WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS
THE WINDS OF CHANGE: Strategies for contending with rapid and continuous alterations in the educational environment
The amount of measurable data on the planet doubles every two years. It sometimes feels as though the same rapidity of change is occurring in education. Yet, some of this change is worthwhile, and has led to many quality improvements in the learning environment. Here's another critical point about all of this change. As educators, we need to keep an open mind about fresh possibilities, given that we surely must model our love of learning to our students. To do otherwise would be hypocritical. The reality? Not all change is beneficial, although much of it definitely is. This session will clarify which changes are worthwhile, and how to best implement them for the benefit of the profession.
TIME FOR TEACHING: Coping with the bottomless pit of everyday work
Here's a reality check: There is not enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done in everyday teaching. The profession is a bottomless pit. No matter how much time and energy you give to the work, it is never all done. As a consequence, personal health and general wellbeing can be seriously affected. In this session, we will explore how you can steadily redress the issue of time burdens. While no quick-fixes can be offered, we'll explore a full range of strategies for eliminating non-productive tasks, and for maximising your professional productivity during (and after) the school day.
A PICTURE OF HEALTH: THE WELLNESS REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION – Supporting teachers to become fit in body, mind and spirit
To be a 21st century educator can be inspiring, rewarding and personally fulfilling. Unfortunately, given the onerous weight of professional responsibilities today, it also can be overwhelming, and can drain your motivation for life in general. In such an environment, it can become difficult to find a balance between your professional work and your outside life. In this entertaining and practical presentation, you will be offered strategies that may help you to steadily seek that fabled balance. No quick-fixes can be, or will be, offered. The topics will include: • The nurturing of your own physical, emotional and psychological energy on a regular basis • The development of resilience and adaptive agility in response to rapid change • The clarification of processes that specifically help you to maintain your enthusiasm, humour and even the occasional joy in daily teaching
A FUTURE FOR EDUCATION: Developing an inspiring 2020s decade of practice for the most important profession on the planet
The world is awash with disruptive technologies. 3-D printed body organs, autonomous cars and intelligent robots are becoming increasingly commonplace. Given that education is meant to lead young people into this extraordinary future, our own practices will need to model this degree of innovation. What might this futuristic education look and feel like? Which roles might educators play in that near-future era? How might teachers co-create in their schools… and globally? Can augmented reality classrooms, AI personal assistants, and brain computer interfaces really support our students’ learning? This provocative, practical and entertaining session will explore some possible scenarios for tomorrow’s learning environments, and then clarify a series of supportive and future-preparing actions we can take today.
GOING TO YOUR HEAD: Generating quality thinking - the most critical future capability for students
Students in the 4th Industrial Revolution must engage in the richest possible intellectual rigour with their daily lessons. To explicitly involve them in higher order thinking experiences is the single most effective way to advance their learning in all fields. Rich thinking is at the heart of quality pedagogy. This entertaining and practical workshop will provide you with many great strategies for enhancing the intellectual quality of your everyday lessons. You will be offered ideas for: • The creation of classroom environments that inspire students to consistently engage in high order thinking and deep understanding • The implementation of thinking strategies within a culture of student agency and inquiry design • The application of a large range of effective thinking strategies that can stimulate innovative responses to local and global issues
THE NEXT GENERATION: Preparing today’s kids for an extraordinary future (yes...extraordinary)
If you believed everything you read and saw in the mass media - let along social media - you would be convinced that the world is about to end. Now... Is COVID-19 serious? Of course it is. No matter which way you collate the data, millions of people have died, and countless other lives have been negatively impacted. However..... in spite of (and perhaps, because of the pandemic), we continue to achieve the most remarkable outcomes. It's imperative that we help our young people to become aware of this. Too many are convinced that there is no hope for a decent future up ahead. This session will encourage you to become a realistic optimist, and to model how the future can be a promise rather than a threat to all children. Be prepared for provocation and inspiration in equal measure. These practical support mechanisms will test your limits, and help you to create those extraordinary futures we truly want for our children.