Category Archives: school

To err and succeed

Posted on November 17, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.             And that … Continue reading →

Posted in school, sports, sports coaching, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education

Posted on November 8, 2010 by mwalker

This is the third recent post on the direction of education in schools. In the first post I used the work of Sir Ken Robinson who gave us an outline of the history of public education and some of the challenges … Continue reading →

Posted in school, school structures, Teaching, Video Clips | Leave a comment

7 survival skills for 21st century classrooms and schools: post 2

Posted on October 31, 2010 by mwalker

After listening to Sir Ken Robinson talk about the history of education and challenge why we do things and then listen to Chris Betcher continue the challenge with a DaVinci in the classrooms – I poist so what do we … Continue reading →

Posted in flexible learning spaces, Leadership, school, school structures, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

think divergently – encourage a DaVinci in your class or school [this century]: Post one

Posted on October 26, 2010 by mwalker

Sometimes you just stumble upon a great resource that helps you to challenge your own thinking. Well here is one by a well known writer, thinker and talker… Sir Ken Robinson. This clip is one to use and challenge others thoughts – … Continue reading →

Posted in flexible learning spaces, Instruction, school, school structures, Teaching, Video Clips | 3 Comments

Hard lessons for better leadership

Posted on September 21, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve been feeling a mixture of guilt, fatigue and overload over the past month as I grapple with work commitments and university study so the blog has gone somewhat quiet of late. But I couldn’t help notice this article by Professor … Continue reading →

Posted in Industrial Issues, Instruction, Leadership, school, school structures, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Why the fuss about flexible learning spaces: building the case for relational trust and personal learning skills.

Posted on July 18, 2010 by mwalker

This is the second post on working in flexible learning spaces [refer categories to access the first on challenges]. Common Context: We have two flexible learning centres at the school currently occupied year 1’s and year 5/6’s. Both the year … Continue reading →

Posted in flexible learning spaces, school, Teaching | 2 Comments

Data Teams: the ongoing quest to improve teaching and learning and not just the latest fad!

Posted on July 10, 2010 by mwalker

As our second semester begins we at Elsternwick have planned a series of 8 professional learning team meetings [PLT’s] on Monday nights to focus on the use of data to improve student learning. This carries on from the 6 PLT’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Instruction, school, Teaching, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Carl Sagan’s message not lost

Posted on July 2, 2010 by mwalker

Sometimes its useful to get a reality check on what’s important. Have a look at this clip – I think its useful to start conversations with teachers and senior students.

Posted in reflections, school, Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Is there an execution gap between our goals and actions?

Posted on June 15, 2010 by mwalker

I’ve been reflecting lately on our strategic plan which lists a number of worthwhile actions and improvement goals. I know the goals as the principal as I interact with the plan on a regular basis but I wonder if  they … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Leadership, school | 2 Comments

Social Media – need a reason to change – here it is!

Posted on June 10, 2010 by mwalker

Thanks to Durff’s Blog in the States I found this clip that is essential viewing for teachers struggling to reason why we need to adapt our practices to embed the use of technology – in Victoria called the Ultranet.

Posted in school, Ultranet, Video Clips | 2 Comments

Cybersafety sessions come to Elsternwick Primary.

Posted on June 10, 2010 by mwalker

This week our assistant principal Demos [pictured on the right] in consultation with 3 other local schools coordinated a series of cyberbullying workshops from ACMA [Australian Communications and Media Authority] for staff , students and parents. The staff session was … Continue reading →

Posted in cyberbullying, school, Teaching, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Good grades at school are not the goal – so argues Alf Kohn

Posted on May 30, 2010 by mwalker

You watch these two short video clips where Alf Kohn argues that the more students seek high standards [performance] as measured by grades rather than learning through the task the less they learn. It’s an interesting argument to put and … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching, Ultranet, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Tagged | 1 Comment

Disputing Classrooms – a text on innovative use of technology to “personalise learning”

Posted on May 26, 2010 by mwalker

A month or so ago all principals in Victoria were given this book “Disrupting Classrooms” just prior to the release of a new innovation in schools called the ultranet. We have all been reading this book in our own ways … Continue reading →

Posted in Networks of Schools, school, Technology, Ultranet, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment

Sustainability in schools – a broader view.

Posted on May 25, 2010 by mwalker

This week as part of Masters Leadership course we visited Collingwood College looking at the broad theme of sustainability. Collingwood College was the first center for the now nation wide Stephanie Alexander’s school kitchen gardens. These photos show the gardens … Continue reading →

Posted in Monash University, school, school structures, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Using Technology in Schools

Posted on May 5, 2010 by mwalker

I have been following Chris’s blog for a few years now so it was great to be able to get a clip of him and hear him talking about his ideas and his ‘new’ school. The use of technology by … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Technology, Uncategorized, Video Clips | Leave a comment