Education and Training (past quotes now in a PDF file)

`We are driving towards developing key statements leading towards the improved visualisation of our school...We want the image we create to be representative of our key statements. It is part of getting our symbolisation into the community.'
Acting principal of a public school in Dee Why, Sydney. Manly Daily. Thanks to Rob Towns

'Janine’s learnings from this experience, which were:
3.2 To seek conceptual frameworks – literature and explicated concepts can help to get a ‘helicopter’ perspective. This, she gained through her readings, reflections and discussions with her researcher/sounding board.
Janine’s strategy to model relationship-based leadership and reflective practice was a profound statement of her leadership intentions for the District. If this strategy is successful – even marginally – it will bring a positive change in organisation culture in the District.
Janine was in a Women in Leadership course with the Western Australian Department of Education.' Thanks to Charlie Myres who found this rubbish quoted on the PLATO (People Lobbying Against Teachers Outcomes)WA website forum.

'The paper describes proposed cross-sectoral actions that draw on existing linkages and foster new linkages between schools and early childhood services. A list of possible indicators, which span from birth to adulthood, have been outlined to help focus our efforts and for measuring progress against the actions as described in the three Blueprint volumes.' From the Blueprint for Early Childhood Development and School Reform discussion papers, Victorian Education Department.

'The Knowledge Tree: an e-Journal of Learning Innovation is a leading journal of e-learning. It was originally an e-journal in flexible learning produced through the Flexible Learning Leaders Project of the Framework ... Publication of two further editions of The Knowledge Tree in 2008 under the ‘umbrella' of the Access to E-learning Knowledge and Know-how Business Activity will provide opportunities for VET professionals to publish articles of an academic quality ... As the organisation producing and publishing the content of The Knowledge Tree , you will be required to: Provide strategic thinking for continuous improvement... Research widely in the area of innovative and embedding practices of e-learning in the VET system and across educational sectors ... Network, liaise and collaborate with stakeholders ... Use The Knowledge Tree to ‘capture' and extend knowledge shared in online networks, CoPs and forums and f2f activities focused on e-learning.' EOI (expression of interest) from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

Schools enacting Rich Tasks and the QCAR Framework Schools enacting Rich Tasks are well placed to implement the QCAR Framework. The 5 main deliverables of QCAR have, in a sense, already arrived in Rich Task schools:

'Functional and Traditional Grammar:
The QSA Grammar Scope and Sequence that accompanies the English Essentials and Standards is underpinned by a functional model of language, but foregrounds traditional grammar terminology.
Education Queensland's literacy professional development draws on both functional and traditional grammar. However, the functional grammar is fore grounded because it assists teachers to develop a shared language about how to improve students' reading and writing.
In addition, Education Queensland's literacy training considers the role of grammar in identifying the different language patterns in all KLAs not just in English. Both functional and traditional grammar need to be explicitly taught.
Neither is more important than the other; each fulfils a different but complementary purpose.'
QCARupdate newsletter March 2008, a publication of the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts, sent to principals and teachers with the purposes of 'consistency, continuity, comparability and creating space for deeper learning'
Thanks to Ralph Walker who says: ' I don't know which model of English this was written in, but it fails in being neither functional nor traditional. No fewer than five apparently unembarrassed signatories were attached to this missive, with email addresses and phone numbers for further information. I suppose it takes that many to explain what it means.'

'I set students challenging tasks that I knew they would be able to achieve with guidance, assistance and appropriate scaffolding.'
' These IEPs are structured using conspicuous strategies and mediated scaffolding to ensure learning strategies are developed, understood and retained, as well as the achievement of the learning outcomes .'
From teachers' application for promotions. Thanks to Lloyd

'This edition of Research eLert explores the concept of ‘ value-added ' measures as a means of measuring how schools are progressing in improving student learning outcomes ... These international models demonstrate how value-added measures can be used as a tool for school improvement....'
From the Project Officer, Research Branch, Education Policy and Research Division, Office for Education Policy and Innovation, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria. Thanks Mark.

'This unit introduces students to the field of Communication Studies by examining a series of topical debates that exemplify key intellectual and methodological themes that animate communications research...'
From the University of Western Australia handbook . Thanks to Mike Robertson.

'Student priorities are issues arising from the contributing feedback processes and are generally underlying causal issues being different from specific issues identified and addressed within the contributing feedback process.'
University Student Priorities Policy and Process, Edith Cowan University. Thanks to anonymous.

'Discussion was held on the draft Middleware and Action Plan Strategy Roadmap that had been recently released for comment. Outcomes from the discussion were:
... Emphasis appears to be lacking on the value-add of Teaching and Learning collaboration as by-product ...'
West Australian Regional Network Organisation (WA RNO) (they manage the 'electronic communications network established to connect the WA based Universities, CSRIO and IVEC for inter-institution communication and shared connection'. ) Thanks to Paul Falconer.

Gordon Institute of TAFE in Geelong does it again:
'The Institute Board held a successful workshop with the Executive Team last week. The main item discussed was the long term planning on the Institute's physical footprint.'
'This training has been designed to facilitate the smooth implementation of the six strategic change projects the Institute is currently developing. These change projects are strategically important in moving the organisation forward and it is vital that they are implemented in an effective and non threatening way. To remind you these projects will be defined under the following headings;
– Silos
– Communication
– Role Clarity
– Optimal Systems and Processes
– Business Case Methodology
– Demand Driven Education and Training'
From two emails to staff from the acting CEO. Sent in by an anonymous contributor who says ' I especially admire the use of the word ‘Clarity' because little here is clear to me'.

'Suppose you are an intellectual impostor with nothing to say, but with strong ambitions to succeed in academic life, collect a coterie of reverent disciples and have students around the world anoint your pages with respectful yellow highlighter. What kind of literary style would you cultivate? Not a lucid one, surely, for clarity would expose your lack of content.'
Richard Dawkins: 'Postmodernism Disrobed'
A project recently approved by the Australian Research Council:
'This philosophical project can contribute directly by investigating paradigm cases of successful groupings of individuals around specific clusters of related problems. It aims at exploring the nature of such structures and conditions that determine the emergence and flourishing of conceptual creativity. Understanding the nexus between creativity, innovation and these groupings is of central importance to the promotion and maintenance of modern societies. It is central to the dynamics of societal processes and enhances creative responses in the realm of e. g. conflict solving.'

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