Students in Silkeborg school, Denmark
21st Century Learning approaches; open and flexible learning spaces; digital learning models; clustering to enhance rural learning and collegiate leadership were all areas of focus for this years CEP overseas education tour to Europe.
A group of 10 rural education leaders visited schools in Denmark, England and Scotland as well as participated in workshops lead by Stephen Heppell and John West Burnham. The tour concluded with the group participating in the world renowned Scottish Learning Festival where in excess of 5000 educators from across the globe were involved.
Many of the participants involved reflected that this was the most outstanding education tour they had been on.
Reflecting on the visits and the learnings gained from the schools, workshops and conferences, the group identified a number of areas that it believed would enhance learning opportunities and outcomes for rural young people in Victoria. Some of these areas include:
- the powerful role clustering provides on enhancing student learning,
- collegiate leadership and support
- cluster shared management and administration models;
- strong focus on teaching and learning and quality leadership;
- the uncompromisable expectation of staff, parents and students on young people performing to their highest potential
- the focus on 0-18 years learning provision
- 21st century learning embedding personalized learning, “youth friendly” technologies, and flexible learning approaches.
Throughout the tour, participants put together a number of reports and stories that detailed the learnings they experienced. The links to these stories are listed below:
- Has Everyone Brought their Mobile Phone?
- Teachers as Dream Weavers – Sir John Jones
- Decreasing Administrivia through Clustering
- 21st Century Learning in Action
- We are in a Bit of a Mess – Stephen Heppel
- Learning Spaces and their Impact on Learning
- Students involved in designing their learning
- Open Learning Spaces – The Big House
A full report of the tour will also be available on this website in the very near future.
Thanks for the excellent insights into your tour. There is certainly much for all of us to think about. A relatively easy task would be for all of us to share the concept of showing young people ‘unconditional positive regard’ at all times. We can talk with colleagues about this and combine it with the message about having unwavering high expectations at all times. It was interesting to read about the schools that are really well cared for by students and the link to establishing positive relationships and, by implication, reducing student management issues.
The comment that allowing students to use mobile phones reduces the incidence of cyber-bullying is really interesting and worth exploring further. The rule about the use of mobile phones..’no sms or calls in school time’ is useful tip, particularly as the school encourages the use of mobile phones for learning.
Thanks for sharing your learning from what sounds like a fascinating trip.