant and highly talented educator.  Many of her incredibly successful ideas, beliefs and practices about learning are now over 120 years old - and still not well understood by many of today’s educational systems and educators!  Maria was able to take supposedly “learning disabled” children regarded as unteachable, and enable them to pass State examinations in reading and writing. The following link will take to you a site that has a complete copy of one of her books: The Montessori Method

Mind Over Matter Seminars by Prof.Martin Westwell

In 2008, Prof. Westwell, a neuroscientist at Flinders University, delivered a Mind Over Matter seminar at UNSW.  The four podcasts from this seminar give an excellent insight into the impact of technology of young people's brain development.  The podcasts can be downloaded at Mind Over Matter Podcasts  Highly recommended listening.

Future Trends in Technology

Each year the Horizon Report gives indications of future trends that are likely in the development of information technology.  The Report identifies trends for 1 year or less, 2 to 3 year trends, and 4 to 5 year trends.  It is an excellent resource for getting ideas about where technology may be heading and the implications for educators. Access the Report at:

2011 Horizon Report

Learning in Depth

Learning in Depth is a curriculum innovation that is definitely worth considering.  It has been developed by Kieran Egan, a renowned educator in Vancouver, who has some very challenging ideas about education. 

Learning in Depth

An Amazing Video

Have a look at this amazing video shown by Alan Kay.   A great example of how to simplify the seemingly complex.  Some timely admonitions for educators.  The book referred to, Tim Gallwey's, The Inner Game of Tennis, is well worth reading (available at online second-hand bookstores).

Alan Kay On Learning

Canada Education Tour 2001

This year's Tour will be from October 16 - November 1.  The following link will open the Information Brochure with all the details and contacts.

Canada 2011 Information Brochure.pdf

Features of Personalised Learning

The following paper will enable teachers to do an audit of their curriculum planning to see how well it has been 'personalised.'

Features of Personalised Learning

The Pygmalion Effect

The following link will open an article written by Brian Brennan on how a teacher's perceptions of a student can dramatically affect student performance (plus a couple of resources to use with students).

The Pygmalion Effect

Experiments in Self Teaching by Sugata Mitra

Sugata Mitra developed worldwide interest in his amazing "Hole in the Wall" computer learning experiments in New Delhi.  In this video, Sugata explains what happened when he took these results further:

Experiments in Self Teaching

Tom Peters "Educate for a Creative Society"

Tom is the renowned author of the change management classic, "In Search of Excellence."  See what he has to say about schools in this short YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_w4AfflmeM

John Notten Speaks

The following link will take you to a short YouTube clip of John Notten from Mary Ward CSS speaking about the benefits of self directed learning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_CXgRO2LCo

This article on Mary Ward and Westmount was recently published in an Ontario teachers' magazine.

Mary Ward Article

Another Brilliant Animation by Ken Robinson.
This is a 'must watch' video for anyone who wants to be an educational innovator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

An Excellent TED Talk About Using Computers for Maths
http://www.ted.com/talks/conrad_wolfram_teaching_kids_real_math_with_computers.html

Future by Design Keynote Resources
Access the resources referred to in the Canadian CCSDL Conference keynote address at http://www.csdl.net.au/courses/course/view.php?id=101#section0

You Can Grow Your Intelligence
The following link will take you to an excellent article on how the brain develops. In a research study conducted by Carol Dweck, students reading this article significantly increased their maths grades.
http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=150439
Further detail on this study can be found at:
http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=150509

The Case for More Self Direction
This is an excellent animated video that supports the self directed approach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

Walkabout Revisited
Maurice Gibbons' Walkabout article is still one of the best resources for prompting different ways of thinking about education. I have reformatted the text to make it more visually appealing. I encourage you to re-visit this article and consider how you might implement some of his ideas.
Walkabout revised.pdf

The 'Grammar' of Schooling: Why Has it Been so Hard to Change?
The following link will take you to an excellent paper that considers why it has been so hard for schools to change (may take a few minutes to download):
grammar.pdf

Self Directed Learning Videos
Denis Higgins recently videoed an excellent series of four short videos on Self Directed Learning. These videos are available on You Tube at the following links:
Self Directed Learning Video Part 1
Self Directed Learning Video Part 2
Self Directed Learning Video Part 3
Self Directed Learning Video Part 4
 
Once More Down the Rabbit Hole
The following link will take you to the Centre for Self Directed Learning website. Go to Courses, select General Courses for Teachers, click on Once More Down the Rabbit Hole and then click on the "Login as a guest" button. In this Course you will find a wide range of resources designed to prompt deeper thinking about teaching and learning.
http://www.csdl.net.au 

About the Innovating Schools Network
ISN Charter.doc